Raffi raises a most interesting point. Action planning happenes when it happens. I know we tend to think -- First we do the open space and then get on to action planning, which usually involves some sort of convergance process and the like. There is a certain logic to all this, and doubtless it appeals to clients who may be a little nervous. But I think it may be the case that our logic blinds us to a rather different reality. I am not quite sure how to say this -- but something like -- It's all action Planning. From the moment the circle opens action planning is taking place (or not) -- but for sure the final hours of an OS are not the only time/space for action planning.
There are some practical implications to this. Mostly that is about warning clients that it is not unlikely that major changes/actions will not only be planned but executed before the conlusion of the gathering. Specifically, I have seen whole products designed with money alocated, marketing planned, manufacturing facilities identified -- in the first 3 hours of an OS. I thought it was great, but the VP for Strategic Planning was not of a similar mind. After all it was not "in the plan." Equally, I have come to the end of an OS, all ready to do the convergance etc -- and found the energy just sunk through the floor or more accurately -- mellowed out. The folks were not tired, unhappy, or bored, it is just that they had already done it all. And their pleasure was simply to sit with a good cup of coffee and (now) good friends. Fortunately I had enough sense to let it happen (extended coffee hour) since it was going to happen anyhow. I did, however, have to spend some time with the client explaining why I wasn't following the agenda -- which clearly said "Convergence and Action Planning" on the morning of the 3rd day. The cause of our confusion, I suspect, is that we have become prisoner to a linear sense of time -- Past, Present and Future. Certainly it "seems" things happen along this continuium, and when we write up what happened, we do it in this linear sequential fashion. But I think things are more complicated than that. Or maybe a lot simpler -- everything happens all at once, it is just that when we think about it or explain what happened we fall back into this linear sequence. The reality, at least as I experience it in myself, and watch it unfold with a group is that people go all over the place. They may start with a future notion -- wander back to the past, drift through the present -- and do it all over again, but in a different order. I think it is the case that past, present and future only become significant in terms of each other. Some moment in the past (among all possible moments in the past) shows up as important only when it impacts the present and may effect the future -- and so on through all possible permutations. I think it even gets worse -- the past is powerful only to the extent that it is present in the context of our dreams (future). Or something. Why mess with all this? Well I think it may be helpful as we seek to consider what happens in OS. Somehow, what we take to be the "standard rules" just don't apply. Worse yet -- when we seek to enforce (control)the rules, things get weird and/or unworkable. Action planning, like everything else happens when it happens. Whenever it starts is the right time. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Raffi Aftandelian Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 7:24 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: OS and convergence Dear mmp and Lisa (and Lena) and everybody else, Thanks, Michael, for challenging me to think if what I am doing is controlling. I hear you call it a desire for control. I think I see things differently from Lena on this score. I know what she means by everything but action planning happening during the time when action planning is meant to happen. What I have witnessed, though, or I think I have witnessed is that the very process that needs to happen happens. I may have my idea of when action planning is supposed to take place, but I remember "Whatever happens happens." Yes, it is hard to let go. After a follow-up meeting with an organization with which I did an OS strategic planning 1.5 days, change definitely happened. Something took place. Something powerful and deep. And curiously, many of the people I describe OS to here say they already use OS principles in life, in work. They grok to it straight off the bat. Lisa, say hi to Lena again for me! I delight in being part of this community, just need to accessking my way to Goa... let's ring them bells and open some space! Raffi * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
