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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Occasionally somebody ponders the possibility of Open Space and Planning – as in, could you do Planning, Strategic and otherwise, in Open Space? My immediate response has always been, Yes. As a matter of fact I have done just that on a number of occasions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is no question that when we “opened space for our future” (which always seemed to be the essence of the theme), a marvelous time was had by all. Something that looked very much like a “plan” emerged with attendant work groups – all committed and in place, and of course the time taken for the exercise was minuscule compared to standard practice. End of story. Or is it?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Planning, at least in common usage, has some association with controlling, or even <i>creating</i>, the future. Indeed, many would argue that control of the future is the whole point of planning. Open Space, on the other hand, is all about self organization – which implies that control as we usually understand it is impossible. So Planning in Open Space would seem to be an oxymoron. You simply can’t get there from here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Upon reflection it does seem that Planning and Open Space go together rather like oil and water. It is also true that on those occasions where I was privileged to be with a group Planning in Open Space – it was marvelous. Good stuff seriously happened, and best of all people really had fun – even if there were times when it seemed like we were all hanging on by our finger nails because things were moving so fast!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Of course the “proof of the pudding” in this business is not, “Did you make a plan?” but most importantly – Did it work? And it is precisely here that things really get confusing. The plans not only “worked” as (self) reported by the participants – But they worked faster and better than ever. Almost to the point that it seemed the distinction between “planning” and “doing” had dissolved. Wow!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I can see another heresy just coming into view. Everybody “knows” that Planning comes first. Neat, orderly, rational, deliberate – considered over and over again. THEN... Action. But what would it mean if it happened all at once? ... That there really was no meaningful distinction between planning and doing? Not as an ideal, but as an experienced reality?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some might say that this is a clear indication of mental aberration – Mad in a word. On the other hand... were the experience real (as in repeatable, non-drug induced, whatever) we might just have to take another look at what we mean by “Planning.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Harrison<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Winter Address<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>7808 River Falls Dr.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Potomac, MD 20854<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>301-365-2093<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Summer Address<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>189 Beaucauire Ave<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Camden, ME 04843<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>207 763-3261<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Websites<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>www.openspaceworld.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>www.ho-image.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>