Birgit I left my notes on my desk over the weekend but this is how I would approach it as a research project.
This is mostly based on wrapping frameworks and methods of analysis around OS. This sort of supposes that t can be researched conventionally which other readers may agree to differ on. Basically, as others have mentioned you can have a pre while and post structure. So why do organisations/people turn to t as a method. What happens during the event itself and what is the impact or so what factor afterwards… This last it can be immediately.. 1 week.. 1 year etc. Breaking this down a bit further you could look at three other elements across that framework. 1. The system/mechanism/event of OS : There are several things that I believe may be intrinsic to OS in that it creates a space for Human Agency (Bandura) and what Sen calls Agency Freedom or the ability to choose certain paths to maximise valued functioning. I think OS allows a microcosm of an ideal society where choice is open to all.. (just my idea) There are also elements of: Ceremony and patterning in ceremony that might be facilitating OS; also… definitely a move to heterarchy which dismantles hierarchy for the time of OS at least. There is also something about creativity and producing new knowledge or exchanging knowledge. So these are all fields that you could look at. One that I like quite a lot is the comparison of OS with game theory… Cailois (1958) talks about the qualities of games… Freedom Separateness (from events outside the rules) (Immersiveness ) Uncertainty of outcome Non productiveness Governed by rules Make believe (not real) So some of those fit OS but others don’t but there is something playful about OS I guess. 2. The next thing to research is people…and you could do this in a mixed method kind of way… there are plenty of validated surveys that could look at self efficacy pre and post event and this could be mixed up with focus groups and another method I like called main significant change which is a narrative method. There are also mood diaries…digital or non digital, also you could look at social capital, enduring or otherwise social network analysis changes if the OS is for one company and also identity capital. 3. There are lots of ways to look at impact post event, again on individuals, and organisations and you can also look at ROI. How to do it would be to choose some research questions, make your research design, design some data collection methods and then implement them across 5 or 6 events in the course of a year that capture a range of purposes, demographics etc. Then analyse the data and look for similarities and differences… coming up with case studies and then by analysing each case look towards a cross case analysis around agreed themes. Hope this makes sense. Best Karl From: OSList <oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org>> on behalf of Birgitt Williams via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> Reply-To: Birgitt Williams <birg...@dalarinternational.com<mailto:birg...@dalarinternational.com>>, World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> Date: Sunday, 26 February 2017 at 19:35 To: World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Research OST Harrison... thanks for those beginnings. I am after a hypothesis that is bigger, more inclusive. Different lenses, when applied such as self leading, self managing, self organizing, learning, etc all feel limiting to me...as in looking at a bigger picture from only one angle, one lens. it is not sufficiently satisfying to do so in relation to what happens. I won't join on the excitement/lens of 'self organizing' as I feel it is too limiting. It is almost like, 'humans self organize, big deal, so what?'....and it fact look what this aspect of ourselves has gotten ourselves and our planet into. Humans have experiences and humans learn. Period. Humans either learn that which could be considered good and useful....or harmful and life depleting. I don't think you can stop humans from learning. So, from my perspective, those two lenses are limiting. I kind of liked the phrase I noticed immediately in your post 'Do we Fly?'. I loved a lot your initial hypothesis as I understood it 'when we make space for Spirit to do the work of Spirit, miracles happen'. I am not sure you put it that way. It is simply how I choose to remember what attracted me to your work to start with and your book about Spirit. I am pretty sure that this is not an acceptable research hypothesis.....I just wanted to put it out as it is where joy is for me with OST. Blessings, Birgitt On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 2:04 PM Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net<mailto:hho...@verizon.net>> wrote: Brigitt – I think you are doing quite well. Keep going! Possible hypotheses to be tested: Learning as a self organizing phenomenon: Do Kids do better in Open Space? Project design – A self organizing reality? -- Will you do better, faster in Open Space? Organizational Planning: When the Whole System is in the room and self organizing – Do we Fly? ???????..... Just for a beginning. ho Winter Address 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-2093<tel:(301)%20365-2093> Summer Address 189 Beaucauire Ave Camden, ME 04843 207 763-3261<tel:(207)%20763-3261> Websites www.openspaceworld.com<http://www.openspaceworld.com> www.ho-image.com<http://www.ho-image.com> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Birgitt Williams via OSList Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 11:52 AM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: Re: [OSList] Research OST thank you Harrison for simplifying what is and is not OST for researchers. I would be pleased if you (and others of course) would be willing to add more of a picture