Todd, in every situation "whatever is a given, is a given". The key to identifying "givens" for an Open Space Organization or an Open Space Technology meeting is to ensure that they are really authentic "givens". By defining "givens" in this way, we define the space where there is truly freedom to act. In my experience, there is no organization in which there is not the possibility to Open Space either for a meeting or for ongoing work. Sometimes it is a big space, sometimes a little one.
In my experience, an Open Space Technology meeting is a window into whatever exists and an Open Space Organization captures what is already there. I have detailed my own journey of this as My story of the Open Space Organization parts 1,2,3 of 4. 4 soon to be sent to the list and other colleagues. Blessings, Birgitt Birgitt Williams of Dalar International Consultancy Mentoring for Organizational Effectiveness ********************************************************* For ongoing professional development, join us for training in the Genuine Contact Program for exceptional results in organizational effectiveness. Training dates for 2001 are noted below. Training can also be brought into an organization at other times. Those completing all four components of the Genuine Contact Program meet the requirements to attend the "train the trainer" session of four days, resulting in authorization to use the Genuine Contact Program for "in-house" training of teams. The Genuine Contact program is a program for building skill and capacity within the organization, for working with change. It is designed to keep external consultant involvement to a minimum, providing training and mentoring work only, so that working with change is led from within the organization. Leaders within an organization are taught to develop and use an operating system in which business is conducted with genuine contact at all levels on an ongoing basis. Upon completion of the sixteen days of training, the leaders are authorized to teach others within the organization, in an ongoing internal process, until the new operating system is functioning fully in a growthful and effective way. During year one, during and following the initial training, a consultant to the organization coaches and mentors this "in-house" team as the "in-house" team leads the change process for its own organization. Training components of the Genuine Contact Program are 1. Working with Open Space Technology (4 days); 2. Working with Whole Brain Process Facilitation (2 days); 3. Working with Cross Cultural Conflict Resolution (2 days); 4. Advanced Work in Open Space Technology focusing on the Open Space Organization (4 days); and 5. Train the trainer in the Genuine Contact program (4 days). Detailed information is available on our website at www.openspacetechnology.com <http://www.openspacetechnology.com> Prices noted below are the usual price for a training session but prices vary dependent on costs within each location. Training dates for 2001: Session One: Working with Open Space Technology ($600US): Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada Jan 29-Feb 1; Niagara,Ontario, Canada April 2-5; Calgary, Canada May 15-18; Holland June 8-11; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Oct 1-4; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Oct 15-18 Session Two: Working with whole brain Process Facilitation ($300 US):Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Mar 26-27; Seattle, Washington, USA April 9-10; Niagara, Ontario, Canada April 23-24; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada May 22-23; Sweden May 29-30; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA: Sept 17-18 Session Three: Working with Cross Cultural Conflict Resolution ($300US):Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Mar 28-29; Seattle, Washington USA April 11-12; Niagara, Ontario, Canada April 19-20; Sweden May 31-June 1; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Sept 19-20 Session Four: Advanced Work in Open Space Technology focusing on the Open Space Organization ($800US):Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Feb 2-4; San Francisco, California, USA April 28-May 1; Niagara, Ontario, Canada May 3-6; Berlin, Germany June 13-15; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Nov 1-4 Train the Trainer ($1500US): Raleigh,North Carolina, USA Sept 21,22,23,24 We invite you to the first conference of the International Alliance for Mentoring, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Sept. 25-26 Fee $100 US. "Dalar International Consultancy offers you the opportunity to achieve organizational results beyond your expectations. We believe that Spirit matters and people are precious. We know that strategies based on these values have exciting, tangible results." Birgitt and Ward Williams - we create opportunities for Genuine Contact for higher consciousness -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu]On Behalf Of Todd Saddler Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 4:54 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: InterActive Organizations and legal structure I just finished reading "The Power of Spirit", and since I am hoping to be part of a new business or organization, and I find myself pondering these questions: Are there not inherent contradictions between, on the one hand, the legal structures of businesses and non-profit organizations, and on the other hand, the qualities of an InterActive, or Open Space organization? And more to the point, are there legal structures that are more or less appropriate to InterActive Organizations? For instance, the legal structure of a for-profit business recognizes the absolute sovereignity of 51% of the ownership. When push comes to shove, as it occasionally does, those who own 49% of the company, and those who work in it, and the clients, and the community, and everyone else in the company's field of influence, can lose out. In a non-profit organization, the board of directors holds the burden of responsibility. They are legally required to excercise a certain amount of oversite and control. When a crunch comes, the staff, supporters, beneficiaries, and the general public, even the mission of the organization itself, may lose out. I realize that I am exagerating the situation somewhat in order to make my point. I know that it is possible for the legally empowered heirarchs to embrace the value of chaos, cede power to those that they oversee, question their own assumptions, change their paradigms, etcetera. And everyone knows that if the shareholders or board members continue to ignore the various stakeholders, eventually they will have to deal with reality or else go out of business. My concern is, that the legal structures grant such power to make a mess of things, a power which is excercised from time to time. Are there ways to set up legal structures that make real allowance for: - Values and vision - Linking passion and responsibilty - Openess to change and diversity - Fun and community Or, if it is impossible for legal structures to take such things into account, then are there ways to mitigate the legally recognized power to mess things up? I am particularly interested in hearing from those of you who have been putting Open Space ideas into practice for a while. How do you organize your own affairs? Does this ever become an issue? Todd Saddler * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed