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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dan – Don’t lose heart! Describing Open Space has never been easy, and probably impossible in any language you might choose. Especially when you are trying to jump the divide between those who perceive the world (or at least our small parts of the world... businesses, organizations, etc) as created by us, managed by us, controlled by us – and those odd folks, myself included, who perceive the world as fundamentally self organizing, albeit with add-ons of our creation. Very different paradigms, I find, each with their own logic and language. It is true that the same or similar words can be found on both sides of the fence, but the disparity of paradigm and logic will inevitably create different meanings, even for the same word. Authority, for example.<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'>Thirty years ago, I was a pretty senior bureaucrat in the US Government. Actually, my last honest job, with a regular paycheck, was as a political appointee in the Carter Administration, assigned to the Veterans Administration. My immediate boss was the Chief Medical Director, a marvelous person by the name of Jack Chase. Jack ran a $5 billion a year operation with something like 345 hospitals, several hundred thousand employees, and millions of patients. And <i>authority</i> (authorities) was the coin of the realm. If you had it, you were king. And if you didn’t, you bloody well knew who did – and paid very close attention. Jack had authorities up the kazoo, so many in fact that he had a special staff person whose job it was to keep track of them all, and advise Jack how and when to use them. To any outsider, and for most employees, Jack not only had authorities – he was Authority. And nothing happened, or didn’t happen, without his imprimatur. At least that’s how it seemed. <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'>One day Jack and I were sitting in his office, discussing I can’t remember what – but whatever it was wasn’t going very well and needed a small boost. Jack clearly had the authority to do whatever was needed, but as we talked, Jack started to puff on his pipe, and then just play with it. For anybody who knew Jack, this was a clear indication that his mind was moving, usually in directions no one would predict. He stopped and then said slowly in a contemplative way, “You know, I have always felt that any time I had to resolve an issue with one of my authorities, I had failed.” We went a different way, and I learned a lot.<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'>Those were the 70’s, which explains the smoking in the office, but Jack’s comment opened a door for me that I have been peeking through ever since. At that point I didn’t know a great deal about self organizing systems, and certainly never would have suspected that something like the VA could be such a thing, but Jack pointed to a world I had never really thought about. I knew all about the formal system, with its myriad authorities, even though I rarely paid much attention to it – but Jack’s comment seemed to validate and even justify my aberrant behavior. It seemed there were two worlds. The formal one, which everybody saw and reverenced. And then there was another world which everybody knew about though few acknowledged. But that was the world where you actually got something done. Even if you couldn’t quite explain how. But one thing was certain, “authorities” and “position” had little if any bearing in that world. It had a very different “coin of the realm,” which I could intuit, but not name – and certainly not describe exactly how it worked. And I certainly couldn’t describe the functions in terms that would be acceptable in The Formal World. Story of my life </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><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'>Thirty years have passed, but not much has changed, I think – at least in terms of the divide between the Two Worlds and explaining one to the other. However, we have some new words/concepts which may make it easier to highlight the differences. We started with the distinction between The Formal Organization and The Informal Organization, and everybody “knew” that the Formal organization was the only thing that counted. People who wrote about such matters would spend endless pages describing in detail the structures, controls, authorities and how to use them in navigating the Formal System. If the informal system was mentioned at all, it would show up in a footnote. My favorite one comes from a large management tome: “Informal System: That system which employees use to get their work done.” Yes he really said that, and that is all he had to say. Nobody quite said it, but it was pretty clear to me that in the official view, The Formal System was the REAL system and everything else was wishful thinking, or something.<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'>Things have progressed a little, and we can now speak of Self Organization, Emergent Organization, etc. More to the point, we are getting somewhat better about actually describing what seems to happening in the self organizing world. But woe unto the person who seeks to make sense of one system in terms of the other. Which is why “selling Open Space” has been such a pain. The essential problem is that the “happenings in Open Space” simply <b>could not happen</b> in the world of The Formal Organization. Indeed, the common experience in Open Space violates (to the best of my knowledge) every single principle and practice of the Formal Organizational World view. And who would want to buy something like that?<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'>When we get down to the details, “authorities” for example, the painful situation does not ameliorate, in my opinion. If “authorities” are the coin of the realm in The Formal System, they simply don’t exist in the self organizing world of Open Space – at least not in any comparable form. In the formal organization “authority” is conferred externally. The CEO is <i>selected</i> and <i>given</i> authority. Authority does appear in Open Space, but it is the product of the convergence of passion and responsibility – which may be manifest by anyone at any time. Very different critters, I think. And to use the same words is confusing, at least confusing to this old head. <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'>So Dan, I hear your pain. Felt a lot of it myself. But don’t look forward to any sort of resolution. I don’t think it will happen. Of course, there is another way which I have found to be useful. If it is true that we live in a self organizing world (All Systems are Self Organizing), which makes sense to me – then the Formal System is simply a figment of our imagination, useful in certain limited circumstances, but not to be taken too seriously..