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<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>Dear Harrison and
Michael,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>Thank you both for taking
the time to respond so carefully. Although large OST events are not unusual, you
have certainly done the largest and I think the only example of such a large one
in only one day rather than a multi day design. This event has given us all a
chance to learn from you and your experience and I think that there is more
learning to be done. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>Your responses generated
further questions and comments within me. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>1. I was interested in both
of you commenting that announcing the topics was an integral part of OST for you
and that this was not on your list of "one more thing not to do". I would be
very interested in what your lists of integral ingredients for a well done OST
meeting are---not just the description in the User's Guide but what you actually
do in your OST facilitation. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>2. I was interested that
Harrison notes that 1 1/2 hours for the opening/agenda/marketplace is standard
and for Michael that a built in coffee time before the first session is
standard. I had remembered being taught by Harrison to get this all done as
quickly as possible and preferably in less than an hour so that the energy
didn't diminish. It appears from your reporting that the energy doesn't diminish
even with 2 hours before the first session.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>3. Your design allowed you
three session times. I would be very interested in hearing more about your
decision making of having 3 rather than more session times and why you chose the
length of time for each session that you did. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>4. As I understand it, the
agenda wall was the full use of three walls that were set up so that every meter
there was a number posted, for the report number---this had the topics posted
side by side and always allowing for a meter. How did you handle the space and
time assignments with what you set up. And where on the wall did those extra
topics that you had not counted on go? Do you have any recommendations for us
about using this kind of organized agenda wall? Could people easily find the
topics for any given time slot to see easily what the choices were to choose
from--or did they have to walk along to read the three
walls?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>5. Harrison, you note that
one of the reasons you chose Michael to work with you is that he would do a good
job of dealing with the logistics and of working effectively with the client.
What work in your opinion does the facilitator (or in this case designate) take
on regarding the logistics and what is expected in "dealing with the client"?
And Michael, what was the pre-work that you had to do. How many meetings were
involved and what kind of things did you need to cover and to get involved in? I
think there was some brilliant decision making for some very difficult
challenges such as the cushions on the floor, the balloons from which to hang
the signs and so on.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>6. What were the client
expectations for this one day OST event? What were you assisting the client to
achieve? I note in reading the reports that the reports themselves are often
vague and probably mean something only to those who participated in that
particular discussion (this is not unusual for OST reports unless the report
form has more structure). Did the client expectations/goals get met not only for
the event itself but expectations of what might emerge following the
event?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>7. I noted with great
curiousity that you both did your own unique style of the opening rather than
one being a translation of the other. I am fascinated to hear more about this
because it taps right into the answer of the question of "what does it mean to
open space?". Based on two different openings within the same group within the
same time, there is clearly something that is in common that actually opens the
space. Any comments that you have regarding this would be appreciated. I also
know, having experienced each of you "opening space" that you each have
VERY different energies and styles. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>8. I was
also interested by your comments, Harrison, regarding "</FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Effective Open Space facilitation requires the subtle,
conscious, and sensitive use of both." referring to the facilitator tapping into
his/her male and female energy and the male/female energy in the group. I wonder
if you could please say a little more regarding your assessment of "Effective
Open Space Facilitation" rather than Ineffective Open Space Facilitation. Is it
somehow tied into this male/female energy in your opinion?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial>Again, both of you, thank
you for this great story to learn from.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=110474416-12062003></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110474416-12062003></SPAN><SPAN
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<DIV class=Section1>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: fuchsia; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3><FONT color=#000000>Birgitt<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Harrison
Owen<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 12, 2003 9:16 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: AW: 2108 -- Remember the
Number<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>At 10:09 PM 6/11/2003 -0400, <FONT
face=arial>Birgitt</FONT> wrote:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial>The group raised
a number of questions that we hope we can do some learning from you about.
</FONT><BR><FONT face=arial>1. The next time, would you have had
participants announce their topics or would you have left the announcing
part out? What happened to the energy when this part took so long (about two
hours?)?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>The actual "announcements" took about 30 min.
We had, in fact allowed 2 hours from the start until the beginning of the
first session -- just to be safe. As it turned out, the group was a little
slow in arrival (big party the night before) so we got started for real a
little "late" -- which of course was the right time. And so it turned out that
everything took place in the "standard 1 and 1/2 hours. I would never leave
the announcements out -- for lots of reasons. 1) Hearing the topics is a
natural "edit" -- if somebody says "my topic" I don't have to. 2) Announcing
the topic is and act of commitment -- most important expression of passion AND
responsibility. And yes -- it did seem to go on. . . it always does, I find.
