Ah -- A little bit of Open Space! I have tried what you are suggesting several times (concurrent Open and closed space) and it never seemed to work very well. But I have to admit, that is a personal judgment based on what I knew could have happened had it all been in Open Space. I also have to admit that some of the folks in the "Open Space Track" were delighted. The basic problem was that the majority of people loved the sound of Open Space, but given a choice in the moment opted for sitting in rows being talked at. I think I understand that reaction, but at the end of the day, I really felt uncomfortable. Part of my discomfort came from overhearing several conversations from folks who had not opted for Open Space -- who said something like -- that Open Space seems pretty useless. Now of course they just had "seen it," and not really been a part. But the reaction had been formed. It was not unlike several other situations where I had been asked to "demonstrate Open Space." I tried -- (sit in circle, create bulletin board...) and when I finished they were all just sitting there looking at me until somebody said "Is that all there is?" Right! No passion, no responsibility, not much at all.
Personally, I just won't do that sort of thing again. But there are some alternatives. Some friends have done Open Spaces in the evenings around really hot issues and those who cared to come seemed to get a lot out of the experience. Another -- if this is a multi-day conference -- Do the last day in Open Space (for everybody) as a way of synthesizing the experience and building the common knowledge base. That does work. Good luck! Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sue Scott Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 8:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: facilitation questions Hi Everyone, I seek your wisdom and experience. I am a volunteer in an international volunteer organization that is beginning to experiment with open space. In my local area, we are planning a conference that will being together our volunteers, professionals, other volunteers, and the people we serve. We generally have a pretty traditional conference, i.e., presentations, lectures, continuing education credits, registration for time slots in advance. I had hoped and asked for completely open space for this conference and it appears that we are not ready for that yet. However, the interest to learn more is there. Now some of us have the idea that we could offer open space at the same time as the rest of the conference. The conference organizers are fine with this idea. It would be in the same building. We would like to give people the option to attend the whole regular conference as is, move in and out of the conference, or spend all the time in open space. We would have a convening question, marketplace, space to post the sessions and space to hold sessions, etc. My questions: Have any of you been part of this sort of thing? If so, any advice on how to explain to people on the reg form? How would we open space? To the whole conference? Just to those who showed up in the OS room for opening? How does it work if some people do not attend opening and then attend the posted OS sessions? I know I have more questions inside but just am too inexperienced to know how to ask. Also, if I am part of this organization, I guess you call it a stakeholder, is it wise for *me* to be the facilitator? I am fine with not participating in any sessions that might ensue, if that is what is needed. Many thanks for your assistance, Sue Scott in Oregon USA * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