<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><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><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><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><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><a href="www.openspaceworld.com%20"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="www.ho-image.com%20"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue'>www.ho-image.com</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> (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:</span><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org"><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:blue'>http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</span></a><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;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'><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 href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a> [<a 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, March 31, 2014 2:26 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSList] Open Space and Authority<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Harrison, thanks for your reply and your perceptions. I'm starting to believe English is woefully lacking with respect to describing Open Space dynamics, with any kind of clarity.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 3/31/14 10:51 AM, 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'>Dan – I think I see the source of your dilemma (stuckness). “Equivalence of authorization” (or non-equivalence) is a valid consideration in the traditional organization, characterized by pre-determined hierarchy, authority, control, and all the rest. The situation in Open Space is of a radically different sort – where those words and concepts simply don’t apply. Sort of like arguing for the presence/absence of 4 footed creatures in the world of centipedes. I can understand how you would start down this path if you were trying to “explain” the experience of Open Space (self organization) to the Traditional Folks, or even more difficult, rationalize the use of Open Space in a traditional model. Apples and oranges, oil and water, cats and dogs ...I think. Which is why I have just given up trying to explain it...Just do it.</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'>Well, of course, I do fabricate a bit... and you might legitimately point to the several books I have written, which do sound something like an explanation. Guilty as charged, but with extenuating circumstances, I think. It is true I do try to describe/explain Open Space, but always in a particular context – the world of self organizing systems. I have never tried to justify or rationalize Open Space in the “standard” world view. Which truth be told, I find rather delusional, but don’t tell a soul. The reason is very simple; I really couldn’t do it. And in fact I don’t think anybody can... And when they make the effort, they usually find themselves stuck. Sound familiar? Of course there is another alternative. Simply cut Open Space down to a size that will fit – View it (OS) as just one more tool for the tool box, and you can usually get by. For a while, at least.</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 </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><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 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 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 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></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></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 href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a> [<a 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, March 31, 2014 10:06 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSList] Open Space and Authority</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>This is very helpful for helping me understand your thinking. Thanks for sending the rich detail and disclosure.<br><br>I am stuck. I continue to hold the belief that (quoting myself here...)<br><br>"Everyone...Sponsor included, has 100% equivalent authorization (100% equivalent "right to do work" in the Open Space) as of the moment of opening of the Bulletin Board and/or the opening of the Marketplace."<br><br>I wonder: if this is NOT actually true, how can the space be said to be truly open? I wonder who has more "right to do work" than anyone else... as of the opening of the Bulletin Board, and/or the opening of the Marketplace, in an Open Space meeting. <br><br>Maybe there is no equivalence of authorization whatsoever in Open Space, and I am simply barking up the wrong tree.<br><br>Daniel<br><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 3/31/14 9:41 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Dan, <br>as mostly, there is none or very little detailed thinking behind me expressing the idea, that authority does not disappear just because an os-event is taking place, and there is no leveling of authority, which I assume you meant, when using the expression "equal standing". <br><br>This is all observation and experience, data I have taken in. In my world, that’s pretty important and utterly valid even if the stuff I observe might be seen completely different by other observers. <br><br>Looking at myself, I have lots of authority of the kind that sort of oozes out of me when standing in a circle, looking every one in the eye, even if there are thousands and asking them to look around, at the person to the right and to the left of them, behind them, at the other side of the circcle, all the time slowly walking around the circle... after I have done that twice everyone is smiling, looking, focusing on each other away from me... and then my authority shifts as I say nothing about open space but talk about the facts of life (the principles) etc... and