As I have mulled OSI's role in training, my thinking has run to a collaborative arrangement with individuals/businesses sponsoring and facilitating, but the OSI available, if desired, to provide support. The obvious stuff is a listing on the web site. Another is mailing list information. Or actually doing the mailing. A different kind of involvement could be provision of materials. For example, we've discussed using video to illustrate some aspects of OS. If we were to actually invest in such a thing, it could be provided to people doing training. The idea is that some kind of arrangement where OSI gets some revenue in exchange for providing some form of service can serve growing demand (a hope I have for what we're all doing).
The key to me is the emphasis is on support to people who are hosting training. I believe "authorizing" and "certifying" run counter to the spirit of what OS is about. Instead, being "in service" to expanding the use of OS is to me, fundamental to OSI's mission. Support for training is one way to do that. Peg ---------- From: Larry Peterson To: Multiple recipients of list OSLIST Subject: Re Reflections on OSI Training Date: March 25, 1997 10:16AM WHO is "authorised" and who "authorises"? --I agree that Harrison has been clear that there is NO formal credentialling in Open Space Technology and that the meeting "technology" is itself extremely simple. --I have offered a variety of workshops where Open Space has been a central part of the learning process. Some particpants have gone on to use Open Space Technology and some of those have decided to continue their journey at one of Harrision's workshops. --Birgitt Bolton and I just led a week long event "Opening the Space" -- focused on both the role of formal leadership and that of facilitators in Opening the Space. We used the "Four Fold Way" as a primary metaphor for the four days of the event, with our own application to leadership issues in non-profit organizations. We used my slides on Organizational Transformation revised and deepened over a number of years with heavy reliance on what we've learned from Harrision, but adding other pieces from a variety of folks, and some that we think are our own. We do give credit and bibliographies and seek permission when it is necessary. --None of these events have been events created by the Open Space Institute of Canada. They have been created by individuals or teams with OSI being a place to connect and test ideas. I have offered similar workshops even before I knew about Open Space. However, our individual "businesses" (or in partnerships) have sponsored the actual workshops or learning events. However, since its formation, we have sought support and sponsorship by OSI Canada. --The upcoming training with Harrison is the same. Birgitt and I are sponsoring it from our own "companies". With HH Owen and Company, we will realize any profit or loss, not OSI Canada. --We have kept OSI Canada as an association, a place to gather, support, explore and share ideas. The "training" is a business for Harrision and the workshops that I lead are necessary income for me. --I think learning circles are great but different. OSI Canada has been meeting in day long explorations of Open Space topics (in Open Space of Course) as our learning process. Larry >
