[OSList] OpenSpace Agility: How Agile can be successful. First Workshop in Germany, June from 13th to 15th

Rolf Schneidereit via OSList oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Mon Mar 7 01:23:59 PST 2016


Hi Birgitt,

Thank you for your invitation to an exploration of the OpenSpace Agility concept.

In the very first moment I was a little bit scared about your disagreement and your definition of this as holistic and that as reductionist.

Perhaps it is because that in my experience Open Space and World Cafe are not "holistic“ per se. It seems to me that it depends more on the mindset and the attitude of those hosting, and the commitment of the callers and leaders. Both can result in a more holistic or in a more reductionist frame. 

Similar seems to me with agile. How agile practices unfold depend on the mindset and the commitment. I’m wondering what has formed your belief, that agile is routed in a "reductionist perspective?" If I take the "Agile Manifesto“ (for example see here:  <http://openspaceagility.com/big-picture/agile-manifesto/>http://openspaceagility.com/big-picture/agile-manifesto/ <http://openspaceagility.com/big-picture/agile-manifesto/>) as the deepest root of agile, I can’t see this perspective in it. I agree with how Harrison Owen put it: "...being Agile“ is simply being fully, consciously, intentionally self organizing”

Where do I see the limitations? In OST: So far I have experienced it as not a framework to organize the daily and weekly work of small teams (sub-systems). But we have to get the work done (for example after a OS we create new ideas and initiatives). 

Limitations of agile: It’s not a container for the whole system. And normally it’s enacted not by the people who have to work in the new agile way, and this is what causes a lot of resistance.

The promise of OpenSpace Agility is to allow all members/teams of the system to find a way to self-organize their own way to agile. "If it's about us, don't do it without us“. The periodic OS events offer the space to give the power back to the people who have to do the work.

I agree, we’re in our infancy and what do we really know? We have to know that we’re not knowing. To keep open for new learnings. I believe that OSA offers new learnings - perhaps also learnings on our assumptions about holistic and reductionist frames.

Warm regards
Rolf


Am 06.03.2016/ Kw09 um 20:37 schrieb Mark Sheffield via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>:

Birgitt -

Thank you for your curiosity about combining Open Space with Agility. I offer my perspective as a co-author of the OpenSpace Agility Handbook.

One way of combining Open Space and Agility is to hold an Open Space event whose theme is about Agile principles and practices, or about how well the attendees are applying Agility in their daily work. I have gained great insights and understanding from participating in this kind of event.  

Another way is to preface a period of experimentation with an Open Space event and then follow the experimentation period with another Open Space event. During the initial event the most important discussions and actions related to the theme emerge. Those actions serve to guide the period of experimentation, which could be deterministic or not. The following Open Space is a time to reflect on what has happened since the initial event and to figure out what to do next. This is the Prime/OS approach, which OpenSpace Agility applies to an Agile transformation or journey. 

Open Space bookends around a period of experimentation serve to enhance the learning rather than create dissonance - because of the power of Open Space, which I do not fully understand. 

Open Space and Agile are about self-organization. Unfortunately many organizations force Agile practices. Attempting to force self-organization makes little sense and seldom works. 

OpenSpace Agility uses Open Space to empower the members of the organization to self-organize around experimenting with Agile principles and practices and with whether and how to implement them in ways that provide value for the organization. And yes, it is critical for the leaders to support the Open Space plus Agile experience, preferably by becoming active participants. 

Sincerely,

Mark Sheffield

On Mar 5, 2016, at 8:54 AM, Birgitt Williams via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>> wrote:

