Thanks, Michelle. The time factor is a huge caution for me, too. I wonder if they care enough to devote the time they need to resolving the issue? I think I'll need to take a firm stand on this. What is your opinion of spreading the space over several subsequent sessions? (When I voiced my concerns about the time issue, they were prepared to devote a couple of followup weekly sessions of two hours - but again the same issue of opening space "a little" - just as people start to become engaged in the process, it's time to go scrub!) The other complicating thing is that the physicians have the largest interest in getting home on time because they don't get paid any extra for being there late - the others get compensated, so there are certainly power issues involved.
Do you think this could be spread over a few weeks, or should I hold out for a full day? Laurel. -----Original Message----- From: Michelle Cooper [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 11:34 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: I need advice . . . HI Laurel; I would suggest not using open space for two hours for this particular scenario. OST is just the right process for the problem, but anything less than 4 hours would have the potential to backfire and a day would be minimal in my opinion for this issue. It sounds typical of the desire for instant fixes to huge problems that is rampant in health care. My other concern is that they will be so caught up with being ready for the OR to start, they may not be fully present. I would suggest that if they are truly committed to resolving the problem, they will dedicate more time to it and they will find a way to make the time happen. Sometimes that requires investing in time on a weekend or (god forbid) closing down the OR for a half day. This is often done when anaesthetists go for their annual conference!! My thinking is that a 2 hour event in any form is not going to help them resolve the issues. They are likely looking at many 2 hour sessions which would have the same effect on productivity as closing the OR for a day and not nearly as effective as just one day in open space. One of my nursing colleagues participated in a 2 hour "demonstration" event recently at a conference where there was not particular passionate issues. She said that people got into the discussion so deeply, that they were angry when they were forced to stop. Not in the spirit of OS and could particularly backfire if volatile issues got raised that could not be discussed until "it is over". Two hours might get you an opportunity to do some story telling to start people getting a handle on the issue and then follow with a longer open space. My humble opinion; Michelle Michelle Cooper, RN, MScN The Cooper Group Consultants 200 Crestview Avenue Ancaster, Ontario Canada L9G1E2 Telephone - (905) 648- 4633 Fax - (905) 648-1763 E-mail [email protected] The paradox of control is simple. The more we try to control life, the less control we have. Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Minding The Body, Mending The Mind
