In a message dated 4/6/03 6:56:22 AM, [email protected] writes: << Two of the participants work in a large (private) Hospital and Healthcare system and were saying how difficult it is to engage people in any process that is 'open' without predetermined agendas, outcomes... >>
I've worked a bit in the health care system in the US and Canada, with results ranging from modest to diasastrous. This was some years ago, before I was working with OS. What I observe is that people in health care systems are stressed by a lot of changes in their system over the last 20 years, by the fact that hospitals are often understaffed, and by the nature of their work, which can be physically and emotionally challenging. They work within the scientific paradigm, and many have no desire to explore other possibile approaches, which they feel are inferior. With any client, I try to learn a little about the language they use, the proper names for things and terms to avoid. I probe a bit to discover whether they have had bad experiences in the past with consultants brought in for workshops or meetings. I search for metaphors from their realm to convey the concepts I want to introduce. I always give some rationale when asking them to work in a way that may feel unfamiliar or weird. Health care in the western world is a constant battle to put the unruly forces of nature under control, and they do not easily step away from this modus operandi to processes which appear to be out of control. I did discover that hospitals are systems which use and respect a wide variety of specialists, and are used to other people having expertise in their specialty. So I do not pretend to give advice about their areas of expertise, but I assume that they have hired me because I know something about meeting design and organizational dynamics. Laurel Doersam has done some good Open Space work with hospitals and health care systems, I believe Michelle Cooper has as well, and Lisa Heft works quite a bit with health care providers. I think that the on-list discussion you are thinking about was in response to a question from Doug Germann [email protected] if that helps you locate the earlier conversation. Greetings from rainy Washington State. Had lunch with Brian B. yesterday--the world is smaller than it used to be! Joelle * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
