[OSList] Research OST

Sun Feb 26 11:47:41 PST 2017

I have worked in several municipalities using Open Space and The method developed by Birgitt Williams; Whole person process facilitation. An other person, from the local university, have done three focus- group interviews some time after and asked about the experience. There are interesting findings. In one municipality she discovered grief because a new manager had abounded use of the methods and called it "spiritism" without much knowledge. They had fallen back to old habits and regretted it.

In another municipality they had worked the method into their regular meetings and was very happy about the participation from the employees.

I look forward to dive more into the findings.

All the best
Hege

Sendt fra min iPhone

> Den 26. feb. 2017 kl. 17.52 skrev Birgitt Williams via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>:
> 
> thank you Harrison for simplifying what is and is not OST for researchers.
> 
> I would be pleased if you (and others of course) would be willing to add more of a picture for what researchers could be looking for/measuring. It has always been a puzzle to me as to how we could do a good job of the research. Those of us who work with/experience OST know that
> -it works every time
> -outcomes beyond what is expected occur including an experience of self leadership, shared vision, exceptional communications, self management including efficient use of personal energy/wisdom/learning/contributing
> -quantity of discussions that take place is much greater than people think can be possible
> -quality of discussions is much greater
> 
> How do we put this into a research design so that we can capture the narrative from a research perspective? 
> 
> And not to miss out on the other important aspects of 'does it make a difference that matters?' in the long run
> 
> I realize that some will feel there is no point to doing this research. Maybe there is not. And yet I so love OST as a meeting method, I know it has made so much difference in the world, and I believe that there is an important step that will be valuable which is to capture the research about OST before the variations on it cloud the picture more than is already happening. This may not be possible. Research is not my strong point ....I am a story teller at heart and understand the importance of story as evidence....and yet I know that story is still considered soft science, or at art, outside of the realm of hard science.
> Peaceful Sunday to all,
> Birgitt
> 
>> On Fri, Feb 24, 2017 at 10:14 AM Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>> Sorry. Misunderstood. My point for the researchers is simple – a) Insure that the essential experimental conditions are present. (real issue, voluntary attendance, massive complexity, similar diversity, decision time of yesterday) b) Follow procedure (Circle Bulletin board, market place, go to work) –
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Then open  your eyes, take out pencils cameras, recorders and have at it. Useful topics will overwhelm. --- Efficiency effectiveness compared to “standard procedures, resolution of conflict, personal growth and development, learning potential and on and on. Have fun!
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> ho
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Birgitt Williams via OSList
>> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 4:30 PM
>> 
>> 
>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Research OST
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Harrison---the point I was making is about research. If the research is based on going down the path of proving self organization, it is not as valuable to making the case for OST as OST works! It simply works, is useful, creates results.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Birgitt
>> 
>> On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 4:16 PM Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Birgitt – I guess we differ. Proving that self organization works is about as useful as proving that oxygen works for breathing. Seems to. And are there other things going on in Open Space apart from self organization? Absolutely. Or perhaps not at all. Just life.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> ho
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Birgitt Williams via OSList
>> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 3:28 PM
>> 
>> 
>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>> 
>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Research OST
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Great summary Harrison of what is OST and what is not OST. it is a significant challenge to find what is actually an OST meeting. One of the reasons I created our workshop Working With OST is to make that distinction very clear to all who participate with us. OST facilitated well requires understanding the essence of what is created...and never as the facilitator violating that essence. People have referred to me as a 'purist' and that is fine by me. I believe in OST just as you created it. I do not believe in the variations having the same outcomes. When something is added before OST or after OST, they are not OST...and helping a group of people be absolutely clear when the actual OST begins and when it ends is part of what we are very careful about.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> We have developed a complimentary method, Whole Person Process Facilitation, to use when OST is not the right method...and yet is based on as little intervention as possible, and creating 'maximum choice, maximum freedom' to the degree possible. Unfortunately, after the meetings, people will say 'we want another one of those open space meetings. They feel that the space is open and like to refer to it that way. I cannot do anything about this conclusion that people make, and it is not OST.