Birgitt... I was unable to determine what your definition of a self-organizing system. Could you share some of your ideas about self-organizing systems? This would be helpful to me because I'm not sure that I can see a conflict between the beliefs you shared here and the concept of a self-organizing system.
regards, Richard (Doc) Holloway ----- Original Message ----- From: Birgitt Bolton <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 9:00 AM Subject: Re: Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site > Barry, Peg, Koos, and Michael, > I have just checked out the whole site and think you've done a great job and > can only imagine how hard the work must have been to put it all together!!!! > A true thank you. The only thing I am not sure of is whether OST is about > self organizing systems and so I include my comments below to invite members > of the list to a discussion about this. Maybe I am just about to demonstrate > my lack of grasping self organizing systems...... > > I wish to use this site to start a discussion about self organizing systems > because OST is introduced on the site as being about self organizing > systems. When I was introduced to OST, it was about Spirit being given space > and time to be manifest in organizations (which I don't think is the same as > self organizing systems although I am happy to be challenged on this one if > I am on the wrong track). I want to come out clearly with my position at the > beginning---I do not believe that at this point in our human evolution that > we have self organizing systems (at least in my understanding of what a self > organizing system means) and I do not believe that Open Space Technology is > about self organizing systems. Blasphemy on this list serve, possibly! > Sometimes just because we say something is so, doesn't make it so. > > Now, our new website says we are about self organizing systems. Do we really > know what they are? Are we fooling ourselves? Is it true? When I go through > the website itself, I see that although it would like to be---it is not a > self organizing system. There are "givens" that create the context for the > site and it looks like it has been set up to be self organizing within that > context, within those "givens". The "givens" as I see them include the > purpose of the site, the headings that have been created for us to access > and support with our information if we are moved to do so, the fact that > "initiators" of information posted are noted, the fact that there is a > webmaster and moderators, and so on. Even the choice of words like "open > space practitioner"---does this mean we are still practicing????? And the > choice of inviting local groups of practitioners to identify themselves > regarding new Open Space Institutes (and of course, I've raised before that > Institutes like us in Canada consider ourselves quite legitimate---whatever > that may be---even if we are not "formally chartered"----the only formally > chartered is in the US I believe). Where do the "givens" or > "non-negotiables" stop and where are we creating here from "assumptions" and > have we checked the assumptions or discussed them? Anyhow, the main point I > am trying to make is to raise for discussion the question of self organizing > systems and the role of OST in self organizing systems. Is the website > really an example of a self organizing system? Is OST really about self > organizing systems????? In my experience---the answer is NO. Whenever I have > used OST for a meeting, an event, the transformation of an existing > organization to operate as an Open Space Organization, or the emergence of a > new organization as an Open Space Organization, the totally human element > inclusive of spirit, emotions, mental processes, and body come into play. > And although people are in the "now" they also bring the learnings from the > past and the dreams of the future---and someone or someones always work from > "givens" to create a context or field for operating in, and there are always > assumptions made from which operating decisions come. It seems to be the > human way. > > I could have posted this set of queries as a discussion on the site. I chose > to post them on the list which I feel safer within to be me. Is it our > assumption that the list will continue, or is it the assumption that the > community here will instead communicate on the site? > > > Birgitt > > Birgitt Bolton of Dalar Associates > www.openspacetechnology.com > 55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada > L9G 2E8 > phone: 905-648-5775 fax: 905-648-2262 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Peg Holman, Open Space Institute [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 1:01 AM > To: Open Space Institute > Subject: Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site > > > To friends of Open Space everywhere, > > Come visit our new home in cyberspace: http://www.openspaceworld.org It is > our invitation to you to participate in the what gives the Open Space > Institutes meaning: holding space for Open Space. Whether for mutual > support and connection, mentoring or being mentored, learning or > contributing to OS research, or simply a place to send your friends, the web > site is there for you. > > To that end, this site is as open to participation as we could make it. For > example, take a look at stories and resources provided by OS practitioners. > Do you have a story or OS tool you'd like to share? You can post it > yourself. > > Or do you want to learn about OS trainings or events? They're not only > listed, but if you are an OSI member, you can post them yourself. > > Want to connect with an OS practitioner near you or who has expertise in a > particular area? Check out the directory of friends and practitioners. And > while you're there, add yourself to the list. > > Need some resources on Open Space -- the User's Guide or the U S WEST video? > What's available for purchase is described online. And if you're a member > with a related resource to sell, post it! > > And of course, what Open Space is complete without an online marketplace? > Got something about OS to discuss, here's a place to do it. A couple seeds > have been planted to start the conversation, but it won't grow without you. > > This site is here in service to the Open Space community. It helps to hold > the space for the OS community around the world, so come join us and send > your friends. > > > And please let us know what you think by contacting us at > [email protected] or [email protected] > > > Yours, in Open Space, > Michael Herman, Peggy Holman, Barry Owen, and Koos de Heer > creators of the World-wide Open Space web site > > > > > > Warmest regards, > Birgitt > > Birgitt Bolton of Dalar Associates > www.openspacetechnology.com > 55 Ravina Cres., Ancaster, Ontario, Canada > L9G 2E8 > phone: 905-648-5775 fax: 905-648-2262 > > -----Original Message----- > From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of > Harrison Owen > Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 7:02 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Visit the new World-wide Open Space web site > > > At 09:59 PM 8/18/1999 -0700, you wrote: > >To friends of Open Space everywhere, > > > >Come visit our new home in cyberspace: http://www.openspaceworld.org It > is > >our invitation to you to participate in the what gives the Open Space > >Institutes meaning: holding space for Open Space. Whether for mutual > >support and connection, mentoring or being mentored, learning or > >contributing to OS research, or simply a place to send your friends, the > web > >site is there for you. > ****************************************** > Congratualtions and thank yous to Peg, Barry, Michael and Koos. Terrific > job! > > > Harrison > Harrison Owen > 7808 River Falls Drive > Potomac, MD 20854 > USA > > Summer address: > 189 Beaucaire Ave. > RR Box 4248 > Camden, ME > 04843 > > Website www.tmn.com/~owen > Phone 301-469-9269 > Fax 301-983-9314 > Maine Phone 207-763-3261
