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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Before even i know about OST, i had
started thinking something similar in my mind. Mostly 2 little books
from Steven Harrison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>had inspired me for that: The Happy Child and Being
One in Relationship.</FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=hhowen@comcast.net href="mailto:hhowen@comcast.net">Harrison Owen</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 31, 2005 8:35
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: An OS "critique" and
response</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I was being a little bit too curmudgeonly, for sure. And
Chris is precisely right (is he ever wrong?). Having some useful maps of the
territory is extraordinarily helpful under any circumstance and
particularly when you find yourself in the strange waters of OS. Just
a matter of historical record I personally began with the maps, and only
later discovered how useful they could be. Odd way of saying things, but my
earlier work (30 years ago) centered on the levels of consciousness and the
way in which the stories we tell (our mythology) reflects those levels -- and
the whole concern was the process of transformation in organizations. And here
is the three martini story -- a friend, David Bell Isle and myself were
sitting on the lawn of a wonderful conference center contemplating the state
of the world (with help from our spirited friends -- we each had one and a
half) and our limited ability to assist our clients in the turbulent
environment in which they found themselves. David and I were both deeply
committed to what was known then and now as Organization Development, but it
seems that just about the time we had figured out a nice, linear, rational
process, and actually gotten our clients started along the road -- all hell
would break loose. One more wave of transformation! It seemed to us that we
needed a different and maybe deeper way of looking at things and doing our
work. For lack of better words we chose to call it Organization
Transformation. It turned out that some other folks had been drinking the same
martinis, or equivalent, and had come up with similar thoughts. It was a
pretty motley crew including John Adams, Frank Burns, Linda Ackerman, Peter
Vaill, Lisa Carlson and a few more. The end result was the convening of The
First International Symposium on Organization Transformation with me playing
the titular role of host or something. We had little idea where it would all
end up, but I particularly liked the root meaning of "symposium." Turns out it
comes from two Greek words meaning "with drinking." Anyhow, Organization
Transformation was born and seems to be a continuing phenomenon even today. I
think we are now up to OT 23 or 24. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>But back to the maps. If we were going to make any sense
out of the process of transformation, which in the moment is always terribly
confusing, to say nothing of chaotic -- we desperately needed some good maps.
For my self, I found the work of Ken Wilber to be particularly helpful (Spiral
Dynamics hadn't put in an appearance at that point) -- but the problem was
that Ken was largely focused on the transformational process with individuals,
and I was concerned with organizations. Definitely related, but somehow
different. I found myself pondering the question, "What are the organizational
analogues to the individual levels of consciousness?" Ken's work was (and is)
a mass of scholarly detail, totally fascinating, but more than I needed, I
thought. It seemed to me that what might be called the "original version"
which is known as the Great Chain of Being might be sufficient for my needs.
Very roughly, the Great Chain describes 7 levels of consciousness -- Nothing,
Body, Mind, Intellect, Soul, Spirit, and finally -- Nothing. Since it is
rather difficult to talk intelligently about "nothing" you are effectively
left with 5 levels (Body, Mind, Intellect, Soul and Spirit). These
converted in my fertile (and febrile) mind to organizational equivalents which
I termed Reactive, Responsive, Proactive, Interactive, and Inspired. If you
are interested in the details, I have spilled a lot on ink on them in
several books -- but the point at issue is that when Open Space came along, I
found much to my surprise that folks would enter at one level and many would
then seemingly manifest a higher level -- Transformation before your eyes, if
you could believe your eyes. For individuals who seemingly epitomized the
level of Intellect -- Soul would break out. And for organizations that were
solidly and proudly Proactive, suddenly they began to behave as an Interactive
organization! Now for sure, lots of folks didn't make the trip, and of
those who did, the vast majority returned to their old ways when the
event concluded. But there were always a few who found their life permanently
changed. Most remarkable. It seemed that the simple act of opening space
enabled, in many cases, a transformative shift. Why all of this should be
occurring is the perplexing opportunity of the moment, I think. but that it
occurs is a matter of ongoing experience, at least my
experience. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>But to notice what is happening, you do need a map --
else you are left with massive shifts and no sense of reference. Maps can be
exceedingly helpful. And -- I think we all learn painfully -- maps are very
limited and never to be confused with the territory. They are simply
approximations, our best guess as every sailor knows when they encounter that
odd rock or current that was not supposed to be there. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wow -- I did go on! But I do love maps and a martini or
two isn't bad.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> </FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>USA<BR>301-365-2093<BR>207-763-3261 (summer)<BR>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=chris.corrigan@gmail.com
