I haven't read through to the end of the thread, but before the thoughts escape me...
How on earth did you get that many topics to begin with? It does not help to work out what to do when you have them, but is there something about the way the space was introduced that led to an impracticably large number of issues? I agree with others to trust in the process, but it only works when the participants understand it well enough to make informed decisions about - whether and how and what to post a topic about - whether and how to combine topics - in general, how to make informed decisions To self organise effectively, people need to understand what it means to propose a topic (host a discussion), the implications of their actions (being unable to attend other topics at the same time, and having others who are at other topics unable to attend theirs), etc. etc. If I was a participant and I understood the nature of the gathering, at least the essentials, I would NOT add another issue once we had reached more than about 20. And in my experience, others wouldn't either! That is the direction I would be looking *John Baxter* *Cocreation Consultant & CoCreate Adelaide Facilitator* jsbaxter.com.au <http://www.jsbaxter.com.au/> | CoCreateADL.com 0405 447 829 | @jsbaxter_ <http://twitter.com/jsbaxter_> *Thank you to everyone who came, helped or spread the good word about City Grill!* *Summary and links: cocreateadl.com/localgov/grill-summary/ <http://cocreateadl.com/localgov/grill-summary/>* On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 3:54 AM, Chris Corrigan via OSList < oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > Bang on accurate John! > > -- > CHRIS CORRIGAN > Harvest Moon Consultants > Facilitation, Open Space Technology and process design > > Check www.chriscorrigan.com for upcoming workshops, blog posts and free > resources. > > > > > On Jan 28, 2015, at 8:54 AM, John Watkins via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > > > > Chris, > > > > So it sounds to me as though you are saying something like the framing > of purpose and the tying together of harvest (to build on what Jeff said) > are what help all the micro conversations to contribute usefully to the > necessary diversity of ways of thinking that create oblique views in order > to be able to address complex problems effectively. Is that accurate? > > > > John > > > >> On Jan 28, 2015, at 8:47 AM, Chris Corrigan via OSList wrote: > >> > >> You can get a lot of work done with two or three people diving into a > topic together even while there are three or four similar topics being > addressed. > >> > >> Dealing with complex issues requires taking an oblique view of a > problem and coming at it from different angles. It is really good strategy > to do this. 60 topics for 70 people could be excellent > >> > >> What matters is your strategic architecture for following up. What is > the purpose of these micro conversations and what will you do tho them. > Perhaps having THAT clarity helps people relax with the volume of topics. > >> > >> Chris > >> > >> -- > >> CHRIS CORRIGAN > >> Harvest Moon Consultants > >> Facilitation, Open Space Technology and process design > >> > >> Check www.chriscorrigan.com for upcoming workshops, blog posts and > free resources. > >> > >> > >> > >>> On Jan 27, 2015, at 9:51 PM, NigelSeys-Phillips via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > >>> > >>> Michael > >>> > >>> I have been actively wondering about this recently and after a really > >>> interesting OS two weeks ago with a local bank I appreciate for your > >>> thoughts > >>> In a couple of recent events - with the "issues and opportunities" in > the > >>> title and the invitation to raise any issues or topics the > participants feel > >>> strongly about - I have found myself (well, with assistance) almost > 'forced' > >>> to combine as mathematically there were just too many! > >>> With three sessions available and some 70 people we were well above > the 60 > >>> odd issues....20 plus breakout groups per session....? > >>> > >>> I know, I know - stand back and let them sort it out...but with 'new' > groups > >>> and a day what have others done? > >>> My fear is allocating every single topic a breakout space and 20+ > groups per > >>> session the fragmented nature would mean limited results.... > >>> > >>> I know, I know - stand back and trust the system. > >>> I am trying (I totally do trust the system which is what I love about > it) > >>> but it's hard > >>> > >>> And I really would welcome anybody's thoughts - what do I do next time? > >>> > >>> Best regards from a hot and steamy Malaysia > >>> > >>> Nigel > >>> > >>> Nigel Seys-Phillips > >>> Fulcrum Business Management Solutions > >>> Tel: +65 9639 2510 > >>> E-mail: ni...