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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello to Birgitt, Ingrid and All</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Your request for clarification and elaboration of
my interest in World Cafe processes is just what I need to<BR>put these on
'paper.' For I have long had the thought to do this, since the time of Birgitt
and I conversed about these matters</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>while on a walk on which she had her first
experiencing of kangaroos and of an echidna (spiny anteater) in the wild
during her first </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>visit to Australia, last year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I did a fair amount of composing of what to put out
when seeing people's experiencing at the Berlin gathering, among which
were</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>expressions of disquiet at having 'Dialogue'
imposed on small group gatherings.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then a gift arrived in the form of an opportunity
to facilitate a different kind of meeting process (Passion Cafe) in the
boardroom of one</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>of the world's best known consulting companies,
Ernst and Young, in Sydney; what I referred to as 'the big
end</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>of town.' This was for a KMLF (Knowledge Management
Leaders Forum). Entitled 'Is Conversing Working?' th</FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>is Cafe was a remarkably</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>successful gathering in that people
commented:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>'I am so hungry for this kind of
communication.'</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>'At these forums we usually sit in rows looking at
a speaker. This is the first time that we turned around to look at each other.'
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>'This is an idea whose time has come.' </FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Following this there was another extraordinary
happening, in the form of driving with a close friend (Lloyd Fell, who writes
songs)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>from Sydney to a conference held near to Melbourne
called 'Spirituality, Leadership and Management' (<A
href="http://www.slam.net.au">www.slam.net.au</A>). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There I facilitated a 'Passion Cafe' with the theme
'Time to Converse: it's time to talk about, create and sustain a
culture</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>of conversing in workplaces'. Participants noted
that their experiencing of the process was highly congruent with the
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>theme and pervading spirit of the conference.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lloyd and I then came on to Adelaide along the
coast (Great Ocean Road), arriving here late last week. Last Friday we gave
a </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>joint offering on 'No singing or cafe tables
allowed in this boardroom' in which we used the Cafe format to introduce ideas -
in a light</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>touch way - about </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>stages of human knowing that contribute to 'wholeness of being.'
Participants reportedly liked this very much. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so I have been 'in communicado' to the outside
world for the past couple of weeks and yet in very close
communication</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>with Lloyd during our wonderful travels. I will
foreshadow that his work will come to your attention in the not too distant
future<BR>and that it could resonate deeply in you. To say more here could be a
distraction; nonetheless you at least have an inkling</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>that something profound is in the wind. Some idea
of what this could be can be found be found at <A
href="http://www.autopoiesis.net.au">www.autopoiesis.net.au</A>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Birgitt's request has a number of questions
imbedded in it. Perhaps a good way of commenting on my use of Cafe
processes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>in relation to OST is to address these
questions in turn.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> I wonder if you could please elaborate a
little on the difference<BR>>between how you perceive conversational
processes in relation to what is<BR>>known as "Dialogue"
Process.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have come to appreciate that there is value in
using the verb 'converse' rather than conversation. For those
interested references on this are</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>available. For practical purposes I sometimes
describe OST and World Cafe as 'conversational </FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2>processes.'</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Perhaps what is salient here is that, when I
facilitate either of those this is what I say, _in addition to_ the principles
of OST: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>. We are here to treat each other well</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>. 'We're in this together.'</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>. This gathering will only happen once; never again
will this group of people be together to experience the learning that could
only</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>happen with those who are here. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I feel that these are important to set the
context in which people converse, talk openly and freely with each other. This
is what</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>a participant commented last year when I
facilitated a 3 day residential for graduate students in Social
Ecology:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"The 'keeper' for me was the wonderful notion that
every time we talk openly with another human being, a third -joint-level of
consciousness</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>is created, from the best of both of us. When we
argue or debate, we actually seek to block the other's contribution and limit
potential solutions</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>or suggestions, limiting world consciousness."