href="mailto:chris.corrigan@gmail.com">Chris Corrigan</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 30, 2005 1:49
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: An OS "critique" and
response</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Tracy, my own take on this stuff is that OST has actually led
me to things like Spiral Dynamics and Integral Theory and not the other way
around. I think OST facilitation is fundamentally a practice first,
and the theory comes later once you see what is going on and get curious
about how it all happens. <BR><BR>For me maps like this always help me
to help a client to understand the deeper implications of what is going on,
why OST seems to be (and is) so transformational. But it's important
to use language that works for you and for the sponsor.<BR><BR>Ken Wilber is
one person whose thinking has helped a lot. Michael Herman's work has
really been most useful in adopting this stuff to OST for me. And
there are many others, including Stuart Kauffman, Meg Wheatley, Angeles
Arrien, David Bohm, Steven Johnson, Peggy Holman and Anne Stadler, Alan
Stewart, Christina Baldwin, Fritjof Capra. Pema Chodron, Otto Scharmer, Adam
Kahane, William Issacs and Peter Senge who have all been influential in
helping to map the territory I find myself on as a result of using OST.
<BR><BR>Cheers,<BR><BR>Chris<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 8/30/05, <B class=gmail_sendername>Envision
Halifax</B> <<A
href="mailto:info@envisionhalifax.ca">info@envisionhalifax.ca</A>>
wrote:</SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I am now kicking myself a bit
for missing the session in Halifax on Spiral Dynamics but at the time, the
topic sounded strange for someone new on the scene. In reading this very
interesting discussion I have collected a few pieces from people that
brought me to a question. As someone new, trying to learn and navigate the
sea of information:</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><B><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Is there
real value in learning about Spiral Dynamics as it relates to opening
space and for those of you who are familiar with SD, how has it helped you
with opening space?</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> (I think Funda was starting to get close to
connecting this with her post)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Pieces of posts on this topic
that made me consider why I would take time to learn more about
SD…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=q>I
don't have a clue who said what to whom -- but what I do know is that
when you open some space -- folks get to work. <BR></SPAN>The rest
of it is kind of immaterial. (T-1, T-17 --). Harrison
Owen</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Geneva color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Geneva">…Anyway, I think
systems that create hierarchies are inherently faulty, no help for
it. That includes programs that 'certify' somebody to do something
they are already perfectly capable of doing all by themselves or by just
following instructions with a lot of heart.<BR>Paul
Everett</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Geneva color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Geneva"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy">...all human beings move in and out
of levels of development, levels of consciousness and levels of
understanding. I might be green about social issues, orange about
art (orange is second tier, above green) and red about homophobia in the
same moment. Few human beings live frozen, stuck in just one way of
being for all issues in life. As a workplace meeting takes place,
for example, participants might move in and out of memes like shifting
sands.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy">Tree Fitzpatrick</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I really respect all of the
thoughtfulness and work that people have put into posts on this topic and
others. I will visit the links, thank you for the
resources.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tracy</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tracy Boyer</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Volunteer
Coordinator </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN lang=FR
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Envision
Halifax</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN lang=FR
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">PO Box 941</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN lang=FR
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Halifax CRO,
NS</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN lang=SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">B3J 2V9</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN lang=SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">902.425.5741</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN lang=SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Fx.
902.425.6904</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"
href="http://www.envisionhalifax.ca/" target=_blank><B><FONT face=Arial
color=#762a75 size=1><SPAN lang=SV
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: rgb(118,42,117); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">www.envisionhalifax.ca</SPAN></FONT></B></A></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>*
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</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR clear=all><BR>-- <BR><BR>CHRIS
CORRIGAN<BR>Consultation - Facilitation<BR>Open Space
Technology<BR><BR>Weblog: <A
href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
</A><BR>Site: <A
href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</A>
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