[OSList] Planning and Open Space ????

[Chris Kloth via OSList]

Harrison, your rumination resonates with me.

As you say, the proof is in the pudding. On one level, if the plan is  
implemented and hopes/expectations are achieved or exceeded, and did  
so in the spirit inspired by the event/process, then it worked. On  
another level, if, over time, the spirit of open space begins to  
permeate the culture of the organization it worked even better.

In terms of the question of control, during the pre-work related to  
Planning in Open Space I find myself testing the client's ability and  
willingness to accept and lean into the inherent productive tension.

As for oil and water, my experience suggests oil and vinegar may be a  
more apt pairing.


-- 
Shalom,

Chris Kloth
ChangeWorks of the Heartland
254 South Merkle Road
Bexley, OH 43209-1801
ph 614-239-1336
fax 614-237-2347
www.got2change.com

Think globally. Act locally.


Quoting Harrison Owen via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>:

> Occasionally somebody ponders the possibility of Open Space and Planning -
> as in, could you do Planning, Strategic and otherwise, in Open Space? My
> immediate response has always been, Yes. As a matter of fact I have done
> just that on a number of occasions.
>
>
>
> There is no question that when we "opened space for our future"  (which
> always seemed to be the essence of the theme), a marvelous time was had by
> all. Something that looked very much like a "plan" emerged with attendant
> work groups -  all committed and in place, and of course the time taken for
> the exercise was minuscule compared to standard practice. End of story. Or
> is it?
>
>
>
> Planning, at least in common usage, has some association with controlling,
> or even creating, the future. Indeed, many would argue that control of the
> future is the whole point of planning. Open Space, on the other hand, is all
> about self organization - which implies that control as we usually
> understand it is impossible. So Planning in Open Space would seem to be an
> oxymoron. You simply can't get there from here.
>
>
>
> Upon reflection it does seem that Planning and Open Space go together rather
> like oil and water. It is also true that on those occasions where I was
> privileged to be with a group Planning in Open Space - it was marvelous.
> Good stuff seriously happened, and best of all people really had fun - even
> if there were times when it seemed like we were all hanging on by our finger
> nails because things were moving so fast!
>
>
>
> Of course the "proof of the pudding" in this business is not, "Did you make
> a plan?" but most importantly - Did it work? And it is precisely here that
> things really get confusing. The plans not only "worked" as (self) reported
> by the participants - But they worked faster and better than ever. Almost to
> the point that it seemed the distinction between "planning" and "doing" had
> dissolved. Wow!
>
>
>
> I can see another heresy just coming into view. Everybody "knows" that
> Planning comes first. Neat, orderly, rational, deliberate - considered over
> and over again. THEN... Action. But what would it mean if it happened all at
> once? ... That there really was no meaningful distinction between planning
> and doing? Not as an ideal, but as an experienced reality?
>
>
>
> Some might say that this is a clear indication of mental aberration - Mad in
> a word. On the other hand... were the experience real (as in repeatable,
> non-drug induced, whatever) we might just have to take another look at what
> we mean by "Planning."
>
>
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Winter Address
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> 301-365-2093
>
>
>
> Summer Address
>
> 189 Beaucauire Ave
>
> Camden, ME 04843
>
> 207 763-3261
>
>
>
> Websites
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
> www.ho-image.com
>
>
>
>



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