<html>
At 03:29 PM 12/16/2002 -0700, Elwin Guild wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Page 10 of last Friday's
"International Herald Tribune" stopped me cold!<br><br>
The page was nearly blank although its tagline read: introducing IBM
Business Consulting Services.<br><br>
What stopped me was the following statement which was the only other
thing on the page:<br><br>
Transformation.<br><br>
It's a big word.<br><br>
Going into the DNA<br>
of the business.<br><br>
Pulling best practices<br>
from other industries.<br><br>
Pulling together decades<br>
of category experience,<br>
street-smart big thinkers and<br>
the newest technology.<br><br>
Done well, it can turn old<br>
processes into new profits.<br><br>
But who could do all that?<br><br>
Everything at once?<br><br>
Who would have the depth?<br>
------------------------------------------<br><br>
Before taping the page to my office wall I added: "anyone in an Open
Space Circle!"<br>
Sorry IBM, you're still working in the dark!</blockquote><br>
Several years ago, the IBM Business Consulting Group invited me to Open
some space for their annual get-together. All about the future of their
practice. We did it, and they did it -- and it all work great.
Unfortunately, the Director of the group was absolutely terrified when he
saw the power that had emerged. Literally hid in his room when it came
time for the final session. But maybe something happened.<br><br>
It is interesting -- the transformation of Transformation. 20 years ago
when we did the 1st International Symposium on organization
Transformation, the whole thing was treated as definitely off the charts,
and obviously some new Age madness. But the word wouldn't go away, it
just got downsized. Historically, real transformation in human beings is
massively destructive to the old order -- the ending of a whole mess of
stuff, not the least of which is the notion of being in charge.
Presently, Transformation appears as a slightly souped up change
management all wrapped up in the ribbons of Best Practices etc. In my
experience, no rational being would willing undergo transformation --
hurts too much. And the thought that some individual or organization is
going to set out to transform itself or some others is pretty close to
bizarre. I guess words can mean anything you want, but transformation in
my life was definitely something that happens to you. A real wild ride.
Looking back it was a marvelous experience, but not to be repeated any
time soon. But of course the powers that unleash transformation pay
little if any attention to our wishes. Anyhow, I say Lots of Luck IBM.
Maybe they've found the Silver Bullet.<br><br>
Harrison<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 301-365-2093<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://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a><br><br>
<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>