@fulcrum.com.sg > >>> www.fulcrum.com.sg > >>> > >>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE > >>> > >>> This communication contains information which is confidential and may > also > >>> be priveleged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended > recipient(s). If > >>> you are not the intended recipient(s) please note that any > distribution, > >>> copying or use of this communication or the information in it is > strictly > >>> prohibited. If you have received this communication in error please > notify > >>> us by return e-mail and then delete the e-mail and any copies of it. > >>> > >>> Warning - Although Fulcrum has taken reasonable precautions to ensure > no > >>> viruses are present in this e-mail, we cannot accept responsibility > for any > >>> loss or damage arising from the use of this e-mail or its attachments. > >>> > >>> > >>> -----Original Message----- > >>> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On > Behalf Of > >>> Michael M Pannwitz via OSList > >>> Sent: Tuesday, 27 January 2015 6:55 PM > >>> To: Susan Partnow; World wide Open Space Technology email list > >>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Anticipating number of topics/sessions... > >>> > >>> Dear Susan, > >>> > >>> yes, thats my feeling too, 15 to 20 breakout spaces for 30 to 40 > issues. > >>> > >>> Jeffs response on "combining or abandoning" topics got me to reflect on > >>> the word "topic". From work wayback with structured brainstorming I > >>> remember a group of 25 "generating" between 30 to 50 topics. > >>> > >>> With os crowds and my use of the word "issue" (with talking a bit about > >>> what is meant with "issue" in contrast to "topic or idea or something I > >>> am interested in", mentioning passion, urgency etc.) I find that there > >>> was decreasing tendency of combining or abolishing. Actually, when > >>> someone suggested to combine issues I would suggest in a very low-key > >>> way that this was not illegal and add something like: What might look > >>> and sound very similar often turns out to be different in an important > way. > >>> > >>> As a participant I have become quite uncomfortable, irritated or > even > >>> foaming when I had a facilitator go to the Bulleting Board and > "cluster" > >>> stuff... turning into a space invador. My reaction, I suppose, got me > to > >>> be cautious with "combining". > >>> > >>> How is your take on the impact of the "words" we use? > >>> > >>> > >>> Cheers and good luck with a very short event! > >>> > >>> mmp > >>> > >>>> On 26.01.2015 22:59, Susan Partnow via OSList wrote: > >>>> Hello dear OSers... I am planning a very short OS here in Seattle at > the > >>>> WOW (Women of Wisdom) conference - Sunday afternoon, Feb 15 - and > trying > >>>> to call the rule of thumb for anticipating the likely number of > sessions > >>>> to plan for - We have two brief OS times and expect ~100 participants. > >>>> Any educated guesses as we plan for delineating break out spaces? > Thanks! > >>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> Susan Partnow > >>>> Sr. Certified Facilitator, Compassionate Listening > >>>> Founding Director, Global Citizen Journey > >>>> 4425 Baker Ave NW > >>>> Seattle, WA 98107 > >>>> tel. 206-783-8561 > >>>> fax 206-782-7786 > >>>> www.globalcitizenjourney.org <http://www.globalcitizenjourney.org> > >>>> Join our mailing list > >>>> > >>>> www.susanpartnow.com <http://www.susanpartnow.com> Partnow > >>>> Communications, Organizational Development & Workshops > >>>> > >>>> www.conversationcafe.org <http://www.conversationcafe.org> > Co-Founder > >>>> www.compassionatelistening.org <http://www.compassionatelistening.org > > > >>>> Certified Facilitator and Core Council > >>>> www.thataway.org <http://www.thataway.org> National Coalition on > >>>> Dialogue & Deliberation Advisor > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>> OSList mailing list > >>>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > >>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > >>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Michael M Pannwitz > >>> Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany > >>> ++49 - 30-772 8000 > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 403 resident Open > >>> Space Workers in 69 countries working in a total of 143 countries > >>> worldwide: www.openspaceworldmap.org > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> OSList mailing list > >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> OSList mailing list > >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > >> _______________________________________________ > >> OSList mailing list > >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > OSList mailing list > > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >
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