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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I think the most recent new name for Open Space is "Foo
Camp" or at least that is how the Editors of Nature titled the gathering at the
Googleplex for the Bloggie set. If anybody is interested in all that (Nature
that is) go to <A
href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7105/full/442848a.html">http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7105/full/442848a.html</A> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>We have been called a lot of things -- but "Foo Camp"? Oh
well, when you do something as weird as Open Space, I guess you can't complain
about the Press. But I did feel some obligation to help the Editors out of the
darkness of their ignorance. :-) Cheeky of me, I admit. See Below
--</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>To the Editors of Nature:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I totally enjoyed your recent editorial, "Foo's Paradise,
and salute your interest and effort in promoting greater participation. You and
your readers may also be interested in knowing that mode of meeting
which happened at the Googleplex, while perhaps new for that community, is
by no means new. And, perhaps of greater importantance, is easily repeatable and
free for the asking.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The approach to meeting is known as Open Space Technology,
which I originated some 20 years ago. Since then it has been used in excess of
60,000 times in 120 countries around the world with groups ranging in size from
5 to over 2000. Users have included major global corporations, governments,
NGOs, communities, and more recently the "Techie Community." What happened in
Mountain View is the typical experience: diverse people energetically interact
to produce exciting and innovative solutions. This seems to happen every time,
and perhaps more remarkably, it seems to happen pretty much all by itself. There
is no pre-set agenda and little facilitation. The people do it all
themselves.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Were one to ask how it could be possible that a group of
200 (or 2000) could move from a standing start to intense and productive
interaction with only, as you say, a "brief introduction" (typically 15
minutes or less), the only reasonable explanation that I have come up with
is that the remarkable force of self-organization is the culprit. Assuming
this to be correct, I and my colleagues worldwide have felt priviledged to
have had front row seats in a marvelous 20 year natural experiment
exploring the phenomenon of self-organization is human systems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Should you wish to know more, you might check out a brief
paper I wrote some years ago <A
href="">http://openspaceworld.com/emergent_order.htm</A> </FONT><FONT
face=Arial>I have also written a number of books in the area.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I mentioned above that Open Space is "free for the
asking." For a variety of reasons I never trademarked or copyrighted the
approach, mostly I think because it is very simple and very effective and
therefore should be in the public domain. In short, you can't buy it, but you
can use it. To get started, you will probably find my book, "Open Space
Technology: A User's Guide" (Berrett-Koehler) to be of assistance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Thanks again for a marvelous editorial and let me know if
I can be of any assistance.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Sincerely</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison Owen</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></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><BR>Personal
Website <A href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</A><BR></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=dlarsen@futureworksconsulting.com
href="mailto:dlarsen@futureworksconsulting.com">Diana Larsen</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> Friday, August 25, 2006 2:16
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Camps. Gatherings &
Un-conferences</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hi,<BR><BR>I've seen notices of gatherings where people will
come together under <BR>an Open Space self-organizing process called
variously Camps, <BR>Gatherings, Conferences and
Unconferences.<BR><BR>I'm intrigued. What other names have folks given an Open
Space <BR>conference-type event besides Open
Space?<BR><BR>Curiously,<BR>Diana<BR><BR>Diana Larsen<BR>co-author, _Agile
Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great_ (Pragmatic <BR>Bookshelf,
2006)<BR><A
href="http://www.futureworksconsulting.com">www.futureworksconsulting.com</A><BR>503-288-3550<BR><BR>Upcoming:
"Secrets of Agile Teamwork: Beyond Technical Skills" <BR>public
workshop, Dec. 5-7, 2006. Contact me for more information.<BR><BR>Need to
unleash the potential for innovation in your organization? <BR>Check out
the programs at:<BR><A
href="http://www.cxoforum.com/">http://www.cxoforum.com/</A><BR><BR>*<BR>*<BR>==========================================================<BR><A
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