|
OSI Vol. 1, No. Published by the Steering Committee Communications Headquarters: OSI The first invitation to Open Space on Open Space V has just been mailed to OSI members and our extended mailing list. For the first time ever, OSI Canada will host the event. Co-sponsors are our sister organization, OSI (Inc.) and H.H. Owen and Co. which inaugurated these annual Open Spare gatherings in Washington, DC, five years ago. We are hoping that 120 or more "right people" will plan to come. The site is the Holiday Inn on King in downtown If you have never been to OSONOS, this is the year to get on board. Old hands at Open Space abound, as do newcomers just starting to facilitate, and even people, who have just heard about it, and decided to investigate. Old friends start in where they left off last year, (or just last week for those on the Open Space internet). And every person there for the first time is a potential new colleague with the insights and experience you may need. "Growing" the Open Space training experience is an issue which has surfaced and expanded over the past year. An additional single-focus Open Space on training will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at the came place. Training sponsors, and people who have taken Open Space training are encouraged to share in this important discussion. Exploration re OS research commences Thirteen keen folk "spaced in" at the Clarion Essex Park Hotel
in down- town Though Larry Peterson opened and closed the space, our small but capable group agreed to hold the space jointly so he could participate fully in the discussions. It was clear to those of us who have not been closely involved in research previously that defining research topics takes time and careful thought. It is also necessary to create tools to gather relevant information which can then be explored. Plans have to be made to use these tools, as well as to assess what this information has to tell us. Most of the workshop participants were interested in research because they have been doing Open Space facilitation and want to understand what happens better. We now see that we need to work in partnership with researchers if we are to develop a keener awareness of the, processes involved, and greater skill in using Open Space in a variety of different situations. We know Open Space works in many scenarios with different sizes of groups, but we want to hone our insight and ability to assist organizations to enter the unknown future with optimism and excitement as easily as possible. How might OS facilitators begin to cooperate with researchers as they carry out the work they are currently doing? A good beginning question was identified. - Could research attention be
applied to ways of identifying the "givens" in organizations that
we work with? Quantification of other than just financial benefits of Open Space interventions is possible, and could be researched. Creating a publicly-accessible body of knowledge will help create safe space for Open Space and OS facilitators. Any members with suggestions of journals or organizations that might be interested in Open Space research are requested to let the Institute know. Accounts of Open Space work done in specialized settings would be appreciated as well. Where do we go from here? More ideas may come at the April 16 Open Space workshop on Emerging Issues. Research possibilities will be raised at OSONOS V as well. The more who are involved in focusing on issues, the easier it will be to proceed. Joan De New OSI (Inc) reports action south of the border What is happening in the Open Space Institute (Inc.)? The easy answer can
be seen in the, activities that are under way. Much more elusive is the
underlying question: How do we sustain a self-organizing organization? Cyberspace linkage and training issues surface as priority issues Much of the work is happening through e-mail. What seems to be emerging is the ability for anyone who has a topic that they feel requires face to face contact to convene a gathering. For example, we, currently have a group meeting to rethink OST training delivery. The special issue of Berret-Koehler's At Work was published in March. Edited by OSI's Anne Stadler, it contains a dozen stories of Open Space in business, non-profit and government. It should prove to be an excellent re-source for all OS facilitators. The first version of the Open Space Institute web site is up. Come visit
at: www.tmn.com/openspace. Our
thanks to the MetaNet for playing host. We're working on a more interactive
version now that will also be more inclusive of what's happening in We are planning a mailing in the fall with Berret-Koehler and OSI Canada
in conjunction with the publication of If you want to participate in the on-line discussion, send an e-mail message to: listserve@idbsu.idbsu.edu. Put the following text in the body of the message: subscribe oslist A group in Wendy Potter has contacted several speakers' bureaus about putting Open Space on their topic list. If you have an interest in being involved, contact Wendy at (206) 62l-4469. We've begun to discuss the possibility of bringing people from businesses
currently using Open Space together to share their stories. This would be a
joint convening by Boeing and OSI (Inc.). If you want to participate in
making this happen, contact Paul Glieberman at (206) 237-3607. That's all
from "down south" for now. We look forward to seeing you at OSONOS
