Thank you, Michael! It helps, when I know the origin of the saying. Be well,
Arno * * 2013/9/28 Michael Herman <[email protected]> > I learned this phrase in the context of meditation, Arno. I've heard > meditation teachers say about meditation practice that if we just "do the > practice" we'll get the results… usually this is in contrast to simply > talking about the practice or listening to teachings. This is akin to > saying "anyone with a good head and good heart can do open space…" anyone > who does the practice can get the same results that os > teachers/practitioners, from harrison onward, have gotten. Does this help? > > > > On Friday, September 27, 2013, Arno Baltin wrote: > >> Hi! >> >> I like this conversation about what OS is. And this practice notion is a >> bit complicated. I as non Enlgish speaker I looked for the meanings of the >> word and got confused. Could you Michael say it in other words what you >> mean that OS is practice (first of all). Especially when I read "do the >> practice" I cant understand the meaning. >> >> Be well, >> >> Arno >> >> >> * * >> >> >> 2013/9/25 Michael Herman <[email protected]> >> >>> When I hear folks simplifying open space into a tool or technique, my >>> usual response is to point out that circle is a tool, bulletin board is a >>> tool, etc. Open Space is a *practice*, incorporating a number of these >>> different tools. And hopefully, my use of them together is getting more >>> and more skillful over time. To me, "practice" includes the suggestion >>> that we do it once, as best we can, and then we try again, and again, >>> learning and refining as we go. >>> >>> My felt sense of this is a little different from "values and principles" >>> though I don't think calling OS or agile or scrum that is incorrect. For >>> me the difference is that I hold values and principles, but practice is >>> something that *holds me*. >>> >>> I also like to suggest that open space is a robust practice, a >>> sufficient practice. Everything that's needed is there in the basic story >>> and mechanisms. We don't need to do anything more, add in different >>> things. Just do the practice and we get the experience, get the learning, >>> the performance, the self-organizing, the breathing. >>> >>> Thanks for your story, Harold. >>> >>> M >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Michael Herman >>> Michael Herman Associates >>> 312-280-7838 (mobile) >>> >>> http://MichaelHerman.com >>> http://OpenSpaceWorld.org >>> >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 12:58 PM, Peggy Holman <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> Harold, >>>> >>>> Thanks for bringing your knowledgable and eloquent perspective. >>>> >>>> Great to see these two communities working through an understanding of >>>> each other. With you and others as translators, I think Agile is in good >>>> hands. >>>> >>>> Peggy >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> __________________________________ >>>> Peggy Holman >>>> Journalism that Matters >>>> 15347 SE 49th Place >>>> Bellevue, WA 98006 >>>> 425-746-6274 >>>> www.journalismthatmatters.org >>>> www.peggyholman.com >>>> Twitter: @peggyholman >>>> JTM Twitter: @JTMStream >>>> >>>> *Enjoy the award winning* Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into >>>> Opportunity <http://peggyholman.com/papers/engaging-emergence/> >>>> Check out my series on what's emerging in the news & information >>>> ecosystem<http://www.journalismthatmatters.net/the_emerging_news_and_information_eco_system> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sep 23, 2013, at 7:53 AM, Harold Shinsato <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Harrison, >>>> >>>> About your statement "Open Space is a terrible way to introduce some >>>> new process, and especially to assure 'buy in'". >>>> >>>> You're clearing going directly against the heart of what Dan is trying >>>> to promote. Maybe I invite disaster for myself by speaking an alternative >>>> view from what you are saying given your founding status of this community >>>> - but perhaps given my 12+ years working in the Agile space - I have >>>> something worthwhile to say. >>>> >>>> Harrison, you've been opposed to calling "Open Space" a tool. And I >>>> hear Lisa Heft (the best Open Space trainer) talking about it being a tool >>>> all the time. >>>> >>>> I agree with both of you. Open Space is most emphatically *not* a tool >>>> at it's heart. It's a set of values and principles. But it is also >>>> definitely a tool. Or as Dan says, a 'game'. A beautifully designed game. >>>> >>>> Agile is most DEFINITELY not a process. It's a set of values and >>>> principles. You can see this in the Agile >>>> Manifesto<http://agilemanifesto.org/>- especially the first item, we value >>>> Individuals and Interactions *over* >>>> Processes and Tools. Yes, the Agile community applies many very specific >>>> tools and processes. And very heated debates happen around the application >>>> (or misapplication) of those tools and processes, such as Scrum. >>>> >>>> But oddly - even Scrum isn't *Really* a tool or a process. At the heart >>>> of Scrum is also a set of principles and values. If you want to get a sense >>>> of this - go to the end of the first book on Scrum, by Schwaber & Beedle >>>> "Agile Software Development with Scrum" - where it lists the 5 values of >>>> Scrum - Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect & Courage. Or read Tobias >>>> Meyer's "The People's Scrum". Very powerful assertion and meditation on the >>>> core values and how to apply the processes to get >>>> >>>> Open Space has already been used with great success to introduce, >>>> promote and sustain Agile in the world through many uses of Open Space in >>>> conferences such as the AgileOpen, Coaching Camps, and Open Agile Adoption >>>> such as what Dan Mezick is explaining. From my vantage point, Open Space is >>>> critical for helping the values and principles to be successfully absorbed. >>>> >>>> From my vantage point - Open Space Technology's values and principles >>>> are eternal and aren't going away. The Universe won't suddenly stop >>>> self-organizing. If anything, we'll only get better at understanding and >>>> dancing with Order and Chaos. This dance, with the help of Open Space >>>> Technology the Game (or Tool) has changed my life and infused it with >>>> spirit. I'm eternally grateful to you, Harrison, to Lisa Heft, and to and >>>> this community. And maybe Open Space Technology the game or tool will pass >>>> away. The same goes for Agile values and principles. They're eternal. >>>> They're not going away. The Process will never be more important than the >>>> Individuals. The People are always more important than the Game. >>>> >>>> BUT - there are powerful forces behind trying to adopt agile as merely >>>> a tool or a process, because it's easier to understand. And that invites >>>> failure - and it's the exact kind of failure you're writing about, >>>> Harrison, about how our creations are "inevitably clunky." To succeed, any >>>> implementation of Agile or Scrum needs to be able to self-organize - >>>> "Inspect and Adapt" is one of the anthems of the agile and scrum >>>> communities. I hope that the Open Space community will step up and help the >>>> Agile community to do that. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Harold >>>> >>>> >>>> On 9/22/13 10:45 AM, Harrison Owen wrote: >>>> >>>> Dan wrote: “I've learned that there are actually more ways to fail with >>>> Open Space in Agile adoptions than there are ways to succeed. There are >>>> many ways to stumble when trying this.”**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Actually, Dan – I am not at all surprised. I learned a long time ago >>>> that Open Space is a terrible way to introduce some new process, and >>>> especially to assure “buy in.” Typically, problems arise because folks take >>>> Open Space seriously. Instead of buying into the proposed process, they >>>> begin to invent their own! Somewhere I wrote that OS was a great way to >>>> design a new accounting system, but a horrible way to “implement” it.** >>>> ** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> And just to be contrarian... I wonder whether the failure is a function >>>> of Open Space or Agile (and/or the SCRUM flavor of Agile)? As I think we >>>> have come to understand, Open Space is a total scam if people mistake it >>>> for some process we invented or “do.” It is simply an invitation to be what >>>> we always have been – self organizing. The process itself (SO) has been >>>> around for some time, and apparently has done quite well, witness the fact >>>> that we, along with all the rest of the Cosmos are here and seemingly >>>> functional. In a “face off” between a well functioning self-organizing >>>> system and any process we might have designed to create the system, install >>>> the system, or enhance the system – the designed process doesn’t have a >>>> chance. The reason is simple. No matter how wise, careful, diligent or >>>> skillful we may be – our creation is inevitably clunky. We may get the big >>>> blocks right, even some of the finer points, but at the end of the day we >>>> always miss the nuances – and as always, the devil is in the details. Put >>>> somewhat differently, our designed processes are always “averages” of what >>>> we think the process should look like. And “averages” do not exist anywhere >>>> in nature. To push an “average” on a natural system is always to make it >>>> function at some sub-optimal level, and usually to kill it.