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Harrison: thanks for engaging around this question. The last thing I
want to do is use the "g" word around here, for obvious reasons.<br>
<br>
Nature is perfectly self-organizing, if left alone. I share this
belief with you.<br>
<br>
I notice there is no waste in nature. All value is extracted from
everything all the time in nature, a 100% self-organized system.<br>
<br>
Here is a good example of a little beetle that really, really gets
it:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.dirtdoctor.com/GUANO-BEETLE_vq3378.htm">http://www.dirtdoctor.com/GUANO-BEETLE_vq3378.htm</a><br>
<br>
The beetle does quite a good job of "...<span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">finding
ways to enhance the way they fit with the environment."</span><br>
<br>
What is my point? For the beetle, there is a goal, there are
constraints, there is feedback, nothing is forced. There was some
value to extract. The goal-seeking beetle opts-in, subject to clear
constraints and continuous feedback. <br>
<br>
There is no waste in nature. <br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/15/13 6:59 AM, Harrison Owen
wrote:<br>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Dan
said: : “what is the goal (if any) of self-organizing
behavior?” Good question indeed. Stuart Kaufmann (Biologist)
says that one of the conditions for self organization is
what he calls, “The search for fitness.” I take this to be a
modification of Darwin’s “Survival of the fittest.” The idea
is that self organizing systems engage in a search for ways
to enhance the way they fit with the environment and fit
together internally. Those most fully aligned with the
environment, with all their parts engaged tend to survive.
Works for me.<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">Harrison<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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Harrison
Owen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">7808
River Falls Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Potomac,
MD 20854<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">USA<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">189
Beaucaire Ave. (summer)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Camden,
Maine 04843<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">Phone
301-365-2093<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(summer)
207-763-3261<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"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="www.openspaceworld.com%20"><span
style="color:blue">www.openspaceworld.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"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="www.ho-image.com%20"><span
style="color:blue">www.ho-image.com</span></a>
(Personal Website)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:#1F497D">To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives of OSLIST Go to:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF
1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>] <b>On
Behalf Of </b>Daniel Mezick<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 14, 2013 5:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSList] The OST Game<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I'm loving the
richness of this conversation. I'm loving it so much!<br>
<br>
One question that comes up for me repeatedly, as I read and
ponder the responses to OST-as-game: what is the goal (if any)
of self-organizing behavior? Is the question even worth
answering? If so, why so? If not, why not?<br>
<br>
Where do I go, with this line of reasoning? Here: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleology</a><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On 10/14/13 4:53 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Paul
– Can always count on you. Thanks</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">ho</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Harrison
Owen</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">7808
River Falls Dr.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Potomac,
MD 20854</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">USA</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">189
Beaucaire Ave. (summer)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Camden,
Maine 04843</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Phone
301-365-2093</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">(summer)
207-763-3261</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="www.openspaceworld.com%20">www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="www.ho-image.com%20">www.ho-image.com</a>
(Personal Website)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:#1F497D">To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives of OSLIST Go to:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF
1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>
[<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>paul levy<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, October 14, 2013 4:48 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> World wide Open Space Technology email list<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSList] The OST Game</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Harrison <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whatever you experienced as OST when it
first escaped has largely become a game. A game of
training. A game of "go back to base and read the manual".
Even you play a regular game on here as one of the elders
who keep defending OST against change (oh yes you do).
It's become a game with a book of instructions with bells,
anti-clockwise circle walking and "rules". That's a shame
and, thankfully, fairly pointless as it keeps on escaping
in different and lovely ways anyway.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, opening space, that's something
really worth trying... <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Waits as the usual elders line up to
deliver their wise pronouncements)...<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">So it goes.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul Levy<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
On Monday, 14 October 2013, Harrison Owen wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">A
marvelous conversation... and I have been absent a
bit for a good cause, I hope. I have been doing my
homework, reading all the assigned material about
broken reality and culture hacking. Interesting
journey! And along the way I came upon an odd
realization – I really just don’t like games! Seems
it had something to do with early childhood
trauma... my mother just loved games, and she would
beat me unmercifully. Oh well. Unfortunately that
aversion carried on into my adult life, particularly
as it related to the so called Group Dynamics games
that we were all supposed to play prior to serious
discussion. Seems like you just couldn’t have an
adult interchange without some “warm-up” to break
the ice. Or so they said. Really bugged me. I just
couldn’t believe that consenting adults could not
communicate without some elaborate foreplay – funny
tools drawn from the omnipresent Facilitator’s Tool
Box.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">So
much for my inherent pathology and prejudices, but
there may be something of a positive outcome. I
simply had to believe that given reasonable
conditions, human beings could sit down and talk
productively with each other – all by themselves. As
adults. It did take two martinis to get me there...
but “there” was (guess what) Open Space. We have
been doing that ever since, and it turns out that
children do just as well. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">What
may have started as childish rebellion (against
Mother, Facilitators, etc) has only gotten worse.
