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<DIV><STRONG>Cathy and Harrison:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>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.
</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>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. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>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.</STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>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
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Palatino Linotype" color=#400080 size=4 FAMILY="SERIF"
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