Dear Jon, Thank you for your interestiing post.
I've had a few experiences similar to the one you describe. If there are issues which the sponsor finds very important, there are several ways to put more focus on them, such as in the invitation and any other communication participants get in advance, and in the sponsor's Opening Statement. but there is no guarantee. Another option is to think who in particular would have expertise about or an intense intterest in the topics you worry might get lost, and invite those additional people into the meeting. So sometimes a preparation team that feels very strongly about this has sort of started to divide topics between them............. "If you post this, I will post that"-sort of thing. In my book, there's not much Open Space left then, and I suggest we use another method which allows them mre control over content. Then whatever is more important emerges. In your case if I understand things correctly, your team already has enough experience with Open Space not to be worried about the process itself (will participants post topics, ....., .....) However if I feel there will be sufficient space, I suggest that: - they will not be the first to post these topics (after all, be prepared to be surprised that others do), but rather the last; - no-one is obliged to post a topic (after all, participants might post topics they sense are actuallly more important or interesting) I find that sometimes it is as interesting what issues are not posted, as what issues are. And following the principle "Whatever happens is the only thing that could have" I then ask myself - and the sponsor "If there would be an excellent reason why they are missing, what would it be ?" Looking forward to hear what will emerge, Greetings from The Near East, Gerard Muller On Mar 17, 2005, at 9:01 AM, Jon Harvey wrote:
Hi all I am currently working with a large public sector organisation who wants to make some more headway with their strategy around gender equality (this is a heavily male dominated service). Last summer we held 4 one day OS for upwards of 250 women in each to give them the space to debate / exchange ideas around what more needed to be done to celebrate the contribution they bring to the organisation and what else was required to advance the gender equality strategy. We have now embarked upon running a men only day with upwards of 250 men - partly as a counterbalance to the 4 events last year and partly because we wish to explore just what more men - as men - can be doing to advance gender equality and get more out of the strategy for themselves. (As an aside - it is interesting to note that many of the issues that emerged from the women talking - childcare, bullying, long hours culture etc - are the very same issues that men in the organisation also articulate). (For your information - there is a mixed day planned for later in May) And yes there is much we can talk about just what role do men have in tackling sexism, abuse & bullying, discriminatory employment polices etc.(which disproportionately affects women more - though which can affect some men too) since it is the men who are usually and traditionally in the oppressor / perpertrator position - but that is not the issue I wish to focus upon. (Although please feel free to comment!) This matter I wish to bring to the OS community is about what people think of the idea of having some preset themes - to be run as optional workshops - happening alongside the OS workshops. I am well aware of the purist reponse that says there is no need for this - with a careful set up at the beginning - all that needs to be raised - will indeed be raised by the group of men (in this case) as they create the agenda. And I go along with that as a matter of OS 'doctrine'. However - there are a couple (and I am only talking of a maximum of 3 and perhaps only one of these parallel optional workshops) of issues that we (the steering group behind the day) fear may not come up (they did not in the previous four days in a comparative way) and we want to ensure that at least the opportuntiy is present for the matters to be discussed. One of these is the analysis of what women - as women, and secondly, what men - as men bring to the organisation. The latter especially is of great interest to the forthcoming day since men (white, straight, middle class etc) don't identify themselves as 'other' very often and as a consequence don't examine their special contribution - as men. I can expand on this point if you need me too - altho the main question I have is about the appropriateness of having preset workshops running in parallel. I look forward to your responses. Many thanks! Jon Harvey Oxford, UK * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
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