With increasing age and experience it has become
clearer and clearer that the less I do the better
things work. It is not that I have no agency or
contribution, but it does turn out that the ambient
wisdom and capacity of the individuals and groups
that I am privileged to interact with so vastly
exceeds my own that I would do very well to fold my
hands and shut my mouth. Anything else has me
working much too hard, and generally messing things
up... Such are the eye glasses through which I view
my world. Distorted perhaps, and different for sure,
but I’m stuck with it. And it is through those
glasses that I read my assignments, beginning with
“Reality is Broken.” </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Jane
McGonigal weaves a fascinating tale of the strange
(to me) world of Game Makers, Gaming, and Gamers. I
can certainly understand why she has created a stir,
and I applaud her massive research and clear prose.
That said, my reaction was close to horror, and the
thought that the world and techniques she describes
should become a model and a means to fix our world
was pretty close to terror. Doubtless much of this
can be ascribed to my aforementioned phobia – but I
suspect that others might share such feelings. Two
points stand out in my mind—Gaming is addictive, a
point she develops in infinite detail, and secondly
that good Game Makers actually capitalize on this
phenomenon and make every effort to enhance the
addictive power. Their success is obvious and
awesome. It seems that one massive, online game
attracted 5,000,000 man/years of attention. George
Orwell, where are you now that we need you?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I
joke a bit – and my concerns run deeper. When Jane
says, “Reality is Broken,” I feel constrained to
ask, Who’s reality? Not mine, for sure. It is not
that I experience every day as a walk in the park,
but there have been precious few moments when I have
felt bored, without challenge, non-productive and
unappreciated/respected. And I have many friends and
colleagues around the world who seemingly have a
similar experience. Doubtless that makes us odd,
perhaps aberrant, but there is a certain consolation
in numbers. We are not alone. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">When
I think about the factors that positively contribute
to my reality they include such things as the
indeterminacy of my surroundings. The moment I think
I know where it is all headed, I am confounded by
the twists of happenstance. Then there is the total
lack of clarity when it comes to goals and
objectives. Certainly I have hopes and desires, but
just about every time I have locked on some
particular outcome, it doesn’t turn out that way –
usually better. And lastly, if there are clear cut
rules, I certainly have never found them. Of course
there are moments when I think it is all a dreadful
mistake and I am scared to death. But even that has
its positive: I know I am alive. So for me, my
reality is doing just fine. Exciting, challenging,
growthful, rewarding -- In fact it seems to be
working perfectly.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I
am truly sorry for those who have a different
experience, but if reality for them is broken, it is
reasonable to ask, Who broke it? Or could it be that
it isn’t really broken, they just think it is, if
only because it doesn’t measure up to their
expectations. That would certainly be the case if
reality was <b>supposed</b> to work by clear cut
rules, heading in a pre-determined direction, always
under somebody’s control. That understanding of
reality is certainly alternate to anything I know
anything about. It just never happened, and if it
did I believe it would be unendingly boring. But
that might account for the Game Maker’s success –
for if I read Jane correctly, that is pretty much
the reality they create. And if that is the reality
you want, no wonder people spend 5 million man/years
immersed in it!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">And
on to a related question: Is OST a game? Possibly,
but not according to Jane’s rules/criteria. To be
sure, there is a correlation with Jane’s first
criteria: Opt in = Voluntary Self Selection, and a
second one relating to Good Feedback (we might say
documentation). But it seems to me it all goes
downhill from there. If there are any rules in Open
Space, I have yet to encounter them. To be sure
there are 5 principles and a law, but none of them
are things you have to do. In fact they all seem to
emerge no matter what you do – all by themselves. As
for a clear goal, I think you have precisely the
opposite. Everything begins with a question, and
under the best of circumstances there is no
attachment to outcomes. As we say, Whatever happens
is the only thing that could have.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Just
to drive a little deeper. If OST is not a game –
what is it?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Drum
roll... Cutting edge revelation...</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">OST...
is ... Life. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">It
does not bring anything new. Represents no mind
bending revelation. In fact it doesn’t DO a thing.
Nothing. OST simply and quietly invites us to be,
fully, what we already are – ourselves. It really is
shocking. Just be yourself as you really are. Drawn
by a question (Quest) – you are invited to explore
what you really care about. No foregone conclusions.
