Regardless of the wording, of self organizing, identifying, learning or otherwise, opening a space for people to evolve, grow and create means they must feel safety to do so - knowing what the boundary in which they are safe to act within - otherwise they often end up being hurt or discriminated against or otherwise trampled. Boundaries within, open space tech. opens the gateway to be within them - it is so like a garden - we have weeds when there is not intervention - things get overgrown by the dominant species - when one tends to their garden -it is not self organizing, it is organizing with love and care within a boundary (note that a garden is actually defined as a space with a boundary.....).
By the way, one of the reasons I rarely offer my thoughts is because the givens are not set on this list therefore I do not feel always safe to expose what I truly think- I recently have heard that the list is not only archived but also offered in strings on a website - it is not that I disagree these things can be done - just don't do it without letting those who contribute (or even lurk...) know - it changes the rules without us gnowing, or growing - Even we should remember to: show up and be present (here I am), TELL THE TRUTH, follow what has HEART and meaning and Let it go. Thanks Virginia -----Original Message----- From: Richard Charles Holloway <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 10:31 PM Subject: Re: Self-organizing systems >Becoming a learning organization is an interim step, I believe, enroute to >becoming a living organization. This is why the concept of self-organizing >is such an important one when considering open space (from a systems view). > >With the advent of enabling technology that allows complex systems (like >organizations) begin to develop an electronic memory, and the myriad neural >pathways that have grown through the increasing intra/inter-nets and other >communications media, "living" organizations are quite possible. > >I'm not sure why "inviting" or "identifying" could be considered as >evolutionary steps beyond the capacity for a system to learn. They >certainly can describe desirable characteristics of a living organization. > >Creating new cultures for these organizations (perhaps culture developed >through and around Open Space...characterized by "inviting" and >"identifying") becomes at once the great challenge and the great >opportunity. There is no surprise to me why so many involved in >facilitating cultural change within complex organizations look to creating >more flexible, adaptive organizations centered around autonomous yet >connected people. > >regards, > >Doc >------------------ >"A mind once stretched by a great idea or new understanding will never fully >return to its original dimensions." William James > >Richard Charles Holloway - >P.O. Box 2361, Olympia, WA 98507 USA Telephone 253.539.4014 or 206.568.7730 >Thresholds <http://www.thresholds.com> >Meeting Masters <http://www.thresholds.com/masters.html>