But it was truly awesome.<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial>2. The next
time, would you limit the number of topics as you did this time. Your agenda
wall with its very clear organization for topics was interesting but
it is my understanding that you planned for 160 topics but many more were
generated and there was no planned way to deal with them. It didn't look
like the agenda wall left any room for the "unplanned". And yet, maybe
limiting the topics was necessary.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>We did not limit the
topics. We had guessed (or more exactly Michael and I guessed) that 150 would
be the max. Prior to the gathering Michael and I placed informal bets (Beer
for all team members bought by the loser) -- but both were off by a wide
margin. So we all drank a lot of beer. As for more spaces -- just blew up more
balloons. Seemed to work perfectly.<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial>3. The next
time, would you have used cushions on the floor as you did to accomodate the
number of people. We thought that there was probably a lot of discomfort esp
when we became aware of how long people had to be in their seats for the
agenda building.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Given the space available -- there was
no choice but cushions. We did have chairs around the edges for those who's
age or egos prevented sitting on the floor. Personally i didn't hear any
complaints, and for sure the cushions (along with the balloons and floating
signs) contributed to the total atmosphere. So yes -- chairs would have been
nice. But the cushions were brilliant (Michael's Idea).<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial>5. Could one of
you have facilitated this meeting on your own or did it really require the
two of you to "open" and then "hold" the space. What was your reflection
about it being so much male energy in the facilitation--two men opening the
space instead of one male and one female? Did you feel that sharing the
opening of the space was a positive effect on your own energy or did
co-facilitating deflect some of your energy to your
partner?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>One person, speaking both English and German
could easily have handled the situation. But doing it together (speaking just
for myself) was a real treat and privilege. The Program said that I would do
the opening, and Michael would translate. At the very beginning, I made it
clear that was not the case. I said, "Michael will do his thing, I will do
mine -- and with luck we will arrive at the same place." We did. When it comes
to the male/female energy thing I have to say that it had occurred to me to
invite a woman partner, and there would have been a number of wonderful
candidates. I chose Michael for two reasons. First, I had absolute confidence
in his ability to deal effectively with the difficult logistics and work
effectively with the client. Not that others couldn't have -- but with
Michael, there wasn't even a speck of worry. The second reason, and probably
the major reason, was that Michael and I had worked together long enough and
often enough so that I knew there would be an easy flow between us. Two people
in a single dance. I called it a "duet" -- changing metaphors. But dance or
song -- it did flow. And was there too much male energy? That is a question
that somebody else will have to answer, but my feeling is, no. Male and female
energy is something that all of us, regardless of gender, possess. Effective
Open Space facilitation requires the subtle, conscious, and sensitive use of
both. Some people can do this first time, no practice, just go. Personally I
have found that I can "do" male energy quite well -- but I have to make a
special intent to honor my feminine. It has been an interesting journey of 67
years, but I think I am making some progress. Perfect, no -- but
progress.<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial>6. What is the
real advantage in a large OST meeting such as this one? What was
accomplished that could be cited as tangible results? Would it have
been better to break the large group into smaller ie:600 person simultaneous
OST meetings? Would that have been better for the participants. We noted in
the pictures that some of the breakout groups had hundreds of participants
and we were imagining that it would not be very fulfilling---but Erich
pointed out that likely these in fact were like classes continuing on with
masters from the "constellation work" so they were not meant to be really
interactive.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>There is something truly awesome when you
have the Whole System in the room. There is a richness and energy that
you will not find in any other situation. At a practical level -- our
experience in Wuerzburg demonstrated to me that given the space, numbers
aren't an issue. I have tried dividing large groups in the same area -- and
found that they all got back together again anyhow. Of course, we have also
done simultaneous, multi-site OS -- but that was due to budget and travel
constraints. And were it possible to do them again, I would have opted for a
single site. The fact that the break out sessions got rather large does not
relate to the total size of the group. I have worked with groups 1/4 the size
(500) and had large (75) sessions. My learning is that whatever we learned
about "Optimal Group Size" isn't worth much -- The real criteria in not
numbers, but does it work? I have seen groups of 2 being totally dysfunctional
and groups of 75+ just flying. And of course there is always the Law of Two
Feet. If the group is too big (multiple issues) use 'em. Of course, there is a
learning curve,. and in a one day OS, some folks are still caught in concrete.
But they learn.<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial>7. In what
circumstances would you recommend such a large OST meeting and what could
the client expect to achieve?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Criteria for use??? Same
as always. Issue of major, common concern, lots of diversity. mind blowing
complexity, presence of conflict... Open Space. The numbers don't matter.
<BR><BR>Harrison<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
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