<html>
At 12:32 AM 4/30/01 -0400, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Harrison--<br>
<br>
What do I think? I wonder (not at all facetiously) about the next
question:<br>
How then do you sell OST? Put another way, What gets the check
writer<br>
beyond our "What you want does not count, only what your people
want"?<br>
<br>
:-Doug. Germann<br>
<a href="http://www.footprintsinthewind.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.FootprintsintheWind.com</a><br>
Doug@FootprintsintheWind.com</blockquote><br>
I hear the point -- and two thoughts come to mind. First, if the check
payer doesn't want what the group wants, and more importantly does not
understand that the wisdom of the Group will inevitably exceed his or her
own -- then there is little space to be opened -- and Open Space will
definitely be a painful experience for all concerned, and should probably
not be entered. This is not always a "bad" thing, as there are
clearly times when Open Space should not be used. Those times include
instances where "the answer" is already known. For example, I
would never suggest Open Space be used for the initiation of a new
financial system. Just pass out the manuals and get on with the business.
By the same token, Open Space is a wonderful way to <i>create</i> a new
system with all stakeholders participating. But in that case, the
stakeholders must be honored or you are in a real mess.<br>
<br>
The second thought is that I would make every effort to insure that the
Bill-Payer understands the Promises of Open Space, and further that
those promises will be kept / baring an act of God. The promises
are:<br>
<br>
1) Every issue of importance to any one in the group will be on the
table.<br>
2) All issues will receive full discussion.<br>
3) There will be a full written report in the hands of all
participants.<br>
4) Related issues will be converged.<br>
5) Priority issues identified.<br>
6) Responsibility will be assumed for taking the immediate next steps.
<br>
<br>
Those are guaranteed! I will tell folks that enabling the group to become
inspired, innovative, creative, responsible, charged up, turned on etc...
is a no-brainer. Living with such folks afterwards can be a little
difficult. Choose.<br>
<br>
Harrison <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>
<br>
<font color="#0000FF"><u>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
</u></font>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,<br>
view the archives of <font color="#0000FF"><u>oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu<br>
</u></font>Visit: <a href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></u></div>
</html>