Hi Laurel, My submission to you is maybe too late to be in the mix of your considerations. I have only now had the time I wanted to respond to your item on the list and I want to, very much.
Open Space Technology does wonderfully with conflict, but in my experience, only if enough time is given. On day one, all of the issues and opportunities get raised and a chance for discussion (as per the promise of OST). Usually by the end of Day One, the "dead moose"--what's really going on, rises to the surface, the issues under the conflict and so on. On Day two, thanks to the sleep in between and the process, things start to shift to solution focus rather than just description focus. In other words, people have felt heard on day one, have wrestled some with grief cycle work, and on day two, if there is a real willingness to resolve conflict they will move beyond description (there is a tendency in human nature to love staying in descriptive and maybe victim, helpless mode in the face of conflict) and they will move to prescription or solution mode. Some will be there on day one. Many likely will not get to solution focus until day two. And in the best of all scenarios, there would be a third morning for convergence and agreed upon action to move the solution focus beyond the meeting and into the real life of the organization. One of my favourite stories of Open Space and conflict resolution is from a number of years ago when Harrison and I facilitated a conference to do with Breast Cancer Advocacy. We were told there was "a little conflict". Code words for "all hell is going to break loose" and we were witness to and space holders for some of great conflict and conflict resolution. It went just like I described above, with the conflict really appearing in full glory by the end of Day One. Day two allowed for posting of more topics, as always, and this gave a chance for the topics that would clear the air (they don't seem to get up on day one, not really). It took every bit of our combined skills as facilitators to hold the space, not to intervene despite pleas and orders to do so, and to love the group and respect the group so that they could be encouraged to find their way. In my experience, sacred work like this cannot be hurried. And in my experience, shortening the time frame, cutting it up into pieces, etc. is unlikely to be helpful and in fact will likely create a situation for more chaos and conflict. Whenever an Open Space Technology meeting is broken up by days apart, it is really several meetings --because much of life and change in the environment has gone on in between. If it were me, I wouldn't do this meeting in Open Space Technology if it has to be broken up. I would not think of it as an Open Space Technology meeting, but merely a self organizing set of meetings. And if it backfires, it will give a bad memory about Open Space Technology meetings because that is what people think they have been in. Open Space Technology works well with conflict but remember the five conditions for Open Space Technology to work well and the promise of what a one day, two day, three day meeting will do---each different. This is precious work we are entrusted with. I think we need to do it wisely and well and to honour the human beings involved by honouring the space and time needed, or not do it at all. Journey well, Birgitt Birgitt Williams Make Genuine Contact! Dalar Associates: organizational effectiveness consultants Striving for Success? Ready to exceed your expectations? Contact us for consulting services, training, conference and meeting facilitation, and keynote speaking. www.openspacetechnology.com <http://www.openspacetechnology.com> -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Doersam, Laurel Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 1:03 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: I need advice . . . 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 * * ========================================================== [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected] Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== [email protected] To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed