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so I sense that _conversing_ is what happens at
gatherings underpinned by the principles of OST. This is not Dialogue, as I
understand the term,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>which is a formal process which requires certain
conditions in which to operate and specific instructions. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Conversing 'just happens' when the conditions are
right. And when it does people:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<P><FONT face=Arial>.</FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2> collaborate in an
open, friendly format</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. build ideas together, with enthusiasm</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. 'talk up' issues, rather than try to 'score points'
or to persuade</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. harness the collective intelligence of the
group</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. arrive at surprising solutions to complex
questions</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. notice and honor the emotional underpinnings of
other's and of own responses</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. recognise that right and wrong, winning and losing
are irrelevant</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. welcome diversity of opinion as a wellspring of
creativity</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. sustain openness to creativity</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. appreciate the value of alliances based on
interdependency</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. enlarge their vision</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. recognise and acknowledge 'blind spots' in their
own perspectives, without losing face.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>>....[I] would very much like you to elaborate on
the difference of what</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2> happens in the world
cafe<BR>> to what happens in an OST meeting.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Among the differences I note are:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENTS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. people sit at small tables, maximum of 6. At
least to begin with. As the meeting proceeds participants set their own
arrangements! </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. participants are in the same room continuously -
apart from when they use the L2F to wander where they please. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. what emerges from the conversing is recorded on
paper table cloths. These recordings can be transcribed or photographed later.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>. decor and music are used to create the ambience of
a Cafe. It is amazing how a few drapes, candles, vases of flowers can transform
a room. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>On my recent travels I used Jennifer Lopez' "Lets get
loud" to set toes tapping at the start of the Cafe. Nancy Margulies notes that
'You can also end by dancing.' </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>FACILITATION</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>The main point is that the facilitator has no role in
providing direction to the content of the conversing. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>The extent to which the facilitator 'intervenes' in
asking people to move depends ing on the purpose of the exercise.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>When it is 'the real thing' ie for real business
purposes facilitation is very much like 'true blue' ie pure 'holding the space'
OST practice, although there can be benefit in suggesting that people move
around. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>When it is for 'demonstration purposes ie to
introduce people to the process then the facilitator does invite people to move
to other tables every now and then. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>CHOICE OF TOPICS TO ADDRESS </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have used OST to 'bring forward' topics that have
been 'fleshed out' in subsequent Cafe gatherings. Other members of this
listserve have done the opposite. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>OST can be used to address very complex and
conflicted issues and that this takes time ie 2-3 days. As I have used Cafe
processes these have focused on quite specific questions and have been conducted
over periods ranging from 1 to 4 hours. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>An important point to note, which the founders of
Cafe processes (Juanita Brown, David Isaacs and Nancy Margulies) emphasise, is
that Cafe is used primarily to go deeper into questions. It is Nancy who coined
the term 'Open Space a la carte', in my understanding. <BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>> One of my current explorations follows from the
premise that it is the <BR>>Sponsor who opens the space and the facilitator
who then can proceed with <BR>>facilitating the Open Space Technology
meeting. I am convinced of the <BR>>importance that the Sponsor should have
the opportunity prior to the Open <BR>>Space Technology meeting to make
"informed consent" about saying "yes" to <BR>>having an Open Space Technology
meeting in the organization.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>I will speculate here, without having had direct
experience of this belum (lovely Indonesian word meaning <BR>'Not yet'), that a
Cafe process could be a useful way to introduce a sponsor to the conversing that
happens<BR>in an OST gathering. And it could be used pragmatically, as
Ingrid suggests, to <FONT face="Comic Sans MS">clarify and formulate the
<BR>theme for the Open Space. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is not a comprehensive analysis of
correspondence and differences between Cafe and OST processes. It is
an<BR>expression of some of my lived experiencing that the two can, in
particular contexts, complement each other nicely. <BR></P></FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>In the near future these ideas will be located on the
World Cafe website <A
href="http://www.theworldcafe.com">www.theworldcafe.com</A>.</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I share these ideas in a spirit of 'here is a
contribution that members of the list may find of value.' Whether you do is not
my business.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>For this is what Meg Wheatley (whose name pops up
periodically on this list) pointed out to me through her writings:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> There is only the fight to recover what has
been lost<BR> And found and lost again and again: and now, under<BR>
conditions<BR> That seem unpropitious.<BR> But perhaps neither gain
nor loss.<BR> For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our
business.<BR>
TS Eliot East Coker V</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My 'trying' may provoke new questions about
the conduct of our wonderful practice - which is about recovering what has been
lost!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some of you may have a different 'take' on these
matters, perhaps specifically on what you understand by 'Dialogue', and would
wish to contribute your perspective </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>to this conversation. Please do.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Whatever, please accept whatever you notice as
significant here as having come via a channel from the land downunder, whose
residents are reputed to stand on their heads all day. (I do a lot, but that's a
family secret!).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Good to converse, with love</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan
Stewart<BR>Multimind Solutions</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Adelaide</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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