<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2654.45">
<TITLE>RE: Help for My Manager-law of the jungle</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>This is a great case study Harrison.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>I feel prompted to share some musings.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Open space has helped me re define the old adage about the law of the jungle which is widely interpreted to mean "only the fittest survive." Taking your young manager he has this opportunity to take his "fitness" to another level. There is a recognised business path to do it and this is the law of the jungle operating in today's business world. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Open space is people being guided by their passions (posting topics) and natural attractions (market place), the most natural act of all living things. This to me is the law of the jungle! This is how we get eco-systems (action plans) and species occupying niches (champions) within these. Indeed, for me open space is creating an oraganisational eco-system that is merely mimicking nature. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>The phenomenon of people going into freedom shock with open space, (I've seen plenty of it in my organisation) suggests that our societal systems, especially our work cultures, are actually the opposite of the law of the jungle and hence open space. This is what I'm finding in so much of my work, especially in sustainable systems. The most sustainable ones really only mimic nature. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>My suggestion to your young manger friend is:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>He is tired of the old path and indeed has to compromise his integrity to make open space look like the old path; get out and make your own path! </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>"The insecure way is the secure way and the secure way is the insecure way"</FONT>
<BR> <FONT SIZE=2>Joseph Campbell</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Mike Copeland</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>P.S. I will watch this space with great interest as I am leaving my job at present and embarking on a journey of my own, which I'm not too sure what it is except I had to get out of my present job. I'm not too sure this bloke even exists, but I know how he feels and this whole message is very timely if only for myself!</FONT></P>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>From: Harrison Owen [<A HREF="mailto:hhowen@comcast.net">mailto:hhowen@comcast.net</A>] </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Sent: Sunday, 20 February 2005 11:14 a.m.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>To: OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Subject: Help for My Manager</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>When last heard from, the young manager was in some major state of dis-repair, not to mention confusion. He feels much better now, thanks to everybody's suggestions, and wishes to report that his progress towards enlightenment is small but steady. However, he still has a job to do - and despite some reservations, actually enjoys his job. But he surely could use some help in terms of practical strategy and tactics. Specifically, he has just been given an assignment to develop a new piece of software for a client. If he can do it - it will be right at the cutting edge, and he just loves the challenge. But - how to get there from here? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>He knows all about playing by the old rules which require a project plan, budget, staffing levels, milestones, evaluation and testing procedure, and all the rest. But, what about all this "self-organizing" stuff? How do you play by the new rules? What are they? And last but not least - how do you rationalize what you have done under the new rules so that it looks like the "old rules" have been observed? This last part may seem sneaky and dishonest, but my young manager friend really likes his job. But he did confide in me that he is thinking about going out on his own. However, his mortgage, wife and kids make him a little nervous. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>So he sure could use your help!</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Harrison</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Harrison Owen</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>7808 River Falls Drive</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Potomac, Maryland 20845</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Phone 301-365-2093</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <<A HREF="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" TARGET="_blank">http://www.openspaceworld.com/</A>></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Personal website <A HREF="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" TARGET="_blank">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</A></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: <A HREF="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" TARGET="_blank">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</A></FONT></P>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>*</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>*</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>==========================================================</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>------------------------------</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu: <A HREF="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" TARGET="_blank">http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</A></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: <A HREF="http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist" TARGET="_blank">http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist</A></FONT>
</P>
<HR><STRONG><FONT COLOR=#ff0000>
Attention: </FONT></STRONG><BR>
This e-mail (and attachments)
is confidential and may be legally privileged.
<HR>
</BODY>
</HTML>*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist