At 12:32 AM 4/30/01 -0400, you wrote:
Harrison--What do I think? I wonder (not at all facetiously) about the next question: How then do you sell OST? Put another way, What gets the check writer beyond our "What you want does not count, only what your people want"? :-Doug. Germann http://www.FootprintsintheWind.com [email protected]
I hear the point -- and two thoughts come to mind. First, if the check payer doesn't want what the group wants, and more importantly does not understand that the wisdom of the Group will inevitably exceed his or her own -- then there is little space to be opened -- and Open Space will definitely be a painful experience for all concerned, and should probably not be entered. This is not always a "bad" thing, as there are clearly times when Open Space should not be used. Those times include instances where "the answer" is already known. For example, I would never suggest Open Space be used for the initiation of a new financial system. Just pass out the manuals and get on with the business. By the same token, Open Space is a wonderful way to create a new system with all stakeholders participating. But in that case, the stakeholders must be honored or you are in a real mess. The second thought is that I would make every effort to insure that the Bill-Payer understands the Promises of Open Space, and further that those promises will be kept / baring an act of God. The promises are: 1) Every issue of importance to any one in the group will be on the table. 2) All issues will receive full discussion. 3) There will be a full written report in the hands of all participants. 4) Related issues will be converged. 5) Priority issues identified. 6) Responsibility will be assumed for taking the immediate next steps. Those are guaranteed! I will tell folks that enabling the group to become inspired, innovative, creative, responsible, charged up, turned on etc... is a no-brainer. Living with such folks afterwards can be a little difficult. Choose. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-469-9269 fax 301-983-9314 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected] Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
