Diane et al: Only in very small groups have I encouraged people to report back verbally to the whole group some of the outcomes of their Open Space discussions. I let the written report do the report back for larger groups (over 25). With 300 I would certainly not have verbal group reports. I would also use the computer software from task if selecting top priorities is required by the sponsors.
As you know, I work hard with the sponsors to get clarity on the parameters for action before the Open Space event. They state those at the beginning and at the end so that some things are clearly actionable. If there is a need and desire for the sponsors to comment on what actions they will take as a result they can do that. However, I always close the space at the end of the "self-organizing" part and before the convergence. Then in convergence, I use a variety of approaches to clarifying next steps. With a recent client, a large pharmaceutical and a 500 person event, the Plant VP and the senior team (the sponsors) caucused over lunch after a converging process done in intact teams. The teams took on those issues where they had freedom to act with great enthusiasm. They determined their own priorities. There was no whole group priority setting. The VP "walked around" to get a feel for how they were addressing the issues. He then thoroughly read the reports (some 75) and at lunch met with the division leaders who had participated with their teams. The issues that required senior team action were reviewed by this sponsor group over lunch and they then made specific commitments after lunch to the whole group. There were no verbal report backs, except that of the senior team. There would not have been time or energy for verbal reports. In fact, I think they would have boring and dispiriting at that point. When the teams got back to the plant, they will full of energy and began to pursue their ideas and plans with the participation of the appropriate s enior team members. As for the closing of the Open Space "self-organizing part", I have stopped putting the mike in the center of the room for large groups, particularly if there is a time squeeze. I have had some difficult experiences with people monopolizing the mike--those that really like to preform in front of a crowd. This has left others dispirited. So, I now do the "Oprah" thing at the closing of groups over 300 if the time requires. I become the talking stick with the mike and pass it through the group, making eye contact with everyone and giving it to those who want to talk. It worked well with the pharmaceutical plant, still evoking some amazing comments form some very shy new employees, people of colour. Larry Larry Peterson Associates in Transformation 41 Appleton Ave., Toronto, ON, Canada, M6E 3A4 Tel:/Fax: 416-653-4829 [email protected] http://www.inforamp.net/~lpasoc -----Original Message-----
