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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">It feels good to recommend an approach that not only is
the best to ‘get the job done’, but also, per the CEO of our client, ‘will be
the watershed event that turns the tide on the culture of our
organization’.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is also
fulfilling to work with an organization to plan and implement OS event, with
minimal hype, fanfare or organizational politics, while applying “Open Space’
values (invite all the stakeholders, voluntary self selection, simplicity,
etc.).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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face="Times New Roman"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The pre-event work was fun, however the best moment was
when I said<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>‘Go for it’ and there
was a mad rush to the centre of the circle to pick up the pens and paper.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Before I tell the details of this event, a big thanks to those who helped
me on my journey. First, to Harrison for drinking those two martinis almost
twenty years ago.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And to Harrison,
Larry Peterson and Birgitt Williams for introducing me to Open Space at that
humble monastery in Guelph.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thanks to Larry and Sharon King (Starfield Consulting) for providing me
the opportunity to open the space for this client.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also to everyone on the OSList as
I am a long-term off and on lurker, and have been inspired by many postings.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Some background information to set the context - I am an
Organizational Development consultant who recently decided to join the world of
<I>external</I> consulting due to space opening in ways that I hadn’t
anticipated (corporate layoff with a severance package).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After having “tried everything” with my
corporate clients, I am pretty much convinced that Open Space is 'as good as it
gets' in terms of an approach to get a job done.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While not universally applicable,
certainly the best approach I’d come across for many of the situations clients
had asked me to help them with.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I was introduced to Open Space several years ago, after toiling for over
a year to design and implement a series of four ‘Management’ Conferences for
senior executives.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was an
immediate convert after I heard Harrison’s story of OT3 and the coffee
breaks.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After spending many weeks
planning an agenda, designing workshops, hiring facilitators, and coordinating
logistics for these conferences (200 executives attended each) afterwards, I
realized how the coffee breaks were the most beneficial and productive
part.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we spent the least time
and money on was the most valuable!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I knew that Open Space would have had far more impact at a fraction of
the cost and hassle factor.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>My success in convincing my corporate clients the value of Open Space was
limited, although many at the lower echelons were eager to ‘try it out’.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That is another story…</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>This story is about our client, a social housing provider for the city of
Toronto.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are in the beginning
stages of implementing a three-year strategic plan that entails a major
organizational shift.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are
decentralizing by implementing a ‘Community Model’, where services will be
provided by 27 new ‘Community Housing Units’ (CHUs), rather than the head
office.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The theme of the Open Space
was “Getting the CHUs Up and Running”.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The sponsor wanted to engage the
staff members impacted by the new CHUs to talk about and decide what needs to
happen, and to work together after the event to make it happen.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perfect application….</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>In all appearances, this Open Space planning and event were typical.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Larry and I worked with a sponsor and a
team to organize the event.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
team and sponsor decided to send the invitation to everyone in the organization
and accept anyone who ‘volunteered’ to attend.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We originally planned for 150, however
by the deadline (a week before the event) we had 242 ‘volunteers’ and 225 showed
up!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The proceedings included 60
reports, including detailed discussions and plans for the day of the turnover,
and recommendations for addressing longer-term systemic issues.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>What impressed me about this situation and event was the simplicity, how
it came together quickly and naturally.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>All the basics were taken care of and there was minimal
embellishment.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The power of the
principles of self-organization were evident, genuine community emerged, and the
participants demonstrated leadership, passion and responsibility. While I have
seen the impact before, I am always amazed and impressed with what happens
during Open Space. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>While one event does not change a culture, it certainly appears to have
created a jump-start for this organization.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We met yesterday with the planning team,
the CEO, sponsors and the leaders of the top topics (those topics that were
voted as most important for organizational attention right now).<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The CEO opened by saying that he
couldn’t imagine having a meeting of this group of people prior to the Open
Space.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Typically work has been
organized through the hierarchical structure and this was the first meeting with
a group of people from different levels and organizations - all committed to
work together toward the same goal.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He challenged the group to
move forward with implementation. He outlined his role (and the planning team’s)
in supporting the individuals and their teams’ efforts.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He talked about unleashing the creative
energy in the organization and creating/being the kind of organization they want
to become – an “Open Space” organization.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>All the right stuff….</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Obviously, this story is just beginning.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It will be interesting to see how it
evolves and, hopefully, be a part of ‘whatever happens’.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No doubt there will be chaos, confusion
and conflict.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And from that will
emerge the creative energy, ideas and the commitment to act.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Of the Open Space events that I have helped convene, this
was the most rewarding. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is
amazing how something so simple, and so obvious, can have such an impact. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>I wanted to reflect on the experience. Thanks to those who’ve read this
posting.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Judy Gast<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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