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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial id="role_document"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Ester Wrote: </span></font><strong><b><font
size=4 color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'>I agree that the fewer givens
"dictated" the better. And I wonder if this doesn't highlight the
need for clarity in the crafting of the invitation. I believe it
important in that people do need to know whether they are being asked to come
to make decisions or recommendations. </span></font></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";
color:#400080'>This probably applies more to corporations than it does to
community building where I would expect that one of the goals is to build
ongoing engagement and participation across many stakeholders. </span></font></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";
color:#400080'>It is not always a "given" that management in a
corporation is willing to share decision-making but then that is part of the
preparation that we undertake with them in the pre-OS planning - making them
aware of the opportunities available to them in OS and in being more of an OS
organization.</span></font></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I take your point, but perhaps with a twist. There is little
question that shared decision making is not a virtue broadly practiced in the
corporate world. Indeed, for many it is an article of faith that Management “decides”
and workers “do” (what they are told.) Frankly I find this to be
not only ill-advised, but frankly wrong. Doubtless some Managers think they
made the decisions, but at the end of the day, at the pointy end of the stick
where the job gets done a whole bunch of really critical decisions are made by
those who do the work. A friend of mine was VP for Human Resources at a major
hotel chain and he used to say, “99% of all customer contact takes place
beyond management control.” Under these circumstances it would make sense
if those final decisions at the point of contact were fully informed –
which requires the maximum level possible of “shared decision making.”
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Of course in a stove pipe organization where decisions only
come “down,” such sharing is difficult to impossible. However, in
Open Space the impossible often becomes reality – if the space is
provided. As a matter of fact it usually becomes reality any way, regardless of
the disposition of management. When a whole bunch of folks talk about the
issues they care passionately about, and come to some firm conclusions –
real decisions are made no matter what management may think. These decisions
may be honored or ignored, but they will be ignored at the peril of Management,
and probably the whole enterprise. I understand that some “attitude
adjustment” may be required for some managers, and a good place to start
that activity would be in the preparatory meetings for the Open Space. This conversation
may well fall on deaf ears, but I would believe that informed consent is
important in Open Space as elsewhere. Then again it may be that the space just
ain’t open and it is time to walk on by. For myself, I would rather
take that walk before the opening of the circle than after.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Harrison</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Potomac, Maryland 20845</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Phone 301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'></X-SIGSEP><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red'><!--StartFragment --><X-SIGSEP>Open Space Training <a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>Open
Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.org</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>Personal
website <a href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm"
eudora=autourl>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a></span></font><font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><br>
<a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a></span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives Visit: <a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" eudora=autourl>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> [mailto:</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Esther Ewing<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, November 18, 2004
10:54 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: Givens -- Again</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font size=4
color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'>Cathy and Harrison:</span></font></b></strong></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";
color:#400080'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font size=4
color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'>I agree that the fewer givens
"dictated" the better. And I wonder if this doesn't highlight the
need for clarity in the crafting of the invitation. I believe it
important in that people do need to know whether they are being asked to come
to make decisions or recommendations. </span></font></b></strong></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";
color:#400080'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font size=4
color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'>This probably applies more to
corporations than it does to community building where I would expect that one
of the goals is to build ongoing engagement and participation across many
stakeholders. </span></font></b></strong></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";
color:#400080'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><strong><b><font size=4
color="#400080" face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080'>It is not always a
"given" that management in a corporation is willing to share
decision-making but then that is part of the preparation that we undertake with
them in the pre-OS planning - making them aware of the opportunities available
to them in OS and in being more of an OS organization.</span></font></b></strong></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 3.0pt;
margin-left:2.5pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>As a
long time "lurker" on the OSList, I've found that there have been
very<br>
few times when my interest and passion kicks in to the degree that I feel<br>
inclined to respond. This is the one!<br>
<br>
Harrison, while we haven't yet met, (but if you come to Halifax next year,<br>
we will) I have to say with all sincerity that your contributions to the<br>
list serve, and those of a few others are the only reason that keep me<br>
interested and reading. I shall also go out on the limb and say that
Chris<br>
Corrigan is another one whose contributions inspire me greatly.<br>
<br>
While over the past 4 years I have faciliated and co-faciliated approx. 30<br>
open space gatherings in this part of the world, I have found that the<br>
pondering over givens has rarely made a difference..........<br>
<br>
Your missile this morning was so great that I just had to acknowledge your<br>
thoughts. I say hurray.......no more givens! The less intervention
the<br>
better...........and I totally agree that we do not give participants the<br>
credit they deserve when given the opportunity to trust themselves.<br>
