Thank you for the story Gerard. One of my favorite examples of the "competitors" getting together (about 150 of them) to work together around the big issues they had in common that they needed to take a stand on. They also had to band together to get a bigger share in the global market. They are the Canadian Farm Business Managers. These are big big businesses so don't think of the small farms. Some of the issues facing them were maintaining and growing strong businesses within the North America Free Trade Act that threatens to bankrupt them unless they work together AND topics such as genetic altering of food making it more economical to grow.
As well as having incredible conversations with many action force teams developing, the closing circle was one in which they were proud of themselves. The day before Stephen Covey had been there leading them through a session on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Farm Business Managers. Then we did the OST event. And their pride was that throughout the OST meeting they had proved to themselves that they already had all the behaviors that Stephen Covey had said they ought to have. Also, within the social service and health sectors, I know there are hundreds of stories about the competitors coming together to achieve something even greater. Blessings, Birgitt -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Gerard Muller Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 5:49 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Inviting the Competition ? Dear All, I had an interesting Open Space last week that I would like to share with you. It really started almost a year ago, when an association of small companies (a cooperative) asked me to facilitate a seminar to discuss their strategy for the next five years. They made the previous one three years ago, and were ready implementing it ahead of time. Participants would be all Board members and all employees, some 20 in all. I discussed their situation and wishes with the director, and he agreed to an OS. So I had a preparation meeting with him and 4 Board members to prepare. Good people, and a very constructive team After having made a draft of the invitation, I asked them who else would have important knowledge relevant to their meeting. And we made an analysis of the network around the central theme. They agreed to invite all the key persons - except of course the competition: two main competitors in Denmark, and one in Sweden. But somehow I felt it would be more beneficial than dangerous, and we ended with a model where all guests were invited during the day, and the original 20 would continue. That way - was the reasoning - they would get the input but limit the :risk. All three competitors sent their directors as well as the chairman of their Boards. During the Open Space it was not visible to me these people were competitors. And one of the main conclusions of the first day was something like The main issue is not how to grow a little in Denmark, but how to enter the German market with our superior product - none of us alone would have the resources to go in succesfully, but together we could. The Open Space last week was for one of the competitors. And they invited their competitors - who all came. Any other stories about inviting the competition (or working for the competition) ? Greetings from Gerard Open Space Institute Denmark * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.459 / Virus Database: 258 - Release Date: 2/25/2003 * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
