As a fellow lurker on the list serve I am finally moved to comment. In a previous incarnation I was in charge of a large organization of about 12,000 people. I sent a senior emplyee off to be trained in open space and he came back and did a session with senior line and staff managers. I was disappointed in the long term results but thought we were just so embroiled in so many issues that it was hard for people to get into anything else. I have since taken the training myself and done my very first open space event - for my church. I now feel that it is preferable to have an external facilitator for open space. Like you say it is hard for you to question or challenge your boss. Also we do bring some preconceived ideas into the room which can cause us to say things that might close a little bit of space. Although my church open space was hailed as a huge success I personally can see that it would have been better run by someone who was not an active part of the community. I will be doing one for another chuch in two weeks so we will see what the results are. I think if we do open space for an organization in which we are involved we have to be VERY careful to maintain the distance that open space requires of facilitaors.
Date sent: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 23:05:39 -0700 Send reply to: OSLIST <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> From: Murli Nagasundaram <rismu...@cobfac.boisestate.edu> Subject: Opening Space "in house" To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu After about 6 months lurking about the list serve, I am moved to speak. Let me begin by saying how much I have enjoyed the stories, thoughts and insights on this List Serve. I am guessing that most people get introduced to OS by attending a workshop or meeting done in Open Space. A friend of mine suggested using Open Space for a meeting once, I checked out the web sight, and signed up for the list serve (I thought to myself, if it is boring, I can always jump ship). So to a certain degree, my thoughts about Open Space have been birthed by you, the OS community (thanks by the way). I have been living in Asia for more than 12 years, 95% in Taiwan, but also working some in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan. So as I started to read about OS, I became hungry for more training and experience. That hunger led me to Hamilton, Ontario a couple of weeks ago for a training in Open Space with Birgitt Bolton. My need was urgent as I wanted to use OS for an important meeting in February, and she created a training for myself (and two lovely others, and her dog and two cats!!). She opened up a space in me to see the possibility of Open Space in the company I work for, in myself, and in Asia and the world (universe?) at large. Having said all that, I do have a couple of questions: 1. I am curious about how people have used Open Space in their own companies. I read Chris' story about the OS in Vancouver and tried to imagine myself saying no to the "organizer" (our CEO). (BTW, thanks for the story Chris, I forwarded that part to my boss just to give him some context for our meetings in early February). Are there those on the list serve that are using OS in their own company, and how do they find the balance between the role of facilitator and the role of employee. 2. I am curious about OS in multiple languages. I want to introduce this in many areas of our company, most of whom are Chinese. We also have offices in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and would like to offer a OS for people from all areas. I would love to hear stories of multi-language OS. 3. I am sure there must be those who are practicing OS in Asia. I am particularly interested in experiences in Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Again, stories and insights would make my day. Thanks for the wisdom, Jimbo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carol E. A. Loughrey M.B.A., F.C.A. 28 Eagle Court, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5Y3 Tel:506-452-2157 Fax:506-455-0944 Email: lough...@nbnet.nb.ca ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~