[OSList] OST encourages avoidance of conflict

Tue Jan 30 18:20:53 PST 2018

A favorite quote from Chris C when researching my dissertation was his
description of regular folks being like 'Taoist masters' working with
conflict in open space.

They engage awhile, things heat up, they may cool off by going to the
coffee table awhile and talking hockey (in Canada), then back into the
fray. Fun and potent image of the Law in interaction.

Jeff
San Francisco

On Jan 30, 2018 4:46 PM, "Michael Herman via OSList" <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> I think I disagree with Dave on this. I only know his position from what's
> been reported here, but I have met and listened to him speak. He strikes me
> as quite a bit better than most at carving boundaries for himself and that,
> I think, might color his experience of the encouragements OS does give to
> resolve rather than avoid conflict.
>
> We've noticed many times before that OS implies a higher level of exposure
> for people than other ways of working. We've also noticed the deep
> connections between groups, i.e. "They're all talking about the same
> stuff," (in all the different breakouts). And when we go around the circle,
> everyone hears and speaks to everyone. there's a high level of authenticity
> that invites people to join and match.
>
> In other words, where there are real conflicts, I think OS makes it pretty
> hard to hide from them, even as it gives lots of room and options for
> navigating them. If the purpose doesn't require they be settled, then the
> work can proceed. If it does require resolution, the exposure and
> connection and purpose will push for that.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 18:14 Harold Shinsato via OSList <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi Chris,
>>
>> Thanks for giving more detail about Snowden's thinking. I didn't want to
>> mention his name without a fuller context as you have provided. I also
>> disagree with his assessment of OST as a convergence tool. I've not seen
>> happiness come from trying to squeeze convergence out of an OST event.
>>
>> I can't critique Snowden's disagreement with OST as an all purpose
>> 'tool', though for me I have found great value in Harrison's wisdom about
>> Open Space as not being a tool. I see Open Space as something I feel I
>> experience in most Open Space Technology events, but they're not really the
>> same thing. Given that distinction, "Open some space" does seem a valid all
>> purpose approach. Even if that doesn't necessarily look like a formal Open
>> Space Technology event.
>>
>>
>>     Harold
>>
>>
>> On 1/30/18 4:44 PM, Chris Corrigan wrote:
>>
>> The well known management guru is David Snowden and his principle
>> criticism against OST is the same as it is for every other method. It is
>> not a panacea for every problem.
>>
>> More specifically, Dave’s issue as I understand it, is that groups
>> operate within constraints. There are times when those constraints need to
>> be tightly bound in order for things to happen and other times when they
>> need to be relaxed.
>>
>> In situations in which you are developing new things conflict and
>> diversity are helpful. Sometimes it helps to have a process in which people
>> of differing perspectives are engaged in a tight container together to make
>> something better. Open Space does not always do this, so if you need a
>> required level of diversity (and conflict doesn’t always mean a fight) then
>> OST might not be the best way to do it.
>>
>> I agree with this. Sometimes you need a formal negotiation structure to
>> reach a decision. Sometimes you need expert opinions engaged in a
>> deliberated and structured and way to do due diligence.
>>
>> Dave has other concerns with Open Space that I think he’s wrong about
>> (that it is a convergence process for example) and I’ve talked with him
>> extensively about that. But anyone who think that Dave believes Open Space
>> doesn’t have utility is also wrong. He believes that it’s useful for
>> certain things in certain contexts and not in others. On that we all agree,
>> I would think.
>>
>> Chris.
>>
>> _____________
>> CHRIS CORRIGAN
>> www.chriscorrigan.com
>>
>> On Jan 30, 2018, at 2:24 PM, Harold Shinsato via OSList <
>> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>> Daniel,
>>
>> Interesting concern. I think I remember hearing this from a well
>> respected management guru as a critique of Open Space. I can't help but
>> wonder the following:
>>
>> - How well do individual adults resolve conflicts when an authority
>> figure forces them?
>> - How well do conflicting peoples or tribal communities resolve conflicts
>> when they are forcibly held together by an imperial force (think Rome,
>> USSR, pre-partition India, etc etc etc)
>>
>> If you are dealing with children or developmentally challenged
>> individuals - especially those who have violated others rights are are in
>> prison - I can imagine there being some value to some level of compulsion
>> or coercion here. But even there, it may temporarily resolve the fighting
>> and damage, but not the children's growth.
>>
>> If you are dealing with severe human rights being violated in tribal
>> scenarios, I can see how that might justify gunboat diplomacy. But I can't
>> imagine the tribal system will evolve to respect human rights without a
>> huge additional investment from the gunboat diplomats. And it is all too
>> likely that such interference may not only cause even bigger problems later
>> on, but can also encourage exploitation of the less developed
>> tribe/community.
>>
>> Thanks for asking this question!
>>
>>     Harold
>>
>>
>> On 1/30/18 2:07 PM, Daniel Mezick via OSList wrote:
>>
>> I am hearing this pointed criticism from some quarters: That OST actually
>> encourages conflict-avoidance via the Law of 2 Feet. In other words, people
>> who need to be resolving conflict (or at least discussing it) can just
>> avoid the touchy topic... and each other.
>>
>> Could this actually be true? If not why not?
>>
>> --
>> Daniel Mezick
>> Culture Strategist. Author. Keynoter.
>> (203) 915 7248 <(203)%20915-7248>. Bio. <http://www.DanielMezick.com/>
>> Blog. <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/> Twitter.
>> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
>> Book: The Culture Game. <http://theculturegame.com/>
>> Book: The OpenSpace Agility Handbook.
>> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>>
>>
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>>
>> --
>> Harold Shinsato
>> harold at shinsato.com
>> http://shinsato.com
>> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
>>
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>>
>> --
>> Harold Shinsato
>> harold at shinsato.com
>> http://shinsato.com
>> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
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>
> --
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
> 312-280-7838 <(312)%20280-7838> (mobile)
>
> http://MichaelHerman.com
> http://OpenSpaceWorld.org
>
>
>
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