later I move in the authority of invisibilty and presence... <br><br>I am not sure what happens to the participants but I have no data that would indicate them reaching equal standing as far as authority is concerned or that others will ignore the different kinds and levels of authority that is associated with others representing those, regardless of whether just assumed or in fact fact. <br><br>There have been experiential settings in which I have participated, such as the desert game where the folks claiming to be authorities on how to survive in a desert lead the group to certain death, or Tavistock Laboratories where participants, me included, even though we had all the space and freedom we wanted to take, used their various authorities in intricate manners to re-create exactly the kinds of organisational strutures they came from. So, authorities are simply a fact of life, more or less useful, especially if adaptable in the face of surprises. <br><br>What I do find very interesting, is your quest investigating <br>my thinking! I have pretty much given up investigating my own thinking, let alone that of others. Seems to me that the only thing that works for my passion to have the forces of selforganisation do their thing (expanding time and space, if that is at all possible) is to concentrate on the things I can somehow control: set up a circle of chairs, etc. <br><br>Have a great day <br>mmp <br><br>On 30.03.2014 16:17, Daniel Mezick wrote: <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michael, <br><br>I am asking for help. May I investigate your thinking? <br>"...there is no such thing as an equal standing in authority terms." <br>Will you expose your detailed thinking behind your expression of this <br>one idea? <br><br><br><br><br><br>On 3/30/14 8:34 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote: <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Dan and everyone, <br>here are some bits from my experience: <br><br>---When I get a call or an email from someone asking me to facilitate <br>an ost-event I tell them to please arrange a "contact" meeting that <br>needs to be attended also by the person that will have the authority <br>to say yes or no at the end (usually the person that would pay my <br>fee). The purpose of the contact meeting is for the sponsor to find <br>out, whether the prerequisites for an OST event are sufficiently in <br>place. This meeting takes 60 to 90 minutes, no fee charged. <br>This process has nothing to do with OST, its simply what is needed for <br>any kind of intervention of any kind of man-made organisation that is <br>embarking on such a venture. <br><br>---Participants in an OST event do not leave the authority bestowed on <br>them in the wardrobe, there is no such thing as an equal standing in <br>authority terms. What does happen is that folks differently bestowed <br>with authority will, in contrast to what they usually do, follow more <br>freely their "passion and responsibility" which, it seems, in some way <br>increases their non-bestowed authority... the expanded space for the <br>forces of selforganisation, the real motor in an OST event, seems to <br>have this effect. Everyone, all participants, fully well know the <br>limitations that they will have to deal with "back in the asylum" when <br>they follow their passion... and very often they are amazingly elegant <br>and cunning in seeing their project through (responsible). That is why <br>I encourage the folks in charge not to make any kind of promises <br>regarding what they will do to encourage projects emerging from the <br>ost event. Participants will get the conditions in place to see their <br>projects through. <br><br>---Yes, again my experience, coercion, control and such do shut down <br>open space, not completely though: I have seen the force in a dormant <br>stage and becoming quite alive when the conditions are right <br>(prerequisites in place)... isn't it our experience that big CONTROL <br>seems to shut down just about anything? In OST events I have actually <br>seen efforts of BiG control being met by counter-activity (this is <br>sometimes the effect of facilitator intervention when a space-invader <br>tries his stuff or, and even more effective, the "group" grappling <br>with space invasion/attempts at control... these observations I have <br>made when there is a really burning business issue and absolutely <br>nobody has the foggiest idea regarding the solution, least the folks <br>with "authority". <br><br>I really impress myself with your passion, Daniel. Maybe because I <br>also have been trying to refine my understanding, find precise <br>language, get my hands onto, etc. what it is that happens in os-events <br>or even in os-organisations. In my os-facilitator-career, I have <br>increasingly given up trying to understand it and focus more on what I <br>see happening... which has increased my faible for stories. By now, I <br>know that stories are fact, right, my facts. <br><br>Have a great Sunday, <br>cheers <br>mmp <br><br><br>On 30.03.2014 13:45, Daniel Mezick wrote: <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Michael, Everyone, <br><br>I'm sorry there are coercive mandates happening in Berlin, and that you <br>have to experience them. <br><br>Regarding the Sponsor for an OST meeting, <br>I am saying that I believe this person must have enough formal authority <br>("sufficient+1") to be able to actually arrange, budget and convene the <br>meeting. And that the authority that the Sponsor holds is conferred to <br>him or her by the organization. Is this true in OST? <br><br>Regarding the Participants, <br>I am saying that I believe that after the Marketplace opens, the <br>intention and in fact the reality of OST is that everyone has an equal <br>standing in authority terms. At the start, no one person or group has <br>any more authorization to act than any other person, regardless of their <br>formally authorized role in the organization. Is this true in OST? <br><br>For the record, I am not at all in favor of mandates. I am allergic to <br>them. I believe mandates and other forms of coercion strongly discourage <br>self-organization by the imposition of external authority over the <br>person or group. Self-organization is impossible in scenarios where <br>individuals and groups are not free to choose. Is this true in OST? <br><br>This places out routinely EVERY SINGLE DAY in Agile adoptions. Formally <br>authorized