<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444">Harold, interesting reflection on Open Space and victimhood.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444">To me it shows that, even if we are "always in Open Space", the space is not really open.<br>It makes me think then that "always in Open Space" is really just saying that self-organisation is in operation. Perhaps that does not mean that we really have the freedom implicit in 'Open Space'.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444">Does that resonate?</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444">For now, I have an outstanding reply to Daniel to get back to...</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif;color:#444444"><br></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><b><a href="http://citygrill.eventbrite.com.au" target="_blank">City Grill— An Election Forum More Magnificent Than Any Ever Seen</a>!</b>, Saturday 18 October 2014<br>Connect with your candidates, get your voice heard by joining with others in your community, and Influence the future of the city</i></div></div><div style="font-family:arial;text-align:-webkit-auto;font-size:small"><i><br></i></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 10:36 AM, Harold Shinsato 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">
<div>Daniel,<br>
<br>
It's been a while. I've offered only silence to authority as I've
watched the list and reflected on this topic.<br>
<br>
Could it be that many of the most resonating posts on the OS List
receive a response of silence? The theme of the antonym of
"Lonely" rings in my ears around this question. The silence can be
carried as indinewmaganik, beloved and accompanied by Spirit, like
a question/session boldly convened, where no ones comes, alone but
not lonely, at an Open Space - or in Life.<br>
<br>
This sense of lonely-antonym came again to me this morning as I
listened to Karolina's voice in her blog post that included
reflections before the WOSonOS on her walk, alone, through
Belgrade seeing buildings deeply damaged from the recent wars. And
her thoughts about how much she wanted things to happen, for
people to step forward in action. But later, with the help of
another attendee, she could shift to the abundance of what
actually was present and happening in the WOSonOS. I want a lot of
things to happen too. And maybe my wanting things to be different
blocks my ability to enjoy what actually is happening.<br>
<br>
What does any of this have to do with Authority Distribution?<br>
<br>
Perhaps nothing ... or maybe everything?<br>
<br>
I quite enjoyed the link to the blog you added in your reply to
me. The post had the title "Darwin meets Dilbert: Applying the Law
of Two Feet to your next meeting." My goodness. How can Authority
*not* have relevance in OST when we start out with a *LAW*. Laws
are all about authority, no? But curiously, you allude that this
Law removes the legitimacy of the victim role. If you're
responsible for your experience in Open Space, if you're the
victim, you're also the perpetrator. What I really most enjoyed in
Jonathan Opp's blog post was his quote from Dr. Seuss.<br>
<br>
You have brains in your head.<br>
You have feet in your shoes.<br>
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.<br>
<br>
Hey Harrison - this sounds a lot like what you told us when we
visited you in Camden. And it definitely is the Law of Two feet in
rhyme.<br>
<br>
So - ok Daniel. Another query for you? If *Open Space* is actually
operating all the time, and Open Space invalidates the Victim
role, does that mean we can't actually be Victims. If so, why are
there so many? Could it be the roles of Victim/Perpetrator/Rescuer
- could it be they are all illusions? Wizards cast spells, and we
actually buy them? Does that mean Victims take on Victimhood
willingly? That doesn't feel right, at least not completely. But
maybe Open Space is something we wake up to. And if so, does that
mean Authority is only alive in the dream?<br>
<br>
Or are we the ones inviting others into roles of Authority or lack
there of?<br>
<br>
So, what actually is going on here?!? Are the inmates running the
asylum? Or maybe they(we) should be?<br>
<br>
Blissfully Confused,<br>
Harold<div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
On 9/28/14 6:37 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList wrote:<br>
</div></div></div>
<blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="h5">
Hi Harold,<br>
<br>
You say:<br>
<p dir="ltr"><i>"..I struggle to translate is the concept of
coercion and authority from the vantage of "it's all open
space". Can we really be coerced? How are we all already
"opting in" to empower the "authorities"?</i></p>
<i> </i>
<p dir="ltr"><i>"...Could we just be volunteering for the victim
part of our stories?</i></p>
<i> </i>
<p dir="ltr"><i>"...I have some thoughts about this, but I wonder
what you would say to such a challenge to the relevance of
"authority" in OST?</i><br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr"><br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">Hmmm...interesting questions for sure.<br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">My current belief is that authorization dynamics are
central to the general dynamics of Open Space. And if it is
"Open Space all the time" then authorization dynamics as
desribed in my essay are also there... all the time. <br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">Regarding the Open Space meeting format: If we begin
at the beginning; that is, at the start of arranging an actual
Open Space event in an organization, we immediately work to
identify and locate someone "duly authorized" by the
organization, to do the things the Sponsor does, and say the
things the Sponsor says. Someone to occupy the Sponsor role. To
do that, the person occupying the role must have substantial
authority in the organization, usually of the formal variety. <br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">Right? Put another way: if the Sponsor is lacking in
authorization, can they actually be effective? Larger question:
Can the meeting still actually work? What about the post-meeting
follow-through?<br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">So here we see how <i>authorization shows up a the
very start of any contemplated Open Space event inside an
organization</i>. <br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr"><br>
<br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">One last thing: last time I checked, "victims" are
kind of rare in Open Space. Something about the subtext of "the
Law of 2 Feet...."<br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">
"...The Law of Two Feet concept was published in an <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm" target="_blank">article
by Harrison Owen</a>, a member of an organization advocating
Open Spaces Technology, a model for organizing meetings that's
based around open participation. Here's how Owen describes the
rule:</p>
<p dir="ltr">
“...Briefly stated, this law says that every individual has two
feet, and must be prepared to use them. Responsibility for a
successful outcome in any Open Space Event resides with exactly
one person—each participant. Individuals can make a difference
and must make a difference. If that is not true in a given
situation, they, and they alone, must take responsibility to use
their two feet, and move to a new place where they can make a
difference.”<br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://opensource.com/business/10/8/darwin-meets-dilbert-applying-law-two-feet-your-next-meeting" target="_blank">http://opensource.com/business/10/8/darwin-meets-dilbert-applying-law-two-feet-your-next-meeting</a><br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr"><br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">Daniel<br>
</p>
<br>
<div>On 9/26/14 6:49 PM, Harold Shinsato
via OSList wrote:<br>
</div>
</div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="h5">
<p dir="ltr">Fantastic essay, Daniel. I'm a bit freaked out by
Harrison talking about his "translator" after diving into
T.S.Kuhn's book where he says paradigm shifts require
"translators" because new and old paradigm holders live in
different worlds, where even common terms may be fundamentally
different.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What I struggle to translate is the concept of
coercion and authority from the vantage of "it's all open
space". Can we really be coerced? How are we all already
"opting in" to empower the "authorities"?</p>
<p dir="ltr">Could we just be volunteering for the victim part
of our stories?</p>
<p dir="ltr">I have some thoughts about this, but I wonder what
you would say to such a challenge to the relevance of
"authority" in OST?</p>
<p dir="ltr">Thanks,<br>
Harold</p>
</div></div><div style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="white" link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US">
<div><div><div class="h5">
<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!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Harrison
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
</div></div><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 [mailto:<a href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Daniel Mezick via OSList<span class=""><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</span></span></p>
</div>
</div><span class="">
<p class="MsoNormal"> </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</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">--<br>
</p>
</div>
</span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span></blockquote><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span></blockquote><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<br>
<br>
<div>-- <br>
Harold Shinsato<br>
<a href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com" target="_blank">harold@shinsato.com</a><br>
<a href="http://shinsato.com" target="_blank">http://shinsato.com</a><br>
twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/hajush" target="_blank">@hajush</a></div>
</font></span></div>
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