Hello Harrison and others, I love open space - and first I could not imagine anything to do different and especially not smaller ;-)
But now I just realized that I didn't do the documentation part the last times I have run an OS. I know that this could provoke the idea of getting things done, so I will try to explane - maybe I'll understand it myself al least ;-) First: "when it's over, it's over" So I should not be working with documentations, not even copying cd's after it's over and I can feel that the energy very quickly changes after everybody are gone. Second: I'm inspired by the U-theory in the book "presence" (Peter Senge, Otto Scharmer, Joe Davorski and Betty Sue Flowers). In short it says that we often cannot go directly from thinking/planning to performance (that's why we so often are discussing "implementing"). We have to "open our mind, open our heart and open our will" - very similar to what's happening in OS. And then we have to "let come"/"let the future emerge, while we are listening with attention" and wait until something crystallizes/emerges - and then make prototypes of what emerged. What I did at a couple of open spaces is that in the closing circle I gave them a picture (random chosen) and asked everybody to take a look of the picture, think about the topic of the day and all the stuff happened on the day - and then listen to what is emerging, which ideas emerge, which decisions are trying to be taken, what's crystallizing? I am surprised! Some new stuff emerges and it sort of concentrates or finding the essence of the days work - amazing! I admit that I only did it in small groups 20-25 persons - but try and see what happens... I can´t explain why it works and I am still experimenting... Anybody else experimenting with documentation? In this way or another? All my best! Lise, Copenhagen -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] På vegne af Harrison Owen Sendt: 20. november 2006 23:29 Til: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Emne: Revision of The User's Guide / Some Help Needed It looks like Berrett-Koehler is prepared to do a revised (3rd) Edition of "Open Space Technology: A User's Guide." This is no rush job, as it probably will not appear until Spring of 2008. However, no time like the present to start, and I could use some help. Specifically, I welcome your thoughts on what needs strengthening (clarification), or modification, or elimination (what can we leave out?). The book as it stands is almost 15 years old. I think it still "works" but it is also true that we have all learned a great deal over that time. One thing I don't want to do is to get into a lot of theory or extended examples. This is (and I think should be) a "User's Guide." Nothing but the facts, and how to do it! I want to keep the book roughly the same size, and if anything smaller. And don't worry about "wordsmithing" and fine edits. Berret-Koehler pays people to do that. You can obviously post your thoughts here on OSLIST - but I would appreciate it if you would send me a copy hho...@verizon.net. And of course, you can always send your thoughts offline, but I think we all might enjoy the discussion. I can't think of a better bunch of folks to help with the revision, but I am approaching this with some trepidation. When last I sought your help with "The Practice of Peace" I had 180 responses. All were wonderful, but somewhat overwhelming. But I guess that is what a community is for - to be wonderful and maybe overwhelming. Or something - and Thank You! Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html <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: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== 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