In the training that Diane and I do, we generate the theme with the group in the first half-day of training. We use the same process we would use with a client to generate a theme, looking at the context, givens and commitments. We have used my slide set as a guide to the process. One of us sponsors the OS the next morning based on what emerges. The other one Opens. One criteria is that "Open Space Technology" is not in the theme. It has to be something that folks are passionate about in their lives (work or other) and appreciative and future oriented. The theme is always an intuitive leap for the group after some dialogue about the context. Someone will make the leap and connect to consciousness of the group, particularly in a training.
At the last training event in February the theme was about "Unleashing Personal Energy and Power in Our Lives. It was an exciting Open Space for the participants. A version of the theme was suggested by one of the participants to her staff team which is in a difficult situation. I just Opened the Space for a them with their modification and contextualizing of the theme by their leadership. It worked extremely well. I have come to believe that the theme is important in giving energy and focus to an event and that the sponsors and participants know best what they have a passion to explore. With a client, I have had senior sponsors who did not want to involve others find the theme that turned on their organization. I have had others pick one and discover the dead moose, that many of the staff really didn't have much passion for that focus. Larry * * ========================================================== 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