Thank you Arno. I had missed Michael Herman's two posts and so glad I got to sink in them now on this day in Serbia with Jasmina Nikolic, a short vacation but also working and breathing in Open Space together in work and play. Thank you also Michael... again for these insights.
Suzanne On Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Arno Baltin <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > -- Suzanne Daigle NuFocus Strategic Group 7159 Victoria Circle University Park, FL 34201 FL 941-359-8877; CT 203-722-2009 www.nufocusgroup.com [email protected] twitter @suzannedaigle
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