> >1. What are the questions you would ask the CEO to determine if this is >really the best course for this group? ***************************** Major question is -- Is he really ready to let go of pre-determined outcomes? If he/she already has the plan, there is not much space available to open. I would also ask about possible reactions to what might be termed "negative" outcomes. Like, suppose the gathered group basically said this is a lousey idea -- don't do it, and for sure we won't help. Could be a bummer -- but very valuable information for all of the pain. However, better pain now than totally failure down the road. ******************************* >2. What would be the challenges of using OS for this? (This is a young >organization--is there any determination as to "when" a group is ready for >OS?) ************************************************* I can't think of any particular challenges. Sounds like a perfect application to me. And I suspect the only way to find out if they are "ready" is given them the chance. I'll bet they are. ************************************** >3. What might de-rail the effectiveness of this event? Would you recommend >an alternate method, and if so, what might that be? *************************************** As usual failure to let go, and imposition of pre-determined outcomes will upend the process. As for an alternative, I can't think of any that would achieve substantially better results -- and for sure they would cost a lot more. I would go for a 2 and a hald day OST so that you could get prioritized results, action teams etc -- in short to be ready for business. Costs for that would be your fee plus space/logistics (if any) The only other thing I can think of would be Future Search, which will cost you a lot more in planning time, and I don't think would get you to any better end-point. I heard of a guy who is selling Future Searches in a corporate environment for $100K a pop. That is 5 times what I would charge for an Open Space to do the same thing. But he will work a lot harder and longer than I will, so on a $/hour basis, his price is probably a good deal.
Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA 301-469-9269 (phone) 301-983-9314 (fax) email o...@tmn.com Website http://www.tmn.com/~owen Open Space Institute website http://www.openspaceworld.org