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Hi John and all,<br><br>
Good questions and suggestions in that thread. To me, even a short
opening is really important to set the tone, create a climate in that
room, that continues being even after a bunch of people left. These
people may talk to others, who may come later and feel and see the
"space" as they come in. <br><br>
I agree wish Shirley that greeters are important: I did a 4-hour OS at
the Forum social québécois last year that turned out as two 2-hour
sessions because of the way it was announced in the program. So a whole
bunch of people left after the first two hours, and another bunch came in
after. The Markeplace wall was there, and the principles and law posted,
so we used that to do a quick "individual opening" for people
coming in. It worked all right. Of course come people had a look around
and left, but some posted new topics to the end of the wall and had
people show up at their session. <br><br>
As for the focus, you have good questions in the short presentation blurb
on the website, and the principles and the law are there. It's intriguing
and will no doubt bring people to your space. I might add a subtitle
after "open space" . Something like "<font size=2>What
more do we want to learn, share and explore with each other before we all
go our separate ways?"</font> or "What have we learned at this
STAREAST Conference, and how can we use it?". Just an idea. My
session at Forum social québécois was towards the end of the forum, and
the question in the program and in a banner up over the Marketplace wall
was sort of asking what next? The intention was to use the session to
discuss the learnings and the possible applications back home. <br><br>
I like Michael's suggestion to gather people for a short closing and
leave the notes up. I don't know if you'll have computers or post flip
chart notes, but these notes will also contribute to the space, the
discussions and the climate. Posting various things on the wall, about
the surprises, the bumblebees and all might help to compensate for the
shorter opening. Michael has a great list on his website :
<a href="http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceTechnology/SampleOpeningScript" eudora="autourl">
http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceTechnology/SampleOpeningScript</a>
under "Veteran Strategies". Maybe even a more
"traditional" Open Space invitation at the entrance of the
room?<br><br>
That's my two cents. I'm sure you'll open and hold a fantastic space!
People coming will discover a different way of doing things. Your own
presence and holding of the space will in itself communicate a
lot.<br><br>
Have fun with this project, and be ready to be surprised!<br><br>
Esther Matte<br><br>
<br>
At 10:47 2008-04-12, John Engle wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">hi doug et al.<br><br>
thank you for your messages and ideas, Doug and Raffi.<br><br>
here's the text, Doug:<br><br>
I’m John Engle, and I’ll be organizing the “Open Space” learning area at
STAREAST. What is “Open Space?” Simply put, it’s a meeting method
that allows people to come together to suggest and discuss topics that
they’re passionate about. We provide the venue, and you provide the
expertise!<br>
Though the STAREAST program covers a vast number of software testing
topics, there is no way to touch on everything. That’s where Open Space
comes in. It’s a place where you set the agenda. Whether it’s discussing
something more in depth or examining a topic that’s not on the program,
Open Space is the place to convene. It’s like an extended coffee
break with a tad of structure; a gathering place for you, your ideas, and
your colleagues. <br>
<br>
At STAREAST, you’re going to have the best of both worlds: great
keynotes, tutorials, and concurrent session AND a space for YOU
your colleagues to identify and address what’s emerging in
real-time.<br>
Look for Open Space on Thursday and Friday next to the Registration Desk
at STAREAST. See you there!<br><br>
thanks again raffi and doug.<br><br>
John<br><br>
<b><i>douglas germann <76066.515@compuserve.com></i></b> wrote:
<br>
<dl>
<dd>John--<br><br>
<dd>Wonderful inviting language you use.<br><br>
<dd>I want to steal it. Is it possible for you to share a text version
of<br>
<dd>the script for your podcast?<br><br>
<dd>As to what you call it, how about if you just use lower case open
space<br>
<dd>rather than the caps? Or "opening space?"<br><br>
<dd>:- Doug.<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
<dd>On Fri, 2008-04-11 at 19:00 -0700, John Engle wrote:<br>
<dd>> Dear fellow listers,<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> I've been working with an innovative company that does four<br>
<dd>> conferences annually. Attendance ranges from 500 to 1,100.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> For a multitude of reasons, organizers are not interested in
using<br>
<dd>> pure OS (open space) for any of their conferences. But, they
are<br>
<dd>> extremely interested in creating some opportunity for
participants and<br>
<dd>> speakers to self-organize.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> We experimented during their December conference with a bit of
OS.<br>
<dd>> About 50-60 of the 500 attendees made use of the OS sessions.
Many<br>
<dd>> more browsed the area to look at topics and check it out.
Given<br>
<dd>> constraints and challenges, conference organizers were satisfied
with<br>
<dd>> results and decided to experiment with OS in their four
conferences<br>
<dd>> this year. They also decided to be more intentional about
promoting<br>
<dd>> it.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> Click here to listen to podcast promoting OS for their May
conference:<br>
<dd>>
<a href="http://www.stickyminds.com/ControlImages/StickyMinds/Image/Podcast/Audio/John_Engle_STAREAST_2008_blurb.mp3" eudora="autourl">
http://www.stickyminds.com/ControlImages/StickyMinds/Image/Podcast/Audio/John_Engle_STAREAST_2008_blurb.mp3</a>
<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> Click here to see how OS is presented on conference
website:<br>
<dd>>
<a href="http://www.sqe.com/STAREAST/Events/Default.aspx" eudora="autourl">
http://www.sqe.com/STAREAST/Events/Default.aspx</a><br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> All things considered I proposed to organizers that we do away
with<br>
<dd>> opening and closing circle. Am I a heretic? I also proposed that
we<br>
<dd>> might consider calling it something different but organizers
really<br>
<dd>> like the "open space" label. At the conference, I'll
take about 5-7<br>
<dd>> minutes before a keynote speaker to explain to 800+ people how
our<br>
<dd>> "open space" will work and where to find me. Then,
I'll just hang out<br>
<dd>> for two days hosting the space. <br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> All the principles along with the law will be posted. And
of-course,<br>
<dd>> there will be a bulletin board where people post topics.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> So, is this an innovative way to invite self-organization into
a<br>
<dd>> traditional conference? Am I a heretic in still calling it
open<br>
<dd>> space? <br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> What am I missing?<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> I welcome your thoughts.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> I don't take for granted the beauty of being able to use a
somewhat<br>
<dd>> recognized term--"open space"--and having the liberty
to adapt it to a<br>
<dd>> particular context. Equally if not more significant, this
message will<br>
<dd>> reach hundreds of insightful people in a multitude of countries
who<br>
<dd>> shape the way I think.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> Harrison, your approach to leadership continues to stimulate
and<br>
<dd>> inspire me.<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> With gratitude,<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> John Engle<br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>> <br>
<dd>>
<a href="http://www.johnengle.net/" eudora="autourl">www.johnengle.net</a>
<br>
<dd>>
<a href="http://www.circlesofchange.com/" eudora="autourl">
www.circlesofchange.com</a><br>
<dd>> * *
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