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> I also think that a disservice was done when OST was being looked at from the lens of 'self organizing', one lens that applies certainly, and not the only one...and in my perspective a rather limited one. The reason I say this is a disservice is that too much effort was spent proving that self organizing works, instead of proving through research and other means, that OST works.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Having a clean hypothesis about OST as a useful, productive method that achieves incredible results is more valuable that proving it works for some particular reason.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> My two cents on the subject,
>> 
>> Birgitt
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 12:05 PM Harrison Owen via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>> 
>> One of the questions I find myself asking of various "researchers," -- What,
>> exactly, are you looking at?
>> 
>> Open Space has wandered and permutated globally, and taken 30+ years doing
>> that. So lots of times the "Open Space" people say they are looking at
>> (researching) has nothing to do with anything that I might call OST.
>> Needless to say I don't own, but I did coin the phrase -- and arguably, I've
>> spent more time fussing with OST than anybody else. Alternatives,
>> Variations, Permutations are not wrong, bad, or immoral -- but are not OST.
>> And in research "facts" do matter. Despite our current (US) administration.
>> So for me, if you a going to do research on Open Space Technology (OST) --
>> it  really needs to be done "by the book." The Book being, "Open Space
>> Technology: A User's Guide 3rd Edition (Berrett- Koehler, 2008)" I might
>> consider that the "Lab Book."
>> 
>> The experimental procedure is clearly laid out.
>> 
>> The "event" will be convened around an issue people seriously care about
>> (Real issue - not pretend, made up, chosen at random).
>> 
>> All participants will come in response to a Real Invitation. One they can
>> refuse. No coercion. All are present because they choose to be there.
>> 
>> Once present, participants will be invited to sit in a circle, create a
>> bulletin board of the issues they care about, and the open a market place to
>> make/confirm the times and places of meeting.
>> 
>> The Facilitator will be present only at the beginning (1st 15 min.) and
>> appear again only at the end (of the day or program). In other words, The
>> facilitator will NEVER intervene. NEVER. Picking up coffee cups is
>> appropriate. Otherwise, being "present and invisible" -- is the rule.
>> 
>> Anything else... "Variants, Twists, Tweaks -- whatever ... is not OST. Could
>> be great. May be fantastic. But it ain't OST.
>> 
>> And when it comes to "results" the "researcher" might check "Wave Rider:
>> Leadership for High Performance in a Self Organizing World." That would be
>> my best effort at a Final Report for the 30 year experiment. Which doesn't
>> make it perfect, right or anything special. But it might be a place to
>> start.
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
>> Hege Steinsland via OSList
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 10:54 AM
>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>> Subject: [OSList] Research OST
>> 
>> Hello.
>> I`m working on an article about the experience with OST in Norwegian work-
>> places, in particular municipalities.
>> I wonder if there are som kind of overview of earlier research on the field,
>> published and unpublished
>> 
>> Would be great :-)
>> 
>> All the best
>> Hege Steinsland
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>> 
>> --
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Birgitt Williams
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc.
>> 
>> http://www.dalarinternational.com
>> 
>> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network 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                   
>> 
>> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. 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 to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619
>> 
>> phone: 1-919-522-7750
>> 
>> --
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Birgitt Williams
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc.
>> 
>> http://www.dalarinternational.com
>> 
>> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network 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                   
>> 
>> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. 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 to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619
>> 
>> phone: 1-919-522-7750
>> 
> 
> -- 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Birgitt Williams
> 
>  
> 
> President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc.
> 
> http://www.dalarinternational.com
> 
> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network 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                   
> 
> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. 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 to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change.
> 
>  
> 
> PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619
> 
> phone: 1-919-522-7750
> 
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
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