for what researchers could be looking for/measuring. It has always been a puzzle to me as to how we could do a good job of the research. Those of us who work with/experience OST know that -it works every time -outcomes beyond what is expected occur including an experience of self leadership, shared vision, exceptional communications, self management including efficient use of personal energy/wisdom/learning/contributing -quantity of discussions that take place is much greater than people think can be possible -quality of discussions is much greater How do we put this into a research design so that we can capture the narrative from a research perspective? And not to miss out on the other important aspects of 'does it make a difference that matters?' in the long run I realize that some will feel there is no point to doing this research. Maybe there is not. And yet I so love OST as a meeting method, I know it has made so much difference in the world, and I believe that there is an important step that will be valuable which is to capture the research about OST before the variations on it cloud the picture more than is already happening. This may not be possible. Research is not my strong point ....I am a story teller at heart and understand the importance of story as evidence....and yet I know that story is still considered soft science, or at art, outside of the realm of hard science. Peaceful Sunday to all, Birgitt On Fri, Feb 24, 2017 at 10:14 AM Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net<mailto:hho...@verizon.net>> wrote: Sorry. Misunderstood. My point for the researchers is simple – a) Insure that the essential experimental conditions are present. (real issue, voluntary attendance, massive complexity, similar diversity, decision time of yesterday) b) Follow procedure (Circle Bulletin board, market place, go to work) – Then open your eyes, take out pencils cameras, recorders and have at it. Useful topics will overwhelm. --- Efficiency effectiveness compared to “standard procedures, resolution of conflict, personal growth and development, learning potential and on and on. Have fun! ho Winter Address 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-2093<tel:(301)%20365-2093> Summer Address 189 Beaucauire Ave Camden, ME 04843 207 763-3261<tel:(207)%20763-3261> Websites www.openspaceworld.com<http://www.openspaceworld.com> www.ho-image.com<http://www.ho-image.com> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Birgitt Williams via OSList Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 4:30 PM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: Re: [OSList] Research OST Harrison---the point I was making is about research. If the research is based on going down the path of proving self organization, it is not as valuable to making the case for OST as OST works! It simply works, is useful, creates results. Birgitt On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 4:16 PM Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net<mailto:hho...@verizon.net>> wrote: Birgitt – I guess we differ. Proving that self organization works is about as useful as proving that oxygen works for breathing. Seems to. And are there other things going on in Open Space apart from self organization? Absolutely. Or perhaps not at all. Just life. ho Winter Address 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-2093<tel:(301)%20365-2093> Summer Address 189 Beaucauire Ave Camden, ME 04843 207 763-3261<tel:(207)%20763-3261> Websites www.openspaceworld.com<http://www.openspaceworld.com> www.ho-image.com<http://www.ho-image.com> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Birgitt Williams via OSList Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 3:28 PM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: Re: [OSList] Research OST Great summary Harrison of what is OST and what is not OST. it is a significant challenge to find what is actually an OST meeting. One of the reasons I created our workshop Working With OST is to make that distinction very clear to all who participate with us. OST facilitated well requires understanding the essence of what is created...and never as the facilitator violating that essence. People have referred to me as a 'purist' and that is fine by me. I believe in OST just as you created it. I do not believe in the variations having the same outcomes. When something is added before OST or after OST, they are not OST...and helping a group of people be absolutely clear when the actual OST begins and when it ends is part of what we are very careful about. We have developed a complimentary method, Whole Person Process Facilitation, to use when OST is not the right method...and yet is based on as little intervention as possible, and creating 'maximum choice, maximum freedom' to the degree possible. Unfortunately, after the meetings, people will say 'we want another one of those open space meetings. They feel that the space is open and like to refer to it that way. I cannot do anything about this conclusion that people make, and it is not OST. I also think that a disservice was done when OST was being looked at from the lens of 'self organizing', one lens that applies certainly, and not the only one...and in my perspective a rather limited one. The reason I say this is a disservice is that too much effort was spent proving that self organizing works, instead of proving through research and other means, that OST works. Having a clean hypothesis about OST as a useful, productive method that achieves incredible results is more valuable that proving it works for some particular reason. My two cents on the subject, Birgitt On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 12:05 PM Harrison Owen via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist@lists.openspacetech.org>> wrote: One