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At 11:24 AM 2/10/00 +0000, you wrote: <br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite>One of my difficulties is that at this stage I
am not in face to face contact with a client (several hundred miles away)
who requires a single sheet synopsis of how OS can meet his needs. I
therefore feel I have to present this as a rational process - along the
lines of Birgitt and Michael's responses - but require some pragmatic
evidence to back it up.<br>
<br>
Ralph's anecdote was helpful and in response to his comment about the
clarity of my request, can I now ask for examples I can quote to a
client's inevitable questions: "How do I know that this will work?
Can you give me examples of where this process has produced results
elsewhere in similar circumstances? What were the outcomes that
stuck?"</blockquote><br>
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I guess this is one more example of the un advisability (impossibility)
of "selling Open Space." Personally, I only present the
"guaranteed outcomes" (all issues of concern will be on the
table, fully discussed to the extent that folks want to, recorded for
future use, converged, prioritized, and responsibility assumed), and
leave it to the client. <br>
<br>
In answer to the question - "How do I know this will work?" The
answer depends a great deal on what "work" means. If
"work" means that a predetermined program will be implemented
-- the answer is probably not. Indeed, I would not suggest Open Space
under those circumstances. If "work" means that the central
concern for safety is internalized, and that effective approaches to
safety are developed out of the group(s). I think the answer is that
there is a very high probability of that occurring. Are there
any iron clad guarantees? Never, at least in terms of
pre-determined specific results.<br>
<br>
The really critical thing in my mind is willingness of your client to
treat his folks as adults and presume that at the end of the day they
have a greater stake in safety than anybody -- after all it is their
bodies on the line. Further, that the collective wisdom of the total
group on the subject is as great, or greater, than any expert panel or
the client him/herself. If not -- don't do it (OS).<br>
<br>
As I have listened to this conversation, I have had the growing feeling
that this is not really an appropriate application because the space is
not really open. It does occur to me, however, that Open Space
could be extraordinarily useful in designing, developing, and monitoring
the total safety program. Just invite anybody who cares about safety, up
to whatever level budget and other considerations would allow, and have
at it. I think you would come out with a program and program implementers
(all the participants) that could knock your socks off. <br>
<br>
Very simply Open Space is a great way to develop a program and achieve
buy in. It is a lousy way to roll out a program that is already in the
"can." Not because Open Space won't work, -- it doubtless
will -- and that in itself will be the cause of major pain.
For the sponsors -- because the participants will take Open Space
seriously and start to re-work the program and probably throw out some
favorite part. And the participants won't be happy either 'cause they
will be fighting the sponsor. Truly exciting Open Space, but probably not
what everybody had in mind.<br>
<br>
The easy part of your question(s) is, "Can Open Space be used with
male dominated hierarchical organizations?" The answer: Absolutely.
For example, one time I had 144 regional directors of the US Immigration
and Naturalization Service (INS) for 3 days around building their
strategic plan. All were male, and this was/is a para-military
organization (to say the least). The job got done, and by the end these
macho types found themselves sitting in a circle saying things to each
other that sounded an awful lot like Touchy-Feeley BS. Amazing.
<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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