No prior exclusions (givens). No rules prescribed
(by somebody else). Just be yourself and take it
from there. Of course it helps to be honest. What do
you really care about? And if you care, take
responsibility for what you care about. Nobody else
will. And you don’t need an act of Congress,
Parliament, the Legislature, or the writings of the
latest Guru. It’s just you. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">But
not just you. Who shares your passion? Who will join
you in the assumed responsibility? In advance you
simply don’t know, nor can you predict. But when it
happens, you know it happens. Life not only goes on
– it gets deeper and richer with the shared passions
and responsibilities that weave the rich tapestry of
the human odyssey.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I
know you have heard this song before, but I think it
bears re-singing. The temptation to change this
simple invitation into some complex process,
procedure, structure is almost overwhelming, driven
I am sure by our hope to improve and also perhaps
to make it something we own or do. Something that
requires the professional touch, as it were. But the
truth of the matter, I believe, is that there really
isn’t anything to improve and still less to do.
Above all, Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke, and
always think of one less thing to do.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">So
where does all this discussion leave Agile and OST,
or more exactly the relationship between the two?
Closely united, I believe – but perhaps not in the
way that Dan and others seem to be suggesting, even
though that way appears to be eminently rational and
definitely a good plan.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I
understand that Agile (as described in the Agile
Manifesto) is an elegant set of principles which
await implementation (adoption) through some method
or process, SCRUM for example. The principles are
magnificent and represent the latest iteration of a
longish tradition beginning perhaps with Quality
Circles, and passing through Excellent Organizations
(Tom Peters et al), Learning Organizations, with
possibly a side trip through Process Re-Engineering.
In every case, elaborate processes, procedures, and
protocols were designed in order to bring the noble
ideas into everyday practice. In every case the
energy and enthusiasm surrounding the several
efforts was considerable (aided I suspect by the fat
consulting fees that could be generated). And in
every case I believe we learned many useful lessons.
However, in terms of the desired outcome, which
might be described as “enhanced organizational
function,” I think the record is less than positive.
Only people of a certain age will even remember
Quality Circles, Excellent Organizations seem
evident mostly by their absence, The Society of
Organizational Learning disbanded last year, and
Process Engineering has been retired by general
consensus as an embarrassing failure. Jane McGonigal
may just have written the epitaph, “Reality is
Broken.” Whether Agile and its several
implementation procedures (SCRUM, etc) will meet a
similar fate remains to be seen.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Reasonable
people might well ask, how could we invest so much
and accomplish so little? Doubtless there are
multiple answers, but one stands out for me. We’ve
been trying to organize self organizing systems.
This is a thankless task if only because we will
never get it right; the systems involved (our
businesses, countries, organizations) are so
complex, inter-related, and fast moving that we
can’t even think at that level – let alone
effectively structure and control them. Even worse
it seems all too often that our best efforts and
intentions make the situation worse – our fixes end
up with painful unintended consequences. But worst
of all our efforts are not needed because the system
itself, all by itself, can do a better job. Frankly
our efforts are just plain clunky.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">It
is precisely at the point where I think other
efforts have been less than successful that OST may
enable Agile to succeed -- but not by facilitating
the adoption Agile as a set of principles, but in a
much more immediate and direct fashion: by enabling
Agility. The principles are definitely nice, but
what we truly care about is real, meaningful,
organizational agility, which others might call High
Performance, and Open Space demonstrably delivers on
that score. My favorite story, of course is the
AT&T design team for the ’96 Olympic Pavilion.
In 2 days they designed a $200,000,000 structure
which had taken them 10 months on a previous effort.
That is a 15,000% increase in productivity. Not bad.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If
that were the only instance of such a phenomenon it
would be interesting but not helpful, but there are
others, a lot. And how does all that work? It is
just a well functioning self organizing system. And
if you ask whether it is all scalable – the answer
is it is already scaled to the highest levels. Been
around for 13.7 billion years, and the Cosmos (along
with everything else) is the product. Don’t adopt
Agile, BE agile. Honestly, it is a natural condition
if we stop trying to fix it. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">So
I think we have some very good news here. Reality
ain’t broke and serious Agility is available any
time we want to open the space to let it happen. And
if you were wondering who all those friends and
colleagues around the world who know that their
reality is unbroken (albeit painful sometimes) you
can start by looking in a mirror. Yes, I am talking
about all those folks who have wandered into Open
Space to discover, many times in spite of themselves
– that deep, meaningful, productive, playful,
respectful encounters with their fellows can and do
happen. That is just a taste, of course – but it can
happen all the time -- 24X7. I know.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Harrison</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Harrison
Owen</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="x-apple-data-detectors://3">7808 River
Falls Dr.</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="x-apple-data-detectors://4">Potomac, MD
20854</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="p1">Daniel Mezick, President<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="p1">New Technology Solutions Inc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="p1">(203) 915 7248 (cell)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><a
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