<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2">Raffi--<BR>
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I've not tried using storytelling as a prelude to OS. For some other types of meetings it seems useful; for Open Space I usually would like the stories in the OS itself, because they carry a lot of emotional energy that helps to bond a group together and gives some momentum toward action. This is my own peculiar prejudice.<BR>
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I also don't usually do skills training pre-OS. One of my clients decided her staff needed help ahead of time, and provided a workshop--my feeling at the time was that her feeling the group needed help probably did as much harm as the workshop did good. <BR>
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Re: action planning, I think there may be some cultural difference. Americans often go straight to action, maybe without always giving the issue enough real thought and discussion. On the continuum between discussion and action, my limited experience is that Russians and others from the former Soviet Union do very well on discussion and visions, but don't find planning specific action as comfortable. Could be related to all those years that the average person was not often allowed to take responsibility for implementing their own ideas.<BR>
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Colleagues and I have sometimes incorporated a hands-on workshop where participants develop a step by step action plan for their idea--not in the Open Space, but in somewhere in the program. People seem to get excited by the process of finding the specific steps that will help to accomplish their goals. And of course, this is an idea that they already have some passion for!<BR>
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I think it is inevitable that OS will be messy, and that many participants will not understand the role of the facilitator. I do let the planning team know that I will not be doing any up-front facilitation between the Opening and Evening News or the Closing Circle, but that I will be very much present the whole time, supporting the work of the groups and attending to logistical things as needed.<BR>
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And I agree that having difficult discussions of things people do not want to hear is a positive outcome! Though they may not think much of it at the time.<BR>
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Good luck!<BR>
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Joelle </FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2"></FONT></HTML>
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