So great to be on this list. Thomas Sent from my iPhone
> On 29 aug 2014, at 23:02, Peggy Holman <[email protected]> wrote: > > It IS amazing. We must have all been barely out of diapers when we were doing > that work! > > BTW, I love the evolution to electronic harvesting tools. In fact, I’m about > to investigate www.smsharvest.com for an upcoming session. > > Peggy > > >> On Aug 28, 2014, at 1:59 PM, Chris Corrigan <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> It’s amazing that we have all been around this long… :-) >> >>> On Aug 28, 2014, at 1:48 PM, Peggy Holman <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> For the historical record…. >>> >>> As Michael mentioned, the original concept was mine. I convened a session >>> at OSonOS in Toronto in 1997 called “Day 3” — as in what happens on day 3? >>> >>> The phrase “opening space for action” is mentioned in the notes. I know I >>> brought the idea to the session because I remember going into the session >>> feeling like I might be bringing a breakthrough. I think that phrase >>> emerged out of the session. >>> >>> I’ve posted the notes from the session here: >>> http://peggyholman.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/OSonOS-V.Toronto.1997.Day-3.pdf >>> >>> (I don’t know whether to be pleased or appalled that I could find OSonOS >>> proceedings from 17 years ago!) The notes provide a nice perspective on how >>> thinking evolved from voting to synthesizing to opening space for action. >>> >>> I seem to recall that Michael was the first to try it and tell its story on >>> the OS list, though looking through the archives, Diane Gibeault, who was >>> also at the session, is the first reference I located. (Was she the first?) >>> An exchange between Diane and Michael on the OSlist is copied below. >>> >>> >>> Peggy >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Begin forwarded message: >>> >>>> From: "Parkinson & Gibeault" <[email protected]> >>>> Subject: Re: Concluding Open Space >>>> Date: August 23, 1998 at 2:33:25 PM PDT >>>> To: <[email protected]> >>>> Reply-To: <[email protected]> >>>> >>>> Hello Michael and everyone, >>>> >>>> In June you responded to my report on a different way of converging in OS. >>>> You were then "catching up with e-things after being gone". Well, I am >>>> doing >>>> the same thing now that the post holiday folly is winding down. >>>> >>>> First, thank you for your comments. I like your suggested question and >>>> intend to use it in my next OS in September. It will be the first time I >>>> use >>>> the tree metaphore for convergence with a large group (250 people). I will >>>> be co-facilitating with Jacqueline Pelletier a long time facilitator who >>>> also trained with Harrison Owen. We will report on how it went. If other >>>> people have used this approach particularly with large groups, I would >>>> welcome their comments and suggestions from their experience. >>>> >>>> 2.Dot vote: Because the time investment question gets dealt with in action >>>> plan discussion groups to which people participate, I use the dot voting to >>>> give the organization another piece of information: independantly of where >>>> people chose to invest time, what do they think the overall priorities for >>>> the organizations are. The reason being is that people may feel more >>>> comfortable and competent to contribute to an issue but may want to >>>> communicate what they think (priorities) about the big picture. >>>> Participants have in fact asked to make that distinction. >>>> >>>> Look forward to more discussion on all this, >>>> >>>> Diane Gibeault >>>> >>>> Diane Gibeault & Associé.e.s/Associates >>>> 191 Juliette Ave. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1K 2T5 >>>> (613) 744-2638 Fax (613) 744- 3347 >>>> >>>> Michael Herman wrote: >>>> >>>>> hello everyone, >>>>> >>>>> just catching up with e-things after being gone... >>>>> >>>>> special thanks to diane for taking action on our conversations re: >>>>> converging and for reporting it...i'd add a couple of little details by >>>>> way of question, suggestion, concern.... >>>>> >>>>> 1. the notion of priority setting and the question you used to open the >>>>> last day seems to have the potential to allow an escape into planning >>>>> mode and out of passion+responsibility mode...what do think of the more >>>>> blunt question..."what are you going to do now?" or "what can you do >>>>> now?"