<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META content="MSHTML 5.00.2919.6307" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Dear Friends in Open Space, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">In sharing this experience (to
illustrate my mo</FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">re 'daring' explorations
of OST, post Melbourne,) I must acknowledge Peggy's immense encouragement.
</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT size=1> </FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><U>OST in the Classroom of
Management Students<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></U><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><FONT size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><FONT size=2>I teach a 2-
semester Course in Organization Behavior at a Management Institute in Mumbai.
The class, consisting of 50 students, includes classroom lectures and Group
Projects that involve a study of practices in business Organizations.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 37.9pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">The professor is expected
to form the Groups and assign topics for the Project. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 130.9pt 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">In the past, this
‘professor centered’ practice has evoked a veiled resistance from students,
leading to conflicts in the groups and a scramble to meet deadlines. The quality
of work has often reflected a superficial level of involvement.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">This year, when I suggested
to the students that we use OST to decide on Groups and Projects, I met with
immense resistance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They were
afraid that this would lead to ‘forming cliques’ and ‘marginalizing’ the less
popular students. Others feared that the learning goals would be compromised as
students, given the ‘freedom of choice’ would find a path of least effort.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">Were the students saying it
was idealistic to expect ‘responsible’ behavior from them in an environment of
Open Space? <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">My heart told me that the
students needed an opportunity to discover their truer selves. I persisted in my
persuasion until they agreed to give OST a ‘try’.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">The method was explained
and posters on the OST Principles and Law were displayed. The theme chosen was :
‘Organizational Behavior : Enriching theory with the excitement of live
Practice" <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 467.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">Ten students came forward
and each presented his/her topic to the class. What surprised me, even at this
early stage, was the passion with which each one spoke, convinced that the
subject they had chosen was full of exciting merit. The other students then made
their choice and enrolled in different groups. When the students discover that
there were only two members on tow of the groups they conferred amongst
themselves and merged topics.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Soon
the class was in the throes animated discussions, within self-organized
groups.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 37.9pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">Butterflies and Bumble Bees
were seen buzzing around.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some used
the Law of Two Feet and returned. The Group Sessions were allotted 2
hours.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">After a short break the
groups were ready to present their outcomes to the Class: Project Topics and
Strategies. What came though, besides an amazing clarity of thought, was deep
team commitment. The students themselves were amazed at their own creativity.
Kabir said, “<EM>Before we did this exercise, I couldn’t have imagined we could
come up with so many possibilities”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></EM><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 56.1pt; tab-stops: 439.45pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">The Projects were executed
over the following 2 months. Without any prodding and with immense enthusiasm,
the students shared their weekly progress. There was a palpable sense that the
students ‘owned’ the Projects and this made ‘over-seeing’ virtually
redundant.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">The final presentations
were an eloquent testimony to the method and spirit of Open Space Technology.
Each Project report was a masterpiece of intelligent research and analysis.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">In their ‘end of semester’
feedback the students singled out the method of Open Space as their single most
powerful experience. They said they felt honored by the trust that OST implied
and were inspired to challenge their own limits. For the first time their
Projects, they said, were a joyful experience of real learning. They wished that
the Open Space method could be used more widely in the Institute. The comments
of Ali and Mukul echo these sentiments:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><EM><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">“The method of Open Space
Technology brought new freedom, creativity and commitment to our Project work.
We are deeply grateful to Ms. Pinto for believing in our integrity and giving us
the freedom of choice in our Project work”. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><EM><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">“We felt a new sense of
responsibility and commitment and were inspired to give of our best. This has
been the most enjoyable and fruitful learning experience of the semester. The
spirit of Open Space must be created in every situation of higher
learning.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p><EM> </EM></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt">My learning, as a teacher,
was just as profound.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0.75in; tab-stops: 67.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Monotype Corsiva'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Janet
Pinto<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:
<p>
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html