> Hi Thomas…and colleagues who are following this thread,
> I hope you are open to having an exploration on this list about your concept of OpenSpace Agility and the offer you are creating. I see that you are a Art of Hosting professional, so I assume you have explored a lot about openness, spirit, holistic approach, and the essence behind inviting and engaging participation. And from your exploration, you have your own unique conclusions, as do we each from our personal reflections and contemplations as social scientists.
>  
> I see that you say that you assume we know the power of Open Space, World Café and other approaches. I don’t agree with that assumption and I choose to speak up because when someone assumes that ‘we’ believe something, I think silence is a form of agreement. I suggest we are only in our infancy in understanding the power of these approaches and there is so much more to learn. I am curious about what you believe the power is.
>  
> I see that you say that you assume we know the limitations of these methods in the daily work of an organization. Again, I don’t agree with that assumption as applying to myself. I am curious about what you believe the limitations are.
>  
> I have experienced methods such as Open Space, World Café etc to be rooted in a holistic perspective. I have experienced Lean, Kanban, Scrum and other related methods to be rooted in a reductionist perspective. Each has its place and its usefulness based on the business goal. I am curious about how you are bridging the mix of something that is holistic in nature, to something that is reductionist in nature. I assume this bridging is part of your thinking so that there is not cognitive dissonance for the people involved. I am also curious about the plan to increase the capacity of leadership to cope with this mix.
>  
> I look forward to your answers.
>  
> Kind regards,
> Birgitt
>  
> Birgitt Williams
>  
> President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. 
> http://www.dalarinternational.com <http://www.dalarinternational.com/>
> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com <http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/>
> Co-founder of the Genuine Contact™program and author of The Genuine Contact Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership  http://www.genuinecontactway.com <http://www.genuinecontactway.com/>                   
> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. http://www.genuinecontact.net <http://www.genuinecontact.net/>
>  
> Supporting leadership development for leading in a culture requiring agility and flexibility in a performance environment of constant change.
>  
> Leadership development at your own pace? Become a member of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com <http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase your leadership skills and capacity. 
>  
> PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619
> phone: 1-919-522-7750
>     
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Thomas Jäger via OSList
> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 1:40 PM
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> Subject: [OSList] OpenSpace Agility: How Agile can be successful. First Workshop in Germany, June from 13th to 15th
>  
> Hello everyone!
>  
> We would like to invite you to a new framework for organizational change: OpenSpace Agility, made of OpenSpace and agile methods.
>  
> „Now, as long as I have known about Agile, Scrum, etc. – it has been clear to me that „being Agile“ is simply being fully, consciously, intentionally self organizing. That is total High Performance. And Open Space happens to be (a) fast track to get „there“. Not by doing something unique, special, or weird … but simply by being what we already are. Self organizing.“
> Harrison Owen
> 
> Lean, Kanban, Scrum … all these young methods indicates the need for lean and fast processes. On the other hand we know the power of Open Space, World Café and other approaches, but also their limitations in the daily work of an organization. Daniel Mezick, the pioneer of OpenSpace Agility found a way to combine the strengths of both approaches. 
>  
> „OpenSpace Agility works for one simple reason: it generates extremely high levels of engagement across your entire organization. This engagement is essential to the success of your program and no other method generates more engagement than the OpenSpace Agility method.”
> Daniel Mezick
> 
> We’re happy to bring Daniel Mezick for the first time to Germany in June this year, where he will teach us the concept and methods of OpenSpace Agility (in english).
> 
> Who is invited:
> - Leaders
> - Scrumteams, ProductOwners and ScrumMasters
> - People from HR department
> - (AoH)Hosts, Facilitators and Consultants
>  
> If you’re looking for a framework which allows you to combine the Art of Hosting approach with Agile, have a look at these websites:
> - www.openspaceagility.de <http://www.openspaceagility.de/> (in german)
> - www.openspaceagility.com <http://www.openspaceagility.com/>
>  
> We would be happy to meet you in Munich from June, 13th to 15th
>  
> Thomas Jäger, Caroline Rennie and Rolf Schneidereit on behalf of the Hosting team
>  
>  
> Thomas Jäger
> Art of Hosting Praktizierender
> Certified Professional Scrum Master (PSM I)
> naturalconsult
> Brunnwartsweg 2
> 82031 Grünwald
> Thomas.Jaeger at naturalconsult.de <mailto:Thomas.Jaeger at naturalconsult.de>
> www.DieGastgeber.eu <http://www.diegastgeber.eu/>
> openspaceagility.de <http://openspaceagility.de/>
> www.artofhosting-muenchen.org <x-msg://10/www.artofhosting-muenchen.org>
> Tel: +49-89-64 94 99 12
> Fax: +49-89-64 94 99 13
> Mobil: +49-173-9263743
>  
> *** DieGastgeber.eu <http://www.diegastgeber.eu/> – Der Blog zum Art of Hosting für den deutschsprachigen Raum *** 
> *** OpenSpaceAgilty <http://www.openspaceagilty.de/> – das Training! Zum erstenmal in Deutschland vom 13. bis 15. Juni in München ***
>  
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/>
> Version: 2015.0.6189 / Virus Database: 4537/11694 - Release Date: 02/25/16
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:OSList at lists.openspacetech.org>
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org>
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org>
> Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>_______________________________________________
OSList mailing list
To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:OSList at lists.openspacetech.org>
To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org <mailto:OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org>
To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org>
Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org <http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20160307/fd248031/attachment-0001.htm>


More information about the OSList mailing list