Just a note to concur with Larry's comments about spending time with the senior executive or team for a day before the event. The event itself will work without this--no problem. However,...my experience is that in terms of long term payoffs, this day is incredibly important and valuable. I no longer do Open Space as a meeting or event or intervention or whatever like that only. I am deeply committed to improving organizational life through Open Space for the longer term. From this base, I no longer ever do an Open Space event without the one day upfront that Larry has described.
If posed in such a way that it enables folks to understand the investment in terms of sustainability, they can see the benefit. I always have fun with this time. I usually focus a good portion of the time on developing clarity about the purpose of their Open Space meeting. What truths come out! And surprizes! It is interesting how different the real purpose of the event often is from that which I am originally contacted about. And in the process of getting to this point, we all have learned lots that is incredibly beneficial and transferable. Good to greet you on line Kay. Birgitt