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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Chris:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I think it is possible to Open some Space in that format, and I
have done so, but not called it OST. I have gathered topics and group
initiators from the front or middle of the room of table groups – 300 to
500. I have recorded those on electronic projection and make group location
assignments in a pre-prepared grid. It takes some doing to get volunteers group
initiators, but I’ve had it work. The key for me is to be sure the room
or other space is set up to enable self-organizing breakout sessions from the
table group set up – to the sides/corners of the room or maybe even back
to the tables. People need to get out of table groups (usually experienced as
a traditional meeting) and into flowing self-organization based on emergent
leadership. It partly depends on how much time is available – how many
rounds of self-organizing discussions? If it is one – I don’t
think much space has been opened but it can still lead to great discussions. How
will the “reports” be made or collected? What outcomes is the
client seeking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>With a group of 250 and a short time frame Andrew and I did an
Open Space Fishbowl in Australia. It provided a great basis for conversation –
it was not a way to identify and enable emergent leadership of action groups.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>If the client can only tolerate table group processes (which is
true for some I’ve experienced) then I use the design of the table groups
to enable conversation – a la Conversation Café.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Good luck with this client.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Larry<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Larry Peterson & Associates in Transformation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Toronto, Ontario, Canada<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:larry@spiritedorg.com"><span style='color:blue'>larry@spiritedorg.com</span></a>
416.653.4829 <a href="http://www.spiritedorg.com/"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.spiritedorg.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Michael Herman<br>
<b>Sent:</b> March-31-09 5:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSLIST] Help!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>hey man. first thought,
if you must post on a (vertical) wall... canadian tables. next, better
thought, i think... tabletops as the wall. current topic on top of the
pile. frame it as a move toward major compliance... make the tables the
focus and gathering points. some groups will be too big and will push
some tables around. let the people move the tables out of their
way. let them open as much space as they need. i like the laptop
and wifi option, too... but don't think it's essential. good luck!
m<br clear=all>
<br>
--<br>
<br>
Michael Herman<br>
Michael Herman Associates<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.michaelherman.com">http://www.michaelherman.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.ronanparktrail.com">http://www.ronanparktrail.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org">http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org">http://www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
<br>
312-280-7838 (mobile)<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 2:38 PM, Chris Corrigan <<a
href="mailto:chris@chriscorrigan.com">chris@chriscorrigan.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I've been at this a long time now, but I've run up against a
situation like this. I'm stumped and looking for help.<br>
<br>
I;ll be opening space for a gethering of 500+ people. The client is
completely unwilling to set the room in a circle. Instead, we will have
96 tables with 6 chairs at each table packed into a spacious but full ball room
facing a stage. The walls of this room are incredible...they appear to be
actually stuffed with cotton and covered in fabric. There is little hope
of putting anything on the walls.<br>
<br>
On the plus side we will have lots of AV, so there is a goodly amount of
technology available to play with for agenda setting and huge screen
projection. <br>
<br>
I'm worried on a number of levels as you can imagine, but at the moment I'm
trying to put that all aside and figure out, in this worst case scenario, what
is the best thing we could do to Open Space? Anyone been faced with
similar constraints? Help me out here...<br>
<br>
All tips and support I get on this, I'll roll up into a little document on
"what to do when nothing is what you need it to be" and we can share
it out.<br>
<br>
OSLIST group mind...activate!<br>
<br>
Chris <br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>
Facilitation - Training - Process Design<br>
Open Space Technology<br>
<br>
Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot" target="_blank">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot</a><br>
Site: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com" target="_blank">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</a><br>
<br>
Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.<br>
<a href="http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com" target="_blank">http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com</a><br>
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