...still intending that these individual actions would be lead to >>>>> the emergence of priorities? >>>>> >>>>> 2. recently was present for a dots-voting session...i questioned the >>>>> strength of the passion+responsibility link in this particular session i >>>>> was in and thought the link could be tightened by asking folks to take >>>>> dots in proportion to the amount of time they expected to invest in >>>>> doing the actions being voted on....for example, at my meeting (about 30 >>>>> volunteer leaders at my church) i would have suggested taking one voting >>>>> dot for every hour per week a person expected to work on these projects >>>>> over the next six months. >>>>> >>>>> as you can see, my concern is to get the most honest view on day three >>>>> of what can really happen going forward, what people are really ready to >>>>> do and not just what would be nice...that said, i also really like the >>>>> idea of going through the opening process again, to demonstrate that the >>>>> opening/questioning process is an everyday working thing, not just an >>>>> annual planning thing. >>>>> >>>>> thanks again, >>>>> >>>>> michael herman >>> >>> >>> >>> _________________________________ >>> Peggy Holman >>> Executive Director >>> Journalism that Matters >>> 15347 SE 49th Place >>> Bellevue, WA 98006 >>> 425-746-6274 >>> www.journalismthatmatters.net >>> www.peggyholman.com >>> Twitter: @peggyholman >>> JTM Twitter: @JTMStream >>> >>> Enjoy the award winning Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into >>> Opportunity >>> Check out my series on what's emerging in the news & information ecosystem >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Aug 28, 2014, at 1:02 PM, Chris Corrigan <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Two points…first…yes Michael and I hammered on that opening space for >>>> action process back in 2002 or something…there are several methods and >>>> practices now published by different folks on how to move on from a day or >>>> two of open space. Let your context be your guide. I for one am glad we >>>> moved on from voting being the only way. >>>> >>>> Michael, as for the tool, basically it works like this. You project a >>>> phone number up on a screen and invite people to text things to that >>>> number (the number is acquired through a service called Twillio which can >>>> assign a number for this purpose). At the backend, the software spits out >>>> different kinds of outputs. In the past we have used word clouds and >>>> spreadsheets for tabulating data. You could have two rounds of >>>> texting…one round could be an invitation for people to text three words >>>> that sum up their experience…you can instantly generate a word cloud of >>>> that information, which gives instant feedback. You could then ask people >>>> to choose from a number of options just by texting a number representing >>>> their preferred option. The software can generate a CSV file which is >>>> then easy to put into a spread sheet and generate a graph from. The whole >>>> process can happen pretty much instantly and the real time feedback can be >>>> used to guide subsequent discussions. >>>> >>>> And I can’t emphasize enough how easy it was to work with Luke on this. >>>> If you need a tweak, give him a call. If you want to work it yourself, th >>>> ebasic code is open source. >>>> >>>> Chris >>>> >>>>> On Aug 28, 2014, at 11:08 AM, Michael Herman <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> wow. and this might be the answer to my technical question, chris. i'll >>>>> check out this new tool and include it in the site updating. specific >>>>> words, specific tools. this is exactly what i was looking for. >>>>> >>>>> as i go off to try to understand the new tool. can you say more here >>>>> about how it works. you've got 200 or 300 or 50 or whatever folks in the >>>>> circle, day three, or two weeks after a one-day event, or sometime. >>>>> you've got a set of proceedings from the first time. maybe you've >>>>> re-opened the space. or are going to. there is some interest in polling >>>>> the crowd. now what? >>>>> >>>>> in the old days, we numbered the issues and everyone ranked their top >>>>> ten. how does this new tool make work? what do you ask them to text >>>>> into the center? what do they send? how is that processed and turned >>>>> back to the group? does the form of this make it necessary to ask about >>>>> individual issues? what possibilities are opened by the new form? how >>>>> does it not devolve into a simple yes/no polling or how does it support >>>>> ongoing or in-the-moment conversation? >>>>> >>>>> i guess i'm really wondering if this is a tool for converging or >>>>> diverging, or both. and how that works. can you put it in that old >>>>> familiar context? or is that the wrong way to think about it? >>>>> >>>>> thanks, m >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> Michael Herman >>>>> Michael Herman Associates >>>>> 312-280-7838 (mobile) >>>>> >>>>> http://MichaelHerman.com >>>>> http://OpenSpaceWorld.org >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 at 12:52 PM, Chris Corrigan >>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> Yup…Opening space for action is still the best way to get things moving. >>>>>> It has several advantages, the best of which is that it allows people >>>>>> to