Michael,
I offer my experience with café as a possible alternative to your
storytelling session. I used it at the start a chaordic design workshop. I
would personally consider using it in front of an Open Space session if
there were strong reasons to believe that there was one new big issue or
topic that was a common concern for all participants but not clearly related
to the OS theme/issue/question. If this concern still needed for some
participants to spill over into the OS session, it would, but with the
benefit of a prior conversation that involved all participants. The café
format is just a very easy one to use and it engages everyone in
conversation in a group of people within minutes. I may have been lucky but,
so far, using it selectively, I havent had bad experiences.
Henri
"On n'entend bien qu'avec le coeur" Le Petit Prince
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Michael M
Pannwitz
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 3:25 AM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: Re: SV: Design question for an OS-meeting (PRETTY LONG)
Dear Henri,
hmmm, what kind of workshop followed the conversation cafe? An open space?
Reason I ask is that what you describe happening in the conversation
cafe is what happens in open space all along, anyhow, productively, etc.
The "painful issue" not surfacing: the way you describe it sounds like a
success.
Greetings from Berlin
mmp
Henri Lipmanowicz wrote:
> Thomas,
>
> I have used conversation café on a couple of occasions right at the
> beginning of workshops when it was evident that there was fresh pain from
> some recent bad news. The thought was: if we don't deal with this issue
> upfront it will be on the mind of all, will be the talk during breaks and
> meals and will poison the workshop. We had tables of 5 for an hour or so
and
> then sharing main points from each table with the whole group. It worked
> like a charm. It gave space for all to talk about what was on their mind
and
> to put the issue behind them. To my surprise the "painful issue" didn't
> resurface for the rest of the workshop. All participants were able to jump
> into the workshop and have a grand time.
> There was great appreciation on the part of all that such a space had been
> provided for them to talk freely about what was on their mind.
>
> Henri
>
> "On n'entend bien qu'avec le coeur" Le Petit Prince
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Michael
M
> Pannwitz
> Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:26 AM
> To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
> Subject: Re: SV: Design question for an OS-meeting (PRETTY LONG)
>
> Dear Thomas,
> storytelling and the phase in the grief cycle which is called "memories"
> might be two different kinds of things. "Memories" comes before
> "despair" and "silence" and "vision"...so if you do "memories" in the
> morning there is no time for despair and silence before entering into
> the open space phase of the event.
> "Just" storytelling might keep people from goint into working on issues
> and then on projects.
>
> On action planning: if you do the 55 dot delphi stuff with the issues
> there is a phase for both identifying related issues and for jotting
> down further ideas and actions and questions on the "hot issues"
> identified. This, of course, is done only to the 6, 7, or 8 issues that
> are weighed most heavily.
> The reading and augmentation exercise is done before action planning and
> preferrably the night (here lunch break)before action planning.
>
> To me, action planning is not the work on the identified most weighed
> issues but the work on projects participants bring forward. The entire
> process of prioritization (Delphi or what have you) is in essence more
> data on the system and not yet a real indication in which projects
> people want to invest themselves. Thats why sometimes (I have not
> experienced this myself, yet) people are becoming impatient with Delphi
> etc. because they want to work on the action plans of their projects.
>
> I wonder about what you said is supportive or not for people to follow
> their passion. My experience is that when there is passion and
> responsibiliy leadership will in fact show up in force...even if there
> seems no or little support from others (least from me or my
interventions).
>
> Thanks for letting me in on this project of yours, always a great chance
> to go to new places and ideas.
>
> Right, I would also like to hear how it went...
> Greetings from Berlin
> mmp
>
> Thomas Herrmann wrote:
>> Dear Chris, dear Michael
>> Thanks for your sharing of thoughts and experiences.
>> I agree with you Chris, 3 sessions back2back is heavy. I am working on
>> trying not to push too much into the designs. Although is´s so free, my
>> experience too is that people often work quite hard in OS, especially
>> when time is limited - OK this time we have at least 2 days which is
>> good! Thanks for the reminder!
>>
>> STORYTELLING
>> Michel, the decision to include storytelling was done when we during the
>> pre-work identified that there is some grief due to the changes they are
>> facing, and some not too constructive myths living in the organization -
>> a bit of mistrust between the two schools that are being merged. So the
>> idea is to give space for stories to be shared before lunch, and thereby
>> releasing more energy for the work towards the common future of this new
>> organization. Chris, I do prefer storytelling the night before, but this
>> time it was not possible.
>>
>> (I tried a design for storytelling in a meeting in Norway in January
>> (which I think I shared about) which I plan to use again. It includes
>> brief opening, transfer in, sharing in groups of 10 + documenting on
>> flip-charts which are put into the large circle when we re-gather.
>> Finally an invitation to share stories in the large circle. In all 2,5
>> hours - we start our meeting at 9.30 so that´s a good fit. Worked
>> marvellous in Norway anyway, where there was BIG grief. It´s good to
>> have at least the lunch to digest and prepare for OS.)
>>
>> ACTIONPLANNING/INPUT FOR ACTIONTEAMS
>> Michael I like your suggestion - to save the actionplanning phase until
>> monday. Unfortunately we do not have enough time/space available on
>> monday to work as a whole group. There is only small time (about 1,5
>> hours) & small spaces for groups to gather to continue their work.
>> So I think we´ll at the minimum identify hot topics on friday.
>>
>> I like the idea of having some sort of an "audium" - exibition/input of
>> ideas. I guess that could be either on the reports produced or maybe on
>> issues that are brought up for actionplanning or the actionplans? If we
>> have brief next-step-sessions, say 30 mts. They could post their actions
>> on flip-charts on each a space in the main room. Then we could have say
>> 30 mts for all to walk around read and add ideas as input for the
>> groups. At the same time they could sign up for those groups they wish
>> to take part in. And then closing circle. This would all be added into
>> the documentation which they would all get on monday morning, before
>> gathering their groups. How does that sound?