<br>
While the majority of my current life work happens to be in the realm of<br>
coaching individuals in accelerating their consciousness - when it comes<br>
time for group process, Open Space Technology is the only way to ensure an<br>
effective process.........and I make no apologies for my belief!<br>
<br>
Keep the thoughts coming Harrison.......it takes no stretch in my<br>
imagination to understand why you were the one who developed the concept!<br>
You are a true inspiration and the "keeper" of this listserve.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Cathy Carmody<br>
Halifax, N.S.<br>
<br>
<br>
----- Original Message -----<br>
From: "Harrison Owen" <hhowen@comcast.net><br>
To: <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><br>
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 10:45 AM<br>
Subject: Givens -- Again<br>
<br>
<br>
I am not quite sure why the specification and definition of "Givens"
should<br>
have butted its way into my consciousness - but it did and frankly I was<br>
rather surprised at the intensity of the feelings (thoughts) evoked. Anyhow,<br>
I let my fingers do the walking and the following appeared on my screen. I<br>
share it with the thought that others may have had similar thoughts (or<br>
different) - and that we all might learn from kicking the old stand-by<br>
around one more time...<br>
<br>
Givens refer to those immovable issues, conditions,
or situations<br>
which must be taken into account prior departure on any planning or<br>
executive activity in our organizations. To do otherwise would seem the<br>
ultimate folly, inviting disaster before the first step is taken.<br>
Identifying the Givens is also very much in line with the dominant paradigm<br>
when it comes to improving our organizations. That paradigm is the age old<br>
problem/solution model which has seemingly served us so well. After all,<br>
logic would tell you that you must identify all the problems before you can<br>
find the solutions. Of course, it often turns out that we identify so many<br>
problems that solution of any sort is impossible. And if that doesn't occur<br>
it is quite likely that the vast majority of the problems identified impinge<br>
only marginally, if at all, on our capacity to move in the direction we were<br>
intending. However, we feel better for having done our "due
diligence" by<br>
minutely surveying the treacherous terrain before us. Identifying Givens
is<br>
a subset of problem identification, if only because most of the Givens seem<br>
like problems, albeit insoluble ones. Givens must be accepted and we go from<br>
there.<br>
In the narrower world of Open Space practitioners
and practice, some<br>
considerable amount of time and effort has been devoted to contemplating<br>
Givens. At the general level, it has been argued that the identification of<br>
Givens is the essential first step in any Open Space engagement. Supposedly<br>
this will make the management in the situation feel better knowing that the<br>
untouchables will remain untouched. Given the normal anxiety levels that<br>
precede an Open space event it seems wise to assure the establishment that<br>
the crazy horde of participants will not do violence to the organizational<br>
sacred cows. Base budget, structure and policy are all carefully fenced, or<br>
totally removed from the table. The procedure of identifying Givens also<br>
seems to make sense in terms of protecting participants from possible<br>
frustration and anger should they disturb a sacred cow - and then get their<br>
hands slapped or even worse, be ignored.<br>
Despite the obvious logic in the fastidious
identification of<br>
Givens, I have always found myself uneasy, even impatient with the approach.<br>
This may say much more about me (illogical and rash) than the approach, but<br>
my reasons, as nearly as I can state them, are as follows. First, most of<br>
the Givens I have encountered were not that immutable. Secondly, truly<br>
immutable Givens were so well known and accepted as not to require mention.<br>
Thirdly, specifying Givens limits the space of
possibility. The net<br>
result is almost inevitably the sub-optimization of group performance.<br>
Simply put, when some areas/elements are placed outside the arena of<br>
discussion, powerful and valid approaches to the job at hand can never even<br>
be considered. I am reminded of the comments of Dale Robertson, who at the<br>
time was the Chief of The US Forrest Service, when some of his staff<br>
proposed placing existing legislation and regulations in The Givens category<br>
as we approached a major Open Space on the future of the Forest Service. He<br>
reminded his staff that while the Service could not operate in defiance of<br>
the law or standing regulations, both law and regulations could be changed.<br>
Further, if the Forest Service was to fulfill its mission, such change was<br>
inevitable.<br>
Fourth and finally, I find the whole "Givens
Business" grossly<br>
insulting to the participants (as opposed to The Management) in the Open<br>
Space. The implication is that those participants are so ill mannered,<br>
incompetent, and untutored as to need careful instruction regarding what<br>
they may and may not think and talk about. Personally, I would take all this<br>
as a gold plated invitation to think and talk about precisely what is<br>
forbidden. But then again, I am rash and illogical. Of course it may also be<br>
that the participants are truly unruly, irresponsible, idiots, but if so<br>
this does not speak well for the hiring practices of The Management.<br>
I find it to be preferable to assume that those
assembled have the<br>
best interests of the organization at heart, even if the perceptions of<br>
those interests does not coincide with those of Management. With some very<br>
minor modification I would say the same thing for groups of all sorts. And<br>
in all cases I find the compulsion to specify Givens to be prejudicial,<br>
pejorative and demeaning - all productive of an atmosphere diametrically<br>
opposite to sort I would hope for at the onset of Open Space.<br>
<br>
Harrison<br>
<br>
<br>
Harrison Owen<br>
7808 River Falls Drive<br>
Potomac, Maryland 20845<br>
Phone 301-365-2093<br>
<br>
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
<http://www.openspaceworld.com/><br>
<br>
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org<br>
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm<br>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
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</blockquote>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype";
color:#400080'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=4 color="#400080"
face="Palatino Linotype" FAMILY=SERIF PTSIZE=14><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Palatino Linotype";color:#400080;font-weight:bold'>Esther Ewing<br>
The Change Alliance<br>
330 East 38th St., Suite 53K<br>
New York, NY 10016, USA<br>
Telephone: 212-661-6024, Fax: 866-296-6712<br>
<br>
Assisting organizations to build capability<br>
<a href="http://www.changealliance.com/">www.changealliance.com</a><u><br>
</u>Certified Panoramic Feedback Distributor (360 instrument)<br>
<a href="http://www.panoramicfeedback.com/">www.panoramicfeedback.com</a> <br>
Certified Kolbe Distributor: <a href="http://www.kolbe.com/">www.kolbe.com</a> </span></font></b></p>
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