<html>
<font size=4><b><br>
<br>
Background:<br>
<br>
</b></font>The Red Cross main office of Berlin has had financial problems
since 1997. (Triggered by years of mismanagement) <br>
The financial loss summed up to approximately 50 mill $ The
Banks <br>
pressured the management to put up a plan to cut down the operational
cost. <br>
<br>
A big international consulting company was called in they found out that
80% of the operational cost is located to the employees. Management
decided to dismiss 300 employees. <br>
<br>
The factory committee (Betriebsrat) negotiated a social plan for the
dismissed employees with the Red Cross management. <br>
<br>
A group of dismissed employees stepped out with there disappointment of
the dismissal process. What they wanted was:<br>
<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>A
dignified and respected farewell to there former workplace<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>More
then the technical feeling of going away<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>Room
for bad feeling and talk with dismissed colleges <br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>Room
for new personal goals <br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>Broad
information ”What to do”<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>A
ritual to leave a work place after being there from up to 25
years<br>
<br>
The group of dismissed employees asked me if I would help them with
the facilitating of an Open Space. <br>
<br>
The Open Space took place as planed. There were approximately 60
participants from all ranks, working together in 10 different groups.
After the Open Space people were very positive about the process they
experienced. 15 Participants decided to open up there own business.<br>
<br>
<br>
<font size=4><b>A surprise:<br>
<br>
</b></font><font size=4>After the Open Space with the dismissed employees
the remaining<br>
</font>employees especially the 200 from the 12 Red Cross daycare
centers<br>
asked me for help to find a new perspective. There were influenced
by information exchange with there former colleges that had taken part in
the Open Space. At the same time the external international
consultant company made plans to close down some of the daycare centers.
<br>
<br>
Because of this threat I discussed the possibility of
an outplacement with the daycare center Management. Because of the <br>
extraordinary pressure we worked out a business plan to setup a nonprofit
limited company (Daycare Center Ltd.) which was presented to the external
consultants and the Red Cross general management. It was agreed upon
to support the outplacement of the <br>
daycare centers.<br>
<br>
The Open Space was planed with a steering group. Approximately 160
participants from the 12 daycare centers got together for 2 days <br>
to workout there future.<br>
<br>
The first day was focused on information about the development thar had
taken place:<br>
<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>Why
are we getting together?<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>What
is a nonprofit daycare center Ltd?<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>What
are stakeholders?<br>
<font face="Symbol" size=4>·<x-tab> </x-tab></font>What
is a business plan and why do we need one?<br>
<br>
After the Open Space on the second day people were very positive about
the outplacement of the daycare centers as a nonprofit Ltd. They decided
to play an active role in setting up the new company. A group of
employees proposed a opening of the new company for employees to become
stakeholders.<br>
<br>
The change process goes on.........<br>
<br>
<br>
Reinhard Frommann<br>
<br>
<br>
<u><br>
<br>
</u><font face="Times New Roman, Times"><b>GOE <br>
</font><font face="Courier New, Courier">Gesellschaft für
Organisationsentwicklung <br>
Berlin/Brandenburg e. V.<br>
</font>The German O. D. Network<br>
<br>
<font face="Courier New, Courier">Reinhard Frommann<br>
Nestorstraße 1 <br>
110711 Berlin<br>
</font>Germany<br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times">Telefon:
<x-tab> </x-tab>0049
30 327 08 650 <br>
Fax:
<x-tab> </x-tab>0049 30 327 08
651 <br>
Handy:
<x-tab> </x-tab>0049 172 322 45
83<br>
</font><font face="Courier New, Courier">E-Mail
<x-tab> </x-tab>
</font><font face="Courier New, Courier" color="#0000FF"><u>frommann@dialup.nacamar.de<br>
</font><font face="Courier New, Courier">________________________________________________________<br>
</font></b></u></html>
*
*
=============================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu
Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
=============================OSLIST@EGROUPS.COM
To subscribe,
1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist
2. Sign up -- provide an email address,
and choose a login ID and password
3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions
To unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@egroups.com:
1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist
2. Sign in and Proceed
>From Sun Oct 15 16:52:50 2000
Message-Id: <SUN.15.OCT.2000.165250.0500.>
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 16:52:50 -0500
Reply-To: mherman@globalchicago.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Michael Herman <mherman@globalchicago.net>
Organization: Michael Herman Associates
Subject: Re: Practioneers in Tennessee
X-To: Mark Marshall <markmarshall@sprintmail.com>
X-cc: barryo@home.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854";
x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
hello mark,
thanks for your message. i'm copying barry owen on this reply. he's in
tennessee and may know others. i'm also copying the openspace
listserv. if all else fails, you can always give me a call and we can
talk through what you're into.
listserve folks: please reply directly to mark
<markmarshall@sprintmail.com> if you know of tennessee practitioners.
many thanks, michael
Mark Marshall wrote:
> I would like to know if there are any consultants currently using Open
> Space Technology in Tennessee. Thanks.
--
Michael Herman
...inviting the extraordinary to work
300 West North Avenue #1105
Chicago IL 60610
312-280-7838 voice/fax
mailto:mherman@globalchicago.net
Resources, Reflections, Results
http://www.michaelherman.com
**PLEASE NOTE NEW WEB ADDRESS**
*
*
=============================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu
Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
=============================OSLIST@EGROUPS.COM
To subscribe,
1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist
2. Sign up -- provide an email address,
and choose a login ID and password
3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions
To unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@egroups.com:
1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist
2. Sign in and Proceed