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At 09:26 PM 5/14/01 -0400, Birgitt wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Dear Anne,<br>
I think the topic of reports--their clarity to those who did not attend
the<br>
session but would like a well done summary of what took place, as well
as<br>
often time far reaching implications of what is included in the reports
is<br>
of consequence within what we do with Open Space Technology meetings.
I<br>
agree with Harrison in terms of getting the reports up on to the wall
as<br>
quickly as possible and asking all to pay attention and to see
their<br>
"recorder" if reports require changing before they make it into
the book of<br>
proceedings. This is difficult regarding the reports entered at the
end.<br>
There is also a problem when all in the group agree with the report but
it<br>
has inaccuracies of the type you mention. This could be somewhat offset
by<br>
how you develop and then communicate the "givens" for the
meeting.</blockquote><br>
I find it very helpful to remind folks at the beginning, middle and end
about the "true" nature of the reports. They are much closer to
"aide d'memoire" (I think I screwed up my high school French)
than what we traditionally understand as "formal reports". I
often stamp the reports in large letters DRAFT -- just to make the point.
If it turns out that folks want something more finished -- that is a task
best undertaken after the Open Space. In short the reports (The Book) is
a <i>Work in Progress</i>, the purpose of which is to remind people (at
the least) where they have been, and what they might be looking forward
to.<br>
<br>
All of this seems to work in my experience, provided "the whole
system" is really in the room -- or at least a much of it as was
humanly possible. The reports then are no longer documents designed to
inform people who were not there (primarily) but rather "memory
jogs" for the folks who were there. Adding that wonderful word DRAFT
serves to make the point. Indeed a short note to that effect in the
introduction is often helpful, because of course you must assume that the
Reports will find their way into the hands of those who were not present.
<br>
<br>
Birgitt raises an important point about folks "not agreeing"
with all the details in the report. Over the long haul, this is not a
problem, provided it is under stood that it is all a Work In Progress --
but there can be a difficulty when it comes to prioritizing and
convergence at the end of Open Space. The way I handle this is to suggest
that folks "vote" for the title, and use the discussion merely
for purposes of definition. Thus if you think the issue, as stated by the
title and defined (generally) by the discussion, is "important"
-- it is worthy of your vote <i>even if you totally disagree with the
content of the discussion.<br>
<br>
</i>I guess the real point is that it is the people that are important,
and not the reports. I understand that in many organization
":IT" (whatever "IT" is) simply doesn't exist until
it shows up in the "official report". This is a place where I
think Open Space can make a solid blow for freedom. So it is my practice
to suggest that at the end of the Open Space -- Don't forward the Reports
for further discussion (usually by the Management/Executive Committee
which is typically a black hole from which nothing useful ever escapes)
-- Invite the people who cared, and whoever else chooses to join them to
make that critical presentation. Not incidentally, this makes it quite
clear that Open Space doesn't stop with the closing circle.<br>
<br>
Harrison<br>
<br>
<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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