Kevin, I have used open space to bring together three statewide professional groups which all had active law suits pending against one another which had been going on for several years. They had a shared legislative enemy at a particular moment in time and we used that to bring them together to lay the foundation for getting unstuck. Lots of loudness and anger during the process, but a very reflective closing session. They resolved the law suits (not part of explicit plan, which was to deal with a common enemy) within 9 months!
Actually, conflict is one of my favorite open space conditions. Chris
