Dear Anne, I think the topic of reports--their clarity to those who did not attend the session but would like a well done summary of what took place, as well as often time far reaching implications of what is included in the reports is of consequence within what we do with Open Space Technology meetings. I agree with Harrison in terms of getting the reports up on to the wall as quickly as possible and asking all to pay attention and to see their "recorder" if reports require changing before they make it into the book of proceedings. This is difficult regarding the reports entered at the end. There is also a problem when all in the group agree with the report but it has inaccuracies of the type you mention. This could be somewhat offset by how you develop and then communicate the "givens" for the meeting.
I have been in circumstances that were politically "hot" with the media getting hold of reports regarding organizations that were already receiving bad press. I have been in other circumstances where comments were recorded that had employment and thereby legal implications. I have been in circumstances where the governing Board of an organization read and misunderstood the reports (that were poorly written) and ended up in a situation of negative repurcussions to the staff involved and most particularly to the Department Head. I have been in other situations where resources were allocated based on the reports and those that were poorly written did not fare well. I have a real respect for the written word, for communication, and how easily it is misunderstood. When I facilitate an OST meeting, I work with as much clarity as I can regarding the "givens" for the reports, including the need to write knowing they are not confidential and knowing the circulation can and likely will be wide. Respectfully for the good work that you do way over on the other side of the world, 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. The remaining 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 Person 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 var y dependent on costs within each location. Remaining training dates for 2001: Session One: Working with Open Space Technology ($600US): Holland June 8-11; London, England July 19,20 and 23,24; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Oct 1-4; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Oct 15-18 Session Two: Working with Whole Person Process Facilitation ($300 US):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): Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada May 24-25; 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): Berlin, Germany June 13-15; London, England Sept. 10-13; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Nov 1-4 The Genuine Contact program 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 Anne Pattillo Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 6:41 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Food safety Hi there, I'm looking for some advice - I'm sure as soon as I've sent this email off the answers will be obvious, but for the moment I need your wisdom. I've been contracted to facilitate an open space forum for our food regulator as a basis for developing a dialogue about the NZ food safety programme. Given the topic and the people passion won't be a problem! There have been some other meetings of this group with mixed success. One of the critical issues of concern about the forum is the accuracy and validity of the statements made by participants during the forum. There have apparently been occasions when statements have been made about the safety and consequences of some products and processes, that latter have been found not to be accurate or true. However in the meantime a whole lot of work got done on these areas that was not in the end valuable or necessary. I recognise that sometimes false starts lead to new discoveries however I am wondering if here is anything that I could do in the preparation of the forum that would focus on the validity of contribution. Your thoughts would be welcome. Thanks Anne -- Anne Pattillo Anne Pattillo Consulting Ltd PO Box 683 Wellington New Zealand Telephone 0064 4 473 2702 Fax 0064 4 473 2703 * * ========================================================== 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...@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