**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> So maybe the order of precedence should go the other way? Use Agile to >>>> introduce Open Space, and then abolish Agile. Or, if you like ... >>>> Self-Organization is the natural agility. It doesn’t get any better than >>>> that. Or something**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Harrison**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Harrison Owen**** >>>> >>>> 7808 River Falls Dr.**** >>>> >>>> Potomac, MD 20854**** >>>> >>>> USA**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)**** >>>> >>>> Camden, Maine 04843**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Phone 301-365-2093**** >>>> >>>> (summer) 207-763-3261**** >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> www.openspaceworld.com **** >>>> >>>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)**** >>>> >>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of >>>> OSLIST Go to: >>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org*** >>>> * >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *From:* [email protected] [ >>>> mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Daniel >>>> Mezick >>>> *Sent:* Thursday, September 19, 2013 11:26 AM >>>> *To:* [email protected] >>>> *Subject:* [OSList] Open Space with Agile: Failure patterns**** >>>> >>>> ** ** >>>> >>>> Greetings to you, >>>> >>>> In Paris this week at the Global Scrum Gathering I plan to issue >>>> certain warning about specific failure patterns I have experienced when >>>> working with Open Space inside Agile adoptions. I can tell you right now >>>> that Open Space by itself is not a panacea for the complex problems >>>> associated with Agile adoption. >>>> >>>> Agile is actually a cover story about the wider act of bringing culture >>>> change (a new and unfamiliar game) to an enterprise situation (the old >>>> story we all want to cling to). The SPIRIT book pretty much spells out the >>>> problem. >>>> >>>> I've learned that there are actually more ways to fail with Open Space >>>> in Agile adoptions than there are ways to succeed. There are many ways to >>>> stumble when trying this. I'll be enumerating some of these subtle >>>> Agile-related pitfalls and traps in the Paris keynote on Tuesday, and in >>>> upcoming blog posts. Simply holding one or more canonical Open Space >>>> meetings (with full pre-planning and post processing) is not enough to >>>> neutralize the forces that oppose healthy and well Agile adoptions. The >>>> game mechanics, storytelling and passage-rite-structure elements must be >>>> present and robust for Open Space to be an effective tool in Agile >>>> adoptions. Open Space and these elements are composed in harmony with each >>>> other in the Open Agile Adoption technique. >>>> >>>> If you offer training in Open Space for Facilitators and/or Sponsors, I >>>> invite you to send me your links and I will make sure they are added to the >>>> list of resources I am beginning to compile at OpenAgileAdoption.com. >>>> I plan to list in the Paris slides some specific French-language OST course >>>> offerings from French-speaking instructors located in Europe, and Quebec. >>>> >>>> Kind Regards, >>>> Dan**** >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> **** >>>> >>>> Daniel Mezick, President**** >>>> >>>> New Technology Solutions Inc.**** >>>> >>>> (203) 915 7248 (cell)**** >>>> >>>> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog<http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. >>>> Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>. **** >>>> >>>> Examine my new book: The Culture Game >>>> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the >>>> Agile Manager.**** >>>> >>>> Explore Agile Team >>>> Training<http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/>and >>>> Coaching. <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>**** >>>> >>>> Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/> >>>> Community. **** >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> OSList mailing list >>>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click >>>> below:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Harold Shinsato >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://shinsato.com >>>> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> OSList mailing list >>>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> OSList mailing list >>>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> OSList mailing list >>> To post send emails to [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>> >>> >> > > -- > Michael Herman > MichaelHerman.com > (312) 280-7838 > > Sent from my iPhone > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >
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