Please add anything that you think might be useful to Kevin. In particular, I suspect his question on conflicts in Open Space would benefit from a variety of viewpoints.
Peg Holman >-----Original Message----- >From: Kevin O'Brien <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] <[email protected]> >Date: Wednesday, July 08, 1998 12:34 PM >Subject: Open Space Technology > > >>I just bought Harrison's User's Guide to OPT and devoured it in less than a >>day. >> >>What came to mind during the reading was if this could be used with >>conducting retreats for people interested in a particular topic such as: >>Passing on the family business; Story of a Man's Life; Being a Lawyer in >>Litigious Times; or whatever. >> >>I have a couple of questions though. >> >>Has it ever happened that not enough issues/concerns or opportunities were >>surfaced during the first session to fill all the time slots? Also, how do >>you manage the time/space chart if a convener wants to meet at the pool >>instead of one of the designated break out rooms? Have there ever been >>serious conflicts in one of the break out sessions and how was it handled? >> >>I would be very interested in knowing what your thoughts are on these >>possibilities and questions. I'm eager to do one myself. I've been a >>participant in a short OST workshop and found it to be a very good >>experience. >> >>Sincerely, >> >>Kevin O'Brien >> > > -----Original Message----- From: Peggy Holman, Open Space Institute <[email protected]> To: Kevin O'Brien <[email protected]> Date: Monday, July 13, 1998 8:37 AM Subject: Re: Open Space Technology >Kevin, > >Sorry for the slow response. I just returned from vacation last night and >am catching up on e-mail. I'm glad you're excited by Open Space. The >topics you listed all sound quite feasible. What makes OS work is passion >and responsibility, so when people care, they come and participate. Open >Space is a great approach for bringing people together to create what they >want. > >On your questions, the answers are pretty straightforward: > >>Has it ever happened that not enough issues/concerns or opportunities were >>surfaced during the first session to fill all the time slots? > >Posting sessions isn't that exacting. There may be plenty of time slots >left over. Sometimes there may be more sessions than anticipated by the >time/space matrix. The important thing is the conversations people are >interested in holding. The number of sessions are simply the manifestation >of what is important to people to spend time on. > >Also, how do >>you manage the time/space chart if a convener wants to meet at the pool >>instead of one of the designated break out rooms? > >During the opening, I'll generally let people know that if they want to move >their session or hold it in a different place, write it on the page so >people know where to go. If they are moving, they can also leave a note on >the door of the original space. Again, the quality of conversation or >activity is what's important. The logistics are best kept as simple as >possible with people using their own good judgment and following what has >heart and meaning for them. > >Have there ever been >>serious conflicts in one of the break out sessions and how was it handled? > >There are many serious and passionate conversations between people with >deeply conflicted views that have taken place in Open Space. If, by >conflict, you mean physical violence, I have never personally experienced >that nor heard of anyone who has. I have heard Harrison Owen say he >believes this is the case because of the Law of Two Feet. If someone is hot >enough to get physical, they have the option to walk away and cool off. > >This is a good question for the Open Space e-mail list. I'm going to send >it on and will copy you on that. > >You might want to take a look at some of the materials on the OS web site if >you haven't already: www.tmn.com/openspace > >Please write or call if I can be of further help, > >Peg Holman >Open Space Institute >