digest themes and ideas that cross through many many sessions. Often >>>>>> you can have a project come out on the action day that takes care of >>>>>> issues raised in several different sessions. >>>>>> >>>>>> It allows for convergence to happen within the heart, and for those with >>>>>> the passion who are willing to make time to initiate something to call >>>>>> it in. It has always resulted in much better sustained result, in my >>>>>> experience. >>>>>> >>>>>> Sometimes though, there is a need to vote on things, and what I have >>>>>> done recently is to hire a developer called Luke Closs to build a >>>>>> little a tool called SMSHarvest and you can find that at >>>>>> www.smsharvest.com. Basically it allows people to use their phones to >>>>>> send a text to a number. That text can contain any kind of information >>>>>> including preferences, and text….we deliberately designed the tool to be >>>>>> useable without any sign up and to be totally familiar, as almost >>>>>> everyone knows how to text and if you don’t someone can show you or do >>>>>> it for you. Easy. >>>>>> >>>>>> You can use the tool for free, or throw some money Luke’s way as a mark >>>>>> of appreciation. And if you want him to build a tweak for you, he does >>>>>> that well, quickly and directly to what you need. >>>>>> >>>>>> Chris >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Aug 28, 2014, at 8:40 AM, Harrison Owen <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Actually I still have the old software, but I agree with Michael. There >>>>>>> are much better ways. The problem for me with that software, as with >>>>>>> all efforts (including Sticky-dots) to prioritize the issues that were >>>>>>> raised on the first day or so of the OS is that it is measurement of >>>>>>> “yesterday’s passions.” Very much like the most recent Quarterly >>>>>>> Financial Report... all it tells you about is old news. On a standard 2 >>>>>>> ½ day OS, when the 3rd day dawns, everybody had had a night to sleep on >>>>>>> everything. Almost inevitably a lot will have changed. Hot issues will >>>>>>> merge with other hot issues, hot issues will cool, new issues will have >>>>>>> been thrown up thanks to the interaction of the preceding two days. >>>>>>> There is also the question of Actionable Issues (which is the focal >>>>>>> point of the 3rd day) which don’t necessarily include all the issues >>>>>>> previously discussed. I believe Chris Corrigan started it all when he >>>>>>> talked about “opening the space for action.” Anyhow that is what he >>>>>>> did, and I do as well. Very simple procedure which I think I covered in >>>>>>> the 3rd Edition of The User’s Guide. Nowhere near as elegant as >>>>>>> Michael’s “Praxis” – but it will do in a pinch, and is not in German. J >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Harrison >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Winter Address >>>>>>> 7808 River Falls Drive >>>>>>> Potomac, MD 20854 >>>>>>> 301-365-2093 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Summer Address >>>>>>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. >>>>>>> Camden, ME 04843 >>>>>>> 207-763-3261 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Websites >>>>>>> www.openspaceworld.com >>>>>>> www.ho-image.com >>>>>>> OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the >>>>>>> archives of OSLIST Go >>>>>>> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: OSList [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf >>>>>>> Of Michael Herman >>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2014 5:41 AM >>>>>>> To: OSLIST >>>>>>> Subject: [OSList] is our voting software dead? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> hi all, especially those of you who've used the old multi-voting >>>>>>> software. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> i'm wondering when was the last time you used the multi-voting software >>>>>>> to do prioritization at the end of an OS meeting? i'm trying to figure >>>>>>> out if it's still useful on the latest PCs. i'm a mac guy, so can't >>>>>>> test it locally here. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> and if not using the old software, what are you using on day 3 of os >>>>>>> events that are too big for dots? is there a new state-of-the-art when >>>>>>> it comes to converging into action with larger groups? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> many thanks, m >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Michael Herman >>>>>>> Michael Herman Associates >>>>>>> 312-280-7838 (mobile) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://MichaelHerman.com >>>>>>> http://OpenSpaceWorld.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 >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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
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