<html><div>At 12:02 PM 1/24/00 -0800, you wrote:</div>
<div>>I got this request from a colleague - Susan Partnow and
suspect that there</div>
<div>>are some people who have dealt with the sort of situation she is
facing.</div>
<div>>Any advice would be appreciated!</div>
<div>></div>
<div>>Peg Holman</div>
<div>></div>
<div>>----- Original Message -----</div>
<div>>From: <Susan4Ps@aol.com></div>
<div>>To: <pholman@msn.com></div>
<div>>Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2000 4:12 PM</div>
<div>>Subject: Seeking counsel on presenting OS to a group</div>
<div>></div>
<div>></div>
<div>>> I have an opportunity to introduce a group of HR Executives
to Open Space.</div>
<div>>> This is a group of about 15 individuals from the private
sector who meet</div>
<div>>at a</div>
<div>>> bi monthly roundtable. Typically they share stories of
their own</div>
<div>>experience</div>
<div>>> or initiatives for discussion; often an outsider is brought
in to present</div>
<div>>a</div>
<div>>> particular topic, as would be the case with my
presentation.</div>
<div>>></div>
<div>>> The dilemma I face is a very limited time frame of 1 hour
15 minutes --</div>
<div>>plus</div>
<div>>> a requested topic. My original proposal was that we
use a longer time</div>
<div>>frame</div>
<div>>> and have the participants participate in an open space --
focussing on the</div>
<div>>> opportunities of their roundtable association as the
topic. However, the</div>
<div>>> coordinator is now requesting this shorter time frame with
the following</div>
<div>>as</div>
<div>>> the focus question: "How must we change our
compensation systems,</div>
<div>>benefits</div>
<div>>> programs and employee practices in light of the aging
workforce, longer</div>
<div>>> lifespans, and expanding definition of family."
Does this seem like</div>
<div>>'mission impossible' --</div>
<div>*******************</div>
<div>Short answer YES!</div>
<br>
<div>If they are interested in experiencing Open Space take the time (I
would say at least a day) to do it -- and also get something useful done.
If what they want to do is hear about it -- show the (USWEST) video with
a brief introduction, and take any questions. There will be a bunch. And
they will actually get something out of the experience. The approach
suggested by the "coordinator" is (in my judgement) a one way
ticket to frustration at best, and maybe disaster. Don't do it.</div>
<br>
<div>Harrison</div>
<br>
<br>
<div align="center">
Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854<br>
USA<br>
phone 301-469-9269<br>
fax 301-983-9314<br>
website <br>
<a href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora="autourl">www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</a><br>
Open Space Institute websites<br>
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
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