leadership imposes Agile practices on teams while at the same <br>time encouraging teams to "self-organize". I for one have seldom if ever <br>seen it actually work that way. <br><br>And so I have my questions about authority in Open Space. <br><br>I'm not being cute here: I'm hoping someone can help me break/refine my <br>model of OST as it pertains to formal and informal authority, in the <br>Open Space. I'm trying to use more precise language to explain what I <br>think is going on in OST. In my view, the 1 Law and the 5 Principles <br>make it clear everyone has equal informal authorization in OST, <br>regardless of their formal title. I some ways the formal titles are <br>suspended, as the space is held open for inquiry and dialogue. <br><br>This is my current belief. I asking for help in determining if this <br>belief is close to truth. <br><br>Related Links: <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-and-power/">http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-and-power/</a> <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-explained/">http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-explained/</a> <br><br>Regards, <br>Daniel <br><br><br><br>On 3/30/14 5:23 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote: <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Dan, Jamie and Paul, <br>is there a new (5th or 6th) principle emerging? <br>Such as: <br>"Whoever is authorized is the right people?" <br>Or <br>"Whoever is mandated is the right people?" <br><br>Or is there a new prerequisite for the unfolding of the forces of <br>selforganisation in sight? <br>In addition to the 4,5 or 6 that we are often concerned about? <br>Such as: <br>"High level of authorisation" <br>or <br>"High level of mandation" (Palines for mandate, have a look at this <br>link <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://de.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mandation">http://de.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mandation</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br>Or are these thoughts simply a manifestation of "old-paradigm", <br>remnants of the realm of control? <br><br>Control? Wasn't that the effort to shut down selforganisation towards <br>zero? <br><br>Heavy stuff for a sundrenched Sunday morning in Berlin where I and the <br>entire population (including dogs and cats and other pets kept in <br>human housing) are suffering from having been robbed of an hours time <br>by authorities that are mandated to do such stuff. <br><br>Oh yes, before I forget, there was the notion that "passion and <br>responsibility" is all that is needed for "authorisation" (with the <br>nagging suspicion that folks driven by passion and responsibility and <br>even taking action under those influences walk through the walls and <br>obstacles set up by those authorized to raise them as if they were <br>thin air). <br><br>Greetings from Berlin <br>mmp <br><br><br>On 29.03.2014 21:57, Daniel Mezick wrote: <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>I am asking for help. Will you help me clarify my thinking? <br><br>I'm wondering if 100% equivalence in authorization for all <br>participants <br>is actually a key/defining characteristic of any genuine and authentic <br>Open Space event... <br><br><br>First things first. Definitions: <br><br>Authority: The right to do specific work <br><br>Authorization: The conferring of authority <br><br>Formal Authority: Authorization conferred from the formal organization <br>to a person. Example: "the CEO". <br><br>Informal Authority: Authorization conferred from peers, colleagues and <br>co-workers. Example: "emergent leadership". <br><br><br>Now let's get into it. I currently think, and believe, that: <br><br>1. For an Open Space event inside an organization, the Sponsor must <br>occupy a role with substantial formal authorization, definitely more <br>than enough to actually authorize that OST event. The higher the level <br>of formal authorization of the Sponsor, the better it is for the event <br>overall. <br><br>2. The Sponsor authorizes the participants- the "invitees"-- to meet <br>together, and do the specific work of exploring and investigating the <br>Theme. This "authorized work" is done in "authorized space"...in that <br>specific place, for a specific period of time. The Sponsor explicitly <br>authorizes all of the above and conveys this message after they stand <br>up, and before they sit down, at the opening. <br><br>2. The Facilitator is formally authorized by the Sponsor to do the <br>specific work of OST event. Absent this authorization, the Facilitator <br>has no standing. <br><br>3. This is the big one: Everyone else, Sponsor included, has 100% <br>equivalent authorization (100% equivalent "right to do work") as of <br>the <br>moment of opening of the Bulletin Board and/or the opening of the <br>Marketplace. <br><br>4. As the event progresses, authorization dynamics are in play. These <br>"informal authorization" dynamics occur continuously throughout the <br>day <br>in real time, moment by moment. Those who experience net increases in <br>levels of informal authorization as of the end of the meeting have <br>membership in the "emergent leadership" group. <br><br>I am very interested in what experienced folks think about the <br>validity <br>of the assertion in (3) above. <br><br>Ex the Facilitator, does everyone else actually have 100% equivalent <br>authorization in an OST meeting? Why or why not? <br>Is this 100% equivalence of authorization actually a key/defining <br>characteristic of any genuine and authentic Open Space event? <br><br>Thanks for any insight you may be able to provide, and <br><br>Kind Regards, <br>Daniel <br><br>-- <br><br>Daniel Mezick, President <br><br>New Technology Solutions Inc. <br><br>(203) 915 7248 (cell) <br><br>Bio <a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/"><http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/></a>. Blog <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/"><http://newtechusa.net/blog/></a>. Twitter <br><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/"><http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/></a>. <br><br>Examine my new book:The Culture Game <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/"><http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/></a>: Tools for the <br>Agile Manager. <br><br>Explore Agile Team Training <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/"><http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/></a> and Coaching. <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/"><http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/></a> <br><br>Explore the Agile Boston <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/"><http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/></a>Community. <br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________ <br>OSList mailing list <br>To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a> <br>To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a> <br>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <br><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>-- <br><br>Daniel Mezick, President <br><br>New Technology Solutions Inc. <br><br>(203) 915 7248 (cell) <br><br>Bio <a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/"><http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/></a>. Blog <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/"><http://newtechusa.net/blog/></a>. Twitter <br><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/"><http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/></a>. <br><br>Examine my new book:The Culture Game <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/"><http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/></a>: Tools for the <br>Agile Manager. <br><br>Explore Agile Team Training <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/"><http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/></a> and Coaching. <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/"><http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/></a> <br><br>Explore the Agile Boston <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/"><http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/></a>Community. <br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________ <br>OSList mailing list <br>To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a> <br>To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a> <br>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <br><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>-- <br><br>Daniel Mezick, President <br><br>New Technology Solutions Inc. <br><br>(203) 915 7248 (cell) <br><br>Bio <a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/"><http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/></a>. Blog <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/"><http://newtechusa.net/blog/></a>. Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/"><http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/></a>. <br><br>Examine my new book:The Culture Game <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/"><http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/></a>: Tools for the <br>Agile Manager. <br><br>Explore Agile Team Training <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/"><http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/></a> and Coaching. <br><a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/"><http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/></a> <br><br>Explore the Agile Boston <a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/"><http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/></a>Community. <br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________ <br>OSList mailing list <br>To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a> <br>To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a> <br>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: <br><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><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><p class=p2><span class=s1><a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/">Bio</a></span><span class=s2>. <a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/"><span class=s1>Blog</span></a>. <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/"><span class=s1>Twitter</span></a>.</span><span class=apple-converted-space><span style='color:black'> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=p3><span class=s2>Examine my new book:</span><span class=apple-converted-space><span style='color:black'> </span></span><span class=s2><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/"><span class=s1>The Culture Game </span></a></span><span class=s1>: Tools for the Agile Manager</span><span class=s2>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=p1>Explore Agile Team <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/"><span class=s3>Training</span></a> and <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/"><span class=s3>Coaching.</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=p1>Explore the <a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/"><span class=s3>Agile Boston </span></a>Community.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>OSList mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>To post send emails to <a href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>To unsubscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><o:p></o:p></pre></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br><br><o:p></o:p></p><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><p class=p2><span class=s1><a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/">Bio</a></span><span class=s2>. <a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/"><span class=s1>Blog</span></a>. <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/"><span class=s1>Twitter</span></a>.</span><span class=apple-converted-space><span style='color:black'> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=p3><span class=s2>Examine my new book:</span><span class=apple-converted-space><span style='color:black'> </span></span><span class=s2><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/"><span class=s1>The Culture Game </span></a></span><span class=s1>: Tools for the Agile Manager</span><span class=s2>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=p1>Explore Agile Team <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/"><span class=s3>Training</span></a> and <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/"><span class=s3>Coaching.</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=p1>Explore the <a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/"><span class=s3>Agile Boston </span></a>Community.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>