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Hi John - looks like there's lots unfolding around your questions
and experience on the OSList. It's beautiful to watch the flow of
thoughts!<br>
<br>
What you say resonates with me a great deal. I certainly experience
some space feeling open and others feeling closed. And in my own
experience of space being closed, there seems to be none of the
freedom implicit in 'Open Space'. I notice a strong urge to want to
go in there and fix all those bad organizations with closed space.<br>
<br>
And what I'm getting from Harrison's thinking is not just that
self-organization is always in operation, but that Space is actually
always always always open. It's always inviting us into a deeper
experience. We're just passing on that invite when we invite others
into OST, and the more we experience that Openness, and that
Welcome, the more effective we can be at making successful
invitations for others to join us.<br>
<br>
This seems to also match the core of most spiritual traditions.
Maybe it's why Harrison recommends meditation be most of OST
facilitation training.<br>
<br>
Harold<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/12/14 11:30 PM, John Baxter
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJpg6=Qu1oGsvs8VQkxoYefHEpJxqFKzfm9+4RKWptHHVGPO=A@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<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>
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<div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 10:36 AM, Harold
Shinsato via OSList <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
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 moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com" target="_blank">harold@shinsato.com</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://shinsato.com"
target="_blank">http://shinsato.com</a><br>
twitter: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://twitter.com/hajush" target="_blank">@hajush</a></div>
</font></span></div>
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</blockquote>
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</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Harold Shinsato<br>
<a href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com">harold@shinsato.com</a><br>
<a href="http://shinsato.com">http://shinsato.com</a><br>
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