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At 02:21 PM 10/4/01 +0100, Artur wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Are the pinciples the main reason
why OST works (I mean, are they<br>
real "principles") as it it stated in the chapter on OST of
Senge's "The<br>
Dance of Change" (to mention only that)?<br>
<br>
Or the foundation of OST is elsewhere? Maybe the Circle, the
Boletim<br>
Board, the Market place; a Theme for which people care (and when we<br>
say that there is no pre-defined Agenda, but we don't mention there is
a<br>
Theme, things look VERY different from what they are); the
combination<br>
of plenary sessions and breakout ones; the suspension of quotidian
rules<br>
(that to be suspended must be replaced by some others, one must not<br>
take "with total seriousness"), and the Law (from which many
other<br>
things are derived)?<br>
<br>
I have facilitated 4 OST events until now (I will talk about that to the
list<br>
later). Three were done "by the book". In the last one, I
decided to apply<br>
your principle "less is more!". And, apart from the Theme and
the Buletin<br>
Board) , I had only two signs: the law and "be prepared to de
surprised".<br>
I have mentioned the 4 principles as "some other points you
eventually<br>
would like to pay attention -- two that are about time (...) and the
other two<br>
I don't know very well what they are about, but He (you) always
mentions<br>
them (...)". It worked exactly like the others (better than one of
the others<br>
but that as a different explanation...).</blockquote><br>
It is certainly quite possible to Open Space and never mention either the
4 Principles or The Two Footed Law -- and it will work quite well. The
reason, I think, is that both are simply an acknowledgment of what was
going to happen anyhow. Thus, the Principles emerged NOT as prescriptions
of expected behavior, but rather as simple observations of what seemed to
be going on. The Right people showed up, work was focused in the Now with
little regard for what might have been or should have been -- It always
started when it was the right time -- and of course, it was definitely
over when it was over. The only value in announcing the principles (or
perhaps a value) is that doing so takes all the guilt out. And misplaced
guilt is a waste of time and energy. As for The Law of Two Feet, I think
this is really critical to effectively operating in Open Space (any
self-organizing system) --- but again, folks will do it anyhow.
Unfortunately they don't use their two feet -- they just let their minds
and hearts wander when they are no longer interested. All the Law says if
follow your passion (interest) but responsibly.<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Harrison Owen</blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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