In a message dated 5/30/00 5:43:30 PM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
<< Re open space. This has sparked a thought for me here about facilitation style. I wonder if this segment on convergence is a reflection of our facilitation style and not of the group need. >> Denis, I wonder if this is a result of the role we have established with the group? Perhaps when we view the group as a "client" in what amounts to a one time event, then the expectation is that the event will have closure, and hopefully convergence. But what about an ongoing relationship? I believe there might be more room to bump up the convergence aspect of OS to an even higher level by allowing chaos more of a chance to reign. This can happen more safely when there is another time and place to continue having the discussion, because the need for closure isn't really in the picture, until it happens naturally. Let me just share a brief experience. I am currently working with a public sector labor and management group (actually a municipal fire department) that has had some very nasty relationship problems. The format we have settled into (without formerly calling it Open Space) is that we do Open Space every two weeks around the issues generated by the group (for two or three hours at a time, usually in a couple of different issue groups). All the principles of OS apply. Each meeting has a little different mix of participants, but it is ackknowledged that whoever comes is the right people. Some of the issues that have been worked on have even caused the labor contract to be amended. But at the end of each session, there isn't the pressure to have closure, unless the issue is ready. This has also allowed the conversations to happen very informally in the days between the meetings. By opening the space for having the discussions that are needed, the union has avoided the political problems associated with having an inside group and and outside group. Everyone is invited. Those who show up participate. Those who don't do so by their own choosing. What I have found is that chaos is very helpful when allowed to roam in open space. It is however, essential that politically, the space be truely opened, otherwise it all becomes a tug of war. So far we have used this format for almost five months. It seems to be working so far. Relationships are still very fragile. But since progress on some of the key issues is being made, I suspect that soon, relationships will begin to mend. That's when convergence will really happen. I would be interested in other perspectives. Thanks, Dave Koehler