>>
>> REGARDING VOTING/GROUPING OF TOPICS
>> My experience is that the top voters are almost always taken into action
>> by someone. I heard on the list that people are sometimes angry with
>> this process. I can´t recall I ever had critical feedback on this and I
>> think it is partly because i make the purpose so clear. Just to get the
>> info what topics have most energy for the group as a whole. It can also
>> be of value to the sponsor regarding priorities regarding financial
means.
>>
>> I think that getting a lot of votes can be supportive for those who have
>> passion to bring the topic further. So on the other hand not getting
>> support could work the other way around. HOpefully it helps that I point
>> out that a topic which has only a few votes can be of great important
>> to just a few people and be of value for the organization anyhow. So go
>> with where your energy is - is the message for the re-opening where
>> anyone can bring any issue forth for action planning.
>>
>> Chris, I promise to have fun!
>> Cheers
>> Thomas
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
>> *Från:* OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]*För *Chris
>> Corrigan
>> *Skickat:* den 28 juni 2006 11:27
>> *Till:* osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
>> *Ämne:* Re: Design question for an OS-meeting
>>
>> Hiya:
>>
>> I see...
>>
>> In my experience 3 1.5 hour sessions back to back is a heavy load
>> for attention. I would stay at four total, which should be fine for
>> a group of 100. I don't work much with same day storytelling, and I
>> might be tempted to add a session to the morning of day one if I
>> needed another.
>>
>> It seems like you have a good opportunity to deepen comittment to
>> action if you start the action planning conversations on day two and
>> then invite the groups to "park downhill" by leaving with a clear
>> sense of the work to continue on Monday. Then come back Monday and
>> continue the conversations then with the benefit of a couple of
>> sleeps under their belts.
>>
>> I'd be interested to see how that goes actually, to have two formal
>> action planning meeting scheduled within the context of an event.
>>
>> Hope this helps...interested to see how it goes.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> On 6/28/06, *Thomas Herrmann* <tho...@openspaceconsulting.com
>> <mailto:tho...@openspaceconsulting.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Chris
>> What I was thinking about more particularily was:
>> 1. Maybe include another session in the morning day 2. I´ve
>> planned to start at 8.00. That would mean lunch at 12 or 12.30
>> and less time in the afternoon for activities such as
>> actionplanning.
>> 2. Spending less time working on actionplans, instead give time
>> to let people give each other feedback to bring to the action
>> planning sessions coming monday.
>>
>> Regarding the voting and grouping of topics I still often do
>> that. My experience is that sponsors in organizations like to
>> have this information and it gives a good structure, common
>> picture to the participants. I AM VERY CLEAR that this is not a
>> process to exclude any topics, that´s why I also use re-opening
>> (guess it is what you call non-convergence) to identify topics
>> for action planning. The voting/grouping does take some time and
>> I agree a "clean" re-opening is nice too...
>> Cheers
>> Thomas
>>
>>
>> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
>> *Från:* OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
>> <mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu>]*För *Chris Corrigan
>> *Skickat:* den 28 juni 2006 10:37
>> *Till:* osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
>> <mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu>
>> *Ämne:* Re: Design question for an OS-meeting
>>
>> I canlt see anything wrong with your design here Thomas. I
>> would opt for "non-convergence" on day two, or more precisely
>> "non-prioritization" by simply re-opening the space for those
>> that are willing to take responsibility for convening the action
>> teams they want to see happen.
>>
>> Other than that, it looks perfectly workable to me...or am I
>> missing something in your question?
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Chris
>> (Frolunda Fan in passing!)
>>
>> On 6/28/06, *Thomas Herrmann* <tho...@openspaceconsulting.com
>> <mailto:tho...@openspaceconsulting.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Dear friends in Open Space
>> I am planning a two day OS-meeting and would like to ask for
>> any ideas from
>> you.
>> My sponsor is a headmaster. Two schools are being merged
>> into one unit and
>> the start will be a 2-day OS-meeting in August. About 100
>> participants both
>> teachers and other employees.
>>
>> The OS-meeting is Thursday-friday and on Monday there will
>> be time for
>> action teams to meet to work more on the action plans. So my
>> question is
>> around how to get the most out of the afternoon day 2,
>> having in mind there
>> will be a few hours to work further on Monday. We have to be
>> finished by
>> 15.30. Any sharing of experiences, suggestions and ideas
>> welcome!
>>
>> Yesterday we had our pre-meeting and the design we discussed
>> goes like this:
>> ---DAY 1---
>> Storytelling in the morning
>> LUNCH
>> Opening
>> 2 sessions (1,5 hours)
>> Evening news
>> Dinner
>>
>> ---DAY 2---
>> Morning news
>> 2 sessions (1,5 hours)
>> LUNCH (printing reports)
>> Reading all the reports
>> Prioritization/grouping of topics (to get a structure of the
>> material and
>> info about where the energy is in the groups as a whole)
>> Re-opening
>> Next step action meeting
>> Closing
>> ---
>> Hugs
>> Thomas Herrmann Phone +46 (0)709-98 97 81
>> Open Space Consulting Fax +46 (0)300-713 89
>> Pensévägen 4
>> 434 46 Kungsbacka, Sweden
>> Email: tho...@openspaceconsulting.com
>> <mailto:tho...@openspaceconsulting.com>
>> www.openspaceconsulting.com
> <http://www.openspaceconsulting.com>
>> *
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>>
>> --
>> CHRIS CORRIGAN
>> Consultation - Facilitation
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>>
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>
>
>
> Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
> ++49-30-772 8000
> www.boscop.de www.michaelmpannwitz.de
>
>
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