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At 04:08 PM 4/24/01 -0700, Peg Holman Wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>To me that means that given enough
time in healthy conditions (and OS<br>
creates healthy conditions), people begin to focus on life giving
forces.<br>
They do this without all the OD-like complications of AI's 4-D
cycle.<br>
<br>
Having said that, I LOVE the transformative effect I've observed AI can
have<br>
when people experience an AI interview. So when the time is short
or a<br>
client isn't ready to start with OS, I introduce AI.<br>
<br>
I sit very much with the question about AI that Harrison applied
when<br>
experimenting with OS: what is one less thing to do and have the
experience<br>
be whole? For me, the 4-D methodology puts the facilitator too much
in<br>
charge. I want to see the philosophy and practice of AI flourish
but<br>
without all the fuss. When the appropriate situation arises, I
would like<br>
to try doing an appreciative interview and then move directly into
opening space.<br>
<br>
Peggy</blockquote><br>
Peg raises an interesting and delicate point -- the relationship between
OS and AI (to which I would add the whole spectrum of interventions out
there ie Dialogue, Cafe, Community Building etc). I will be the first to
say that I have learned much from each of these, and respect their
authors/creators profoundly. I also have to say that in my experience
groups operating in Open Space naturally manifest precisely the
same behaviors as these approaches seek to achieve -- all without
apparent intention or direct intervention from a facilitator. So I am
left with the question, why do formally what seems to appear naturally,
especially when the formal intervention requires a lot more work? <br>
<br>
And there is a deeper concern. When a group experiences Dialogue,
appreciation of each other, community... in the context of a facilitated
session, there is a natural tendency to assume that the "facilitator
did it" -- and further -- a repeat of those experiences will require
the services of a trained facilitator expert in those particular
approaches. <i>In a word the group is, at some significant level,
dis-empowered.</i> They are likely to think that what is a natural
phenomenon can only occur as a result of direct intervention from an
outside source. Such thoughts/feelings may make the facilitators feel
better, as also the client/sponsor who may think that such powerful
experiences should only be encouraged under strict guidance. After all it
could get out of control. But I think all of that is to deprive a group
of its natural heritage. Good for the facilitator, good for the
client/sponsor -- bad for the group.<br>
<br>
I also take Peg's point about the group/sponsor being "ready"
for Open Space. Some are, and some apparently aren't. But is this really
true? Phrasing the issue in this way makes it seem that when we
"do" an Open Space, we actually bring something to a group that
it did not have before. I find myself looking at things rather
differently. From where I sit, all groups exist in open space whether
they like it or not. So it is not about bringing something new -- but
recognizing what is. Put rather more directly, I think what happens in
Open Space is that we just recognize the open space of our lives. Nothing
new, just a blinding flash of the obvious. So somehow, talking about
being "ready" misses the point -- we are all ready (already)
there.<br>
<br>
At this point, I think we may be getting close to what I take to be the
heart of the matter. All of us at some point have spoken fondly, and
sometimes longingly of that wonderful thing -- <i>The Open Space
Organization</i>, as if it were something that we might achieve or
create. Indeed, some of us (myself included) have spent a lot of time and
energy thinking about how we might do just that. But what is the Open
Space Organization?<br>
<br>
Doubtless we could produce a long list of qualities and characteristics
-- which might then lead to a disciplined and "effort-full"
process to install such a thing. But in doing all that, I think we miss
the central and critical point. We already are Open Space Organizations.
It remains only to do intentionally what we are already doing. To be
intentionally what we already are. <br>
<br>
And what is "it" that we already are? My answer is -- we are
Complex Adaptive Systems! Or in other words self-organizing systems. That
is all there is. Now to be sure there are more than a few folks who
actually think they did the organizing, and then at great effort are
responsible to keep things organized...<br>
<br>
Anyhow, I find it useful to just keep opening space, and the rest will
pretty much take care of itself. Lazy, narrow minded... perhaps. But it
seems to work.<br>
<br>
Harrison <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<div align="center">
Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
phone 301-469-9269<br>
fax 301-983-9314<br>
Open Space Training
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
<br>
Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
Personal website <a href="http://www.mindspring.com/~owenhh" eudora="autourl">www.mindspring.com/~owenhh</a><br>
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