<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">I am navigating some challenging authority dynamics in a project at the moment.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">I was brought in a week out from the first of three forums, and asked to 'facilitate a codesign process' which was at that stage a black box (with many hidden expectations) scheduled into that event (1 hour before lunch and 1 hour afterwards).</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">It's a long journey, but you can imagine how my role has changed as I prepare for the third forum which I am hosting in Open Space.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">The overall process is an engagement between a government department and their funded agencies. The most obvious direct power dynamics are obvious, the effective power and authority dynamics are much more complex (though predictable).</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><div class="gmail_default">Department staff have authority challenges as much as the agencies. They are trying so hard to be 'neutral' and 'non controlling' that they are effectively reinforcing their own authority positions (which often have little real correlation to the power, knowledge etc that they imagine them to).</div><div class="gmail_default"><br></div><div class="gmail_default">To be honest I am not sure how I need to deal with this, though my strategy is to accept the authority for hosting the space in the next workshop, obsolving the department of their responsibility to manage the day.</div><div class="gmail_default"><br></div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">It has been interesting to watch push back so far from agency reps who are committed to participating, who are genuinely engaged, but are playing to an us-them tension that is getting in the way of the shared work (and serves them no good ends except protecting them from their own responsibility). Stand-offishness is gradually being resolved, though some pockets are holding firm.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">I am crossing my fingers for WS3 that we can traverse these and get into Open Space without being pushed off the bridge by the reactionary tension; and that once on the other side, the department reps can embrace Open Space and take responsibility for their role.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">We will get across <i>as long as I have the authority</i> to host the space for them.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">I don't think it is feasible for the obvious authority candidates hosting something genuinely participatory. The relevant director has said she doesn't want to speak formally and become The Authority for the day, a position I agree with.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">But it does leave something of a shell, where I am crossing my fingers that our time together thus far affords me the authority to host that space.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">I think we are ready. I am bringing my harness and floaties just in case.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr"><br><div><div style="font-family:arial;text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small"><font color="#663300" face="'trebuchet ms', sans-serif"><b><i>John Baxter</i></b></font></div><div style="text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small;font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><i>CoCreate Adelaide Facilitator, Director of Realise consultancy</i></div><div style="text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small;font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><a href="http://cocreateadl.com/localgov%E2%80%8B" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">CoCreateADL.com</a> | <a href="http://www.jsbaxter.com.au/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">jsbaxter.com.au</a></div><div style="font-family:arial;text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small"><font color="#444444" face="'trebuchet ms', sans-serif">0405 447 829</font><div style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68);display:inline"><font color="#444444" face="'trebuchet ms', sans-serif"> | </font></div><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif">@</span><a href="http://twitter.com/jsbaxter_" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif" target="_blank">jsbaxter_</a></div><div style="font-family:arial;text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial;text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small"><i><a href="http://citygrill.eventbrite.com.au" target="_blank">City Grill— An Election Forum More Magnificent Than Any Ever Seen</a></i>, Saturday 18 October 2014<br>Influence your city by building relationships and joining voices with others in your community</div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Sep 29, 2014 at 12:26 PM, Daniel Mezick via OSList <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
Hi Harrison,<br>
<br>
So interesting how the Law of 2 Feet authorizes me, and every other
member of an OST event, to go anywhere we may want to go. <br>
<br>
Without asking anyone else for any kind of "permission"... <br>
<br>
<br>
Reminds me of this past June, being in Camden with you, and Ethelyn,
and Harold, and friends... when we were standing on the porch of
that Camden restaurant... waiting for everyone to arrive, and
assemble for dinner... <br>
<br>
And as we wait, I notice there is this convenient-looking, alternate
entry-door... into the dining area. <br>
<br>
And I say: "Hmm...I wonder if we are authorized to use that door."<br>
<br>
And you say: <br>
<br>
"We're authorized to go Anywhere we want to go."<br>
<br>
...and I like that.<br>
<br>
Daniel<br>
<br>
<br>
Picture of that place:<br>
<a href="https://twitter.com/DanielMezick/status/483054326265692161" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/DanielMezick/status/483054326265692161</a><br>
See also:<br>
<a href="https://twitter.com/danielgullo/status/483434622009999360" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/danielgullo/status/483434622009999360</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<img alt="" src="cid:part3.06030704.08070902@newtechusa.net" height="303" width="225"><div><div class="h5">
<div>On 9/25/14 4:58 PM, Harrison Owen
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Daniel...
You really did it! I think. Your language comes from a place
I don’t know... which is to say that I probably wouldn’t say
what you say in the way that you do (duh). BUT when I run my
“translator” it comes out sounding pretty good! So... I
can’t help with the questions you have raised. Actually I
think you are doing pretty well on your own, and (hopefully)
will incite others to a similarly riotous performance.
