Romy: I have used Open Space in a couple of "merger" settings successfully. Once in a national church organization merging major units. The Open Space did enable thee groups to create their new directions and working relationships. There had been a lot of anger about the merger. There was a lot of positive, combined energy coming out of the Open Space.
I recently led an Open Space with a theme "preparing for merger". A major hospital that had been forced into a merger had the 150 key leaders (plus some onlookers from one of the hospitals to be merged) to anticipate the merger. The had great discussions about both the challenges and the opportunities in the upcoming merger and began to explore strategies for preparing various departments. The board level merger is still proceeding very slowly (truly a government job) so they have not been able to take the next steps yet. Larry -----Original Message----- From: Peggy Holman, Open Space Institute [SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 27, 1998 1:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Fw: OS for mergers and aquisitions This sounds like an exciting opportunity on very short notice. If anyone can give Romy some leads, please do. (LGI = Large Group Interventions) (M&A) = Merger and Acquisitions Peg Holman -----Original Message----- From: Romy Shovelton <[email protected]> To: Peggy Holman <[email protected]> Date: Monday, April 27, 1998 3:48 AM Subject: OS for mergers and aquisitions Peggy I/we have an opportunity to provide Open Space/other LGIs in a MAJOR M&A situation.... So, I am looking for: 1) cases of where OS/ other LGIs have been used for the major culture change work that is necessary around M&A 2) a quick summary of some of the M&A issues that might be addressed by using a whole-systems, LGI approach. Clearly I can create some thoughts of my own on 2), and.... it's always good to hear ideas from colleagues - on the basis of modelling the best!! I have to put a paper together by mid Tuesday (tomorrow), having heard about the opportunity an hour ago. Any help you and colleagues might be able to give, would be VERY welcome. thanks hugely in anticipation, Romy PS it might be time for me to join the OSI!! What's involved?