in Peg Holman Triple Bottom Line essential in business From January 9-12, thirty-two people met in Open Space in The moving force behind both TFB I and II, Ralph Copleman, reports, however that "the conference itself was a very rich experience, more contemplative and somewhat more serious than TFB I. Perhaps with a smaller number, the realization of what we're truly up to takes deeper hold. Our purpose after all, was nothing short of formulating a new role and responsibility for business in the world. What, indeed, were we up to? Perhaps the transformation of everyone's consciousness about business' proper place in our communities. Perhaps a deeper understanding of how difficult it may be for us to bring our energies to bear on such a challenge. Open Space makes such realizations possible. It gets everything out of the way so you can concentrate on the work you came to do. Some day we'll be in an Open Space gathering and we'll be so concentrated and effective that we'll never even notice the "structure" or any design aspects whatsoever. Open Space Technology will have given way to Open Space. Several people have been in touch with Ralph since the conference, telling him they see they have a lot of work to do. And a number of people have offered to help make a third conference happen because they are convinced that a critical mass of commitment to the triple bottom line idea needs to be built. "Enriched community consciousness is the key to achievement of the triple bottom line." Ralph has provided a courtesy hard copy of the conference proceedings for the OSI News. For those on internet, it can be accesses at: http://www.tmn.com/tfb Not only did local people from In the introduction to the proceedings, Ralph commented that many of the findings seemed self-evident, yet in the context of the group discussion, they had taken on new importance and evoked new commitment to follow through in action at a personal level for himself. That "ordinary things" were reported takes on significance for me if they come up in an Open Space setting. That they were important for the folks there makes me give them more than passing recognition. It may be that follow-up on "ordinary stuff" will lead to the breakthroughs we seek for the future. Workshop proceedings are "diamonds in the rough" waiting to be cut and polished for use I have often referred to the proceedings from events I have facilitated as "diamonds in the rough," hoping by that definition to convey the idea that I consider them very valuable, but also that they may need cutting and polishing before their value can be fully appreciated. Once the "diamonds" have been identified, I am not sure that
Open Space is necessarily violated by grouping reports according to themes.
It really doesn't matter to me so much whether a group met in the morning on
day one or at Even though I had not met most of the participants, I felt disappointed when some reporters failed to mention who had participated in their dialogue. It takes more space to note who contributed key ideas in the discussion, but it could encourage more future dialogue. Having a phone number or email address beside the name of the group leaders could be another user-friendly way of promoting continuing conversations. Another advantage to proceedings is that they frequently list further
resources - people, programs, books, journals, etc. There are a number of
good leads included in this report. Check them out on-line, or send $10 US
to: Touchstone Partnership,
Ltd. Chris Kloth, who participated in TFB I, worked hard to encourage people of colour to attend the second conference and recorded the reasons, those he approached gave for not coming. His own awareness of barriers to participation was sharpened when he was confined to a wheelchair after an accident. He feels that race relations needs to be seen as part of the Triple Bottom Line, and that all need to reach out to visible minorities to encourage their participation in future TFB events. Their needs must be incorporated in planning. I am sure that my reading of the proceedings from the Joan De New Training combines intellectual and intuitive Opening the Space was the title of the OSI-endorsed training offered by
Birgitt Bolton and Larry Peterson February 24-20 at Canterbury Hills in Of the ten people who registered for the Ancaster training, there were two groups of three, one from a self-help health consumer group, and one from a national church staff. In addition, two human resource people from different government agencies, and two facilitators working with health related organizations attended. Monday evening's opening session was complicated by dubious weather and some delayed arrivals, but personal introductions were made, an over-view of the week was presented, and our thinking about leadership was Stimulated. The week was organized on the themes of the four directions, as outlined in Angeles Arrien's book, The Four Fold Way. Leadership is North: we began with an exploration of our own leadership styles using a variety of printed tools to help us define what these were. While one day was not long enough for me to thoroughly digest them, my interest in investigating leadership approaches was well stimulated. Day two was Vision in the East. After exploring the, characteristics of chaos and our experience of it, we were challenged to view it as an opportunity for transformation. Differences between transformation and reformation were developed through group discussion. We explored the meaning of transformation as a shift in paradigm. We recognized the importance of identifying underlying assumptions, and discussed the conditions necessary for transformative interventions. In small groups, we identified and analysed current decision-making processes in our organizations and then assessed the assumptions revealed by the analysis. We were presented with diagrams representing the cycle of change, and asked to draw a picture illustrating where our organization was in the cycle: these were shared with the group. Special attention was given to organizational grief work. We revisited our concepts of leadership, identifying the abilities required of transformational leaders. Day Three focused on Community in the South, and led naturally into Day Four's
Management theme in the West. Participants had received copies of Harrison
Owen's OST manual to read in preparation for the workshop, so just the main
features were highlighted in the introduction to a full day and a half of
Open Space. For me, one of the most significant insights was the importance of support for people with Open Space skills and perspectives who are working inside defensive organizations. It was clear how I might have been able to be more effective as president of a national organization if I had sought and received more outside support from people who understood the challenges of chaos and how it can be approached safely and positively. The Dead Moose Society described elsewhere in this newsletter emerged from this important discussion. On three evenings, there were optional experiential events designed to