Thanks!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Harrison
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Winter
Address<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">7808
River Falls Drive<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Potomac,
MD 20854<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="tel:301-365-2093" value="+13013652093" target="_blank">301-365-2093</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Summer
Address<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">189
Beaucaire Ave.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Camden,
ME 04843<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="tel:207-763-3261" value="+12077633261" target="_blank">207-763-3261</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Websites<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://%20www.openspaceworld.com" target="_blank">
www.openspaceworld.com</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.ho-image.com" target="_blank">www.ho-image.com</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">OSLIST
</span><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" target="_blank">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></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">
OSList [<a href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>] <b>On
Behalf Of </b>Daniel Mezick via OSList<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 25, 2014 9:39 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [OSList] Authority Distribution in Open
Space<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Greetings to
All, <br>
<br>
For the past several years I have attended conferences of the
Group Relations community, and encouraged others to do the
same. I've studied their literature, and harvested some
important learning as a result. One of the things I have come
to understand a little bit better is the role of "authority
dynamics" in self-organizing social systems.<br>
<br>
Link:<br>
<a href="http://www.akriceinstitute.org" target="_blank">www.akriceinstitute.org</a><br>
<br>
Over the past several years I've been using Open Space with
intent to improve the results of my work in helping companies
implement Agile ideas in their organizations. We do an initial
Open Space, then the folks get about 3 months to play with
Agile (we carefully use the word "experimentation" with
management,) then we do another Open Space after that, to
inspect what just happened across the enterprise. The initial
and subsequent Open Space events form a "safe" container or
field in which the members can <i>learn</i>... as they
explore how to <i>improve</i> together by <i>experimenting</i>
with new practices, and see if they actually work. I call the
process Open Agile Adoption. <br>
<br>
Link:<br>
OpenAgileAdoption.com<br>
<br>
This seems to work pretty good. It seems to "take the air out
of" most of the fear, most of the anxiety and most of the
worry that is created. The key aspect is <i>consent</i>:
absolutely no one is forced to do anything they are unwilling
to do. No one is <i>coerced</i> to <i>comply</i>. Everyone
is instead respectfully <i>invited</i> to help <i>write</i>
the story, and be a <i>character</i> in the story...of the
contemplated process change. Open Agile Adoption encourages a
spirit of experimentation and play. <br>
<br>
The spirit of Open Space is the spirit of freedom. Isn't it?
In the OST community, we discuss and talk a lot about
self-organization, self-management and self-governance. The
Agile community also talks about these ideas a lot. <br>
<br>
So I have some questions. What is really going on during
self-organization in a social system? What are the steps? What
information is being sent and received? >From whom, and by
whom? Is the information about <i>authority</i> important?
How important? Can a social system self organize without
regard to who has the right to do what work? <i>How do
decisions that affect others get made in a self-organizing
system?</i> <br>
<br>
Who decides about <i>who decides</i>? How important is the
process of <i>authorization</i> in a self-organizing system?
Is self-organization in large part the process of dynamic
authorization (and <i>de-authorization</i>) in real time?<br>
<br>
What <i>is </i>authorization? Can self-organization occur
without the sending and receiving of authorization data by and
between the members?<br>
<br>
Is Bruce Tuckman's forming/storming/performing/adjourning
actually decomposing the <i>dynamics of authorization</i>
inside a social system?<br>
<br>
The essay below attempts to answer some of these difficult
questions. I'd love your thoughts on it. Will you give it a
look?<br>
<br>
<br>
Essay: Authority Distribution in Open Space<br>
<a href="http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-distribution-in-open-space/" target="_blank">http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-distribution-in-open-space/</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Kind Regards,<br>
Daniel<u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- <br>
<br>
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>Daniel Mezick, President<u></u><u></u></p>
<p>New Technology Solutions Inc.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p><a href="tel:%28203%29%20915%207248" value="+12039157248" target="_blank">(203) 915 7248</a> (cell)<u></u><u></u></p>
<p><span><a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/" target="_blank">Bio</a></span><span>. <a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/" target="_blank"><span>Blog</span></a>.
<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/" target="_blank"><span>Twitter</span></a>.</span><span><span style="color:black"> </span></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p><span>Examine my new book:</span><span><span style="color:black">
</span></span><span><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/" target="_blank"><span>The Culture Game </span></a></span><span>: Tools for the Agile Manager</span><span>.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p>Explore Agile Team <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/" target="_blank"><span>Training</span></a> and <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/" target="_blank"><span>Coaching.</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p>Explore the <a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/" target="_blank"><span>Agile Boston </span></a>Community.<span> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<div>-- <br>
<p>Daniel Mezick, President</p>
<p>New Technology Solutions Inc.</p>
<p><a href="tel:%28203%29%20915%207248" value="+12039157248" target="_blank">(203) 915 7248</a> (cell)</p>
<p><span><a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/" target="_blank">Bio</a></span><span>. <a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/" target="_blank"><span>Blog</span></a>. <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/" target="_blank"><span>Twitter</span></a>.<span> </span></span></p>
<p><span>Examine my new book:<span> </span><a href="http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/" target="_blank"><span>The Culture Game </span></a></span><span>: Tools for the Agile Manager</span><span>.</span></p>
<p>Explore Agile Team <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/" target="_blank"><span>Training</span></a> and <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/" target="_blank"><span>Coaching.</span></a></p>
<p>Explore the <a href="http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/" target="_blank"><span>Agile
Boston </span></a>Community.<span> </span></p>
</div>
</div></div></div>
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