Doug -- You may be working too hard. If you start with the idea (I would say fact) that the folks are already "in" open space, they are just not doing it as well or intentionally as they might. After all, all systems are self organizing -- it is the preexisting condition here on planet earth :-) Also, you have a group of consenting adults (the so called "students.") who probably have some idea of how they might like to spend time together in a useful and supportive fashion. If it were me, I would convene a 1 day Open Space for anybody who cared (presumably students and faculty) with the theme, "Issues and opportunities for supporting each other as we build our businesses." It might turn out, for example, that they would rather have a weekend together once a quarter. Or something totally different.
At the very least you would avoid the awful oxymoron of "organizing a self organizing system." As for "The Principles, etc" no need to organize a thing. You would already "be there." And best of all you would be treating the "students" like adult human beings which I would consider to be a real plus. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) Camden, Maine 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 (summer) 207-763-3261 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of douglas germann Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 8:19 PM To: oslist Subject: [OSList] Designing an OS way Friends-- An opportunity has been dropped in my lap, and I need your help to noodle it through, please: A local college created a program for beginning entrepreneurs. They now have a dozen graduates of this continuing education program, and they are doing follow-on sessions: once a month, from 9 to 10 am, local experts present and consult with them. For those who pay the fee for this continuing portion, this session is mandatory. Now they want to do something at these monthly meetings which will encourage them to consult and conspire with one another on the challenges they are facing as they start their businesses. This is voluntary. The sessions would run from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Many people may have to get back to work by 1:00 so may leave early. They had a 3-hour OS session half way through their program before they graduated, so most of them have had some experience with OS. My sense of what they need is to be sounding boards for each other, to engage one another in deep and meaningful conversation, to have some bonding or cohesiveness time. I would like to design some way that uses OS principles that becomes their way of being together. They would like me to help some of them learn how to do OST, and that might be part of it. How would you design an OS way of life for these women for their once a month meeting? Thanks! :- Doug. _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