give us direct opportunities to deepen our involvement in the four directions
from an intuitive approach. I had heard many references to the benefits of
drumming, for example, but had never previously had the personal opportunity
to experience its power. Joan De New Dead Moose Society inaugurated April 16 Attention, all of you in the world of Open Space! A new, specialized subgroup has formed, and we are extending an invitation to all of you to participate. At the recent Opening the Space event, we discussed the importance of living our truth, with good heads and good hearts, and extending care and compassion into the world. We then talked about the hazards associated with living this way. What happens when collusion is exposed? What happens when a truth that everyone knows but no one ever talks about is named? What happens when space is opened and unpleasant truth surfaces? At first glance, the answer would seem that the air gets cleared and life
goes on better than before. Our collective experience has told us, however,
that this is not always so. It is more common that the truth teller comes to
harm, or is somehow targeted for harm. Or Open Space itself is called into
question, with people so angry at having the truth come out that they end up
rejecting Open Space as a positive and constructive process. And thus we formed the Dead Moose Society as an adjunct to the Open Space Institutes and all good Open Space work everywhere. The purpose of the Society is to get the Dead Moose on the table wherever we can, and to support each other in efforts to do so. A strong support system is vital to "inside" survival The principles that govern us are familiar: Whoever comes is the right people, whatever happens is the only thing that could have; whenever it starts is the right time, and when it's over, it's over. Added to these four principles which come thanks to Harrison are four others which come thanks to Angeles Arrien: show up (or choose to be present); pay attention (to what has heart and meaning); tell the truth (without blame or judgement); and be open to outcome (not attached to it). You are encouraged to form your own Dead Moose Society with whomever you can interest in this very important work. Members must be people who are willing to take risks, have courage and vision, and enjoy community. They must also be committed to the principles that encourage us to be about our own truth. The first meeting of the Society is at the Unionville Arms Pub (northeast
of 1) Where did the Dead Moose come
from anyway? We would like to say there are no fees, but for those of
you who try to live your truth and who have tried to name the truth in an
organization, you know the price can be very high. Nothing less than your
soul, sometimes! Birgitt Bolton Steering Committee deals with full agenda The OSI Steering Committee includes all members who are interested in participating. Those attending have included Eleanor Belfry-Lyttle, Birgitt Bolton, Joan De New, Donna Nelham, Jody Orr, Larry Peterson, Ed Roberts, Estelle Vincent-Fleurs, OSI wants to ensure that form precedes structure in the development of the Institute. Openness and flexibility are valued. The agenda is set by those attending. The next Steering Committee meeting will take place during the April 16 Open Space at King View. New committee members are welcome. The OSI Steering Committee, has had two meetings since the last issue of
the News. Larry Peterson convened one on February 21, following the Open
Space Research workshop at the Clarion Essex Park Hotel in The following highlights are meant to keep all members abreast of relevant information. Birgitt, Larry, Jody and Joan have assumed major responsibility for OSI's
hosting of OSONOS V. Jody will coordinate social matters, and will be
co-opting other members to assist in welcoming our colleagues to As far as finances are concerned, OSI workshops are breaking even overall.
The sale of The Steering Committee affirmed its intention of consulting with OSI Inc. at the planning stage of projects and events. It saw great value in such reciprocal early involvement, since both organizations are likely to be affected by the initiatives of the other. OSI membership is now around 70, though some have not renewed for '97. Renewal notices were sent with the first OSONOS invitation. Membership applications were sent to the extended mailing list of around 300 names with the OSONOS invitation. Larry will provide printed labels for OSI mailings. OSI will sponsor a day in Open Space on April 16 at King View Conference
Centre north of Jody Orr will open the space on April 16. It was agreed that various OSI members take turns opening space at our events. Volunteers, please offer! Birgitt reported that members of OSI Inc. have been discussing training issues, while our focus has been more on research. (See report of the Open Space workshop on research.) Many positive comments have been received about the OSI newsletters to date, and negotiations are under way to transform them into international Open Space newsletters with Joan De New as editor. Meantime, it was agreed our newsletter should remain at eight pages, with the next two issues mailed by mid-April and mid-September. Quantity is 125 copies. Larry and Birgitt have both contributed articles to an issue of At Work featuring Open Space. Larry has ordered extra copies which will be available through OSI at an appropriate cost. Jody Orr will review the issue for the next newsletter. The possibility of stating in advance an OSONOS V workshop topic on research was discussed. This would allow us to extend special invitations to researchers to attend. Because OSONOS has a history, for many who attend, it becomes "ongoing" Open Space, so some advance bulletin board notices may now be appropriate. OSI members are encouraged to approach researchers they know about possible participation. It was agreed that an extended consultation on training for Open Space be planned for Tuesday, October 28 at the Holiday Inn. This will be open to those who sponsor training events, and those who have attended OS training. Joan De New The Bulletin Board My name is Adrian Carter. I work at Nesbitt Burns and was certified
as Adrian Carter |