of the questions I find myself asking of various "researchers," -- What, exactly, are you looking at? Open Space has wandered and permutated globally, and taken 30+ years doing that. So lots of times the "Open Space" people say they are looking at (researching) has nothing to do with anything that I might call OST. Needless to say I don't own, but I did coin the phrase -- and arguably, I've spent more time fussing with OST than anybody else. Alternatives, Variations, Permutations are not wrong, bad, or immoral -- but are not OST. And in research "facts" do matter. Despite our current (US) administration. So for me, if you a going to do research on Open Space Technology (OST) -- it really needs to be done "by the book." The Book being, "Open Space Technology: A User's Guide 3rd Edition (Berrett- Koehler, 2008)" I might consider that the "Lab Book." The experimental procedure is clearly laid out. The "event" will be convened around an issue people seriously care about (Real issue - not pretend, made up, chosen at random). All participants will come in response to a Real Invitation. One they can refuse. No coercion. All are present because they choose to be there. Once present, participants will be invited to sit in a circle, create a bulletin board of the issues they care about, and the open a market place to make/confirm the times and places of meeting. The Facilitator will be present only at the beginning (1st 15 min.) and appear again only at the end (of the day or program). In other words, The facilitator will NEVER intervene. NEVER. Picking up coffee cups is appropriate. Otherwise, being "present and invisible" -- is the rule. Anything else... "Variants, Twists, Tweaks -- whatever ... is not OST. Could be great. May be fantastic. But it ain't OST. And when it comes to "results" the "researcher" might check "Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance in a Self Organizing World." That would be my best effort at a Final Report for the 30 year experiment. Which doesn't make it perfect, right or anything special. But it might be a place to start. Harrison Winter Address 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 301-365-2093<tel:(301)%20365-2093> Summer Address 189 Beaucauire Ave Camden, ME 04843 207 763-3261<tel:(207)%20763-3261> Websites www.openspaceworld.com<http://www.openspaceworld.com> www.ho-image.com<http://www.ho-image.com> -----Original Message----- From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org>] On Behalf Of Hege Steinsland via OSList Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2017 10:54 AM To: World wide Open Space Technology email list Subject: [OSList] Research OST Hello. I`m working on an article about the experience with OST in Norwegian work- places, in particular municipalities. I wonder if there are som kind of overview of earlier research on the field, published and unpublished Would be great :-) All the best Hege Steinsland _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org<mailto:oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org -- Birgitt Williams President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. http://www.dalarinternational.com<http://www.dalarinternational.com/> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> Co-founder of the Genuine Contact™program and author of The Genuine Contact Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership http://www.genuinecontactway.com<http://www.genuinecontactway.com/> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. http://www.genuinecontact.net<http://www.genuinecontact.net/> Supporting leadership development for leading in a culture requiring agility and flexibility in a performance environment of constant change. Leadership development at your own pace? Become a member of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change. PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619 phone: 1-919-522-7750<tel:(919)%20522-7750> -- Birgitt Williams President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. http://www.dalarinternational.com<http://www.dalarinternational.com/> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> Co-founder of the Genuine Contact™program and author of The Genuine Contact Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership http://www.genuinecontactway.com<http://www.genuinecontactway.com/> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. http://www.genuinecontact.net<http://www.genuinecontact.net/> Supporting leadership development for leading in a culture requiring agility and flexibility in a performance environment of constant change. Leadership development at your own pace? Become a member of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change. PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619 phone: 1-919-522-7750<tel:(919)%20522-7750> -- Birgitt Williams President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. http://www.dalarinternational.com<http://www.dalarinternational.com/> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> Co-founder of the Genuine Contact™program and author of The Genuine Contact Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership http://www.genuinecontactway.com<http://www.genuinecontactway.com/> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. http://www.genuinecontact.net<http://www.genuinecontact.net/> Supporting leadership development for leading in a culture requiring agility and flexibility in a performance environment of constant change. Leadership development at your own pace? Become a member of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change. PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619 phone: 1-919-522-7750<tel:(919)%20522-7750> -- Birgitt Williams President & Senior Consultant of Dalar International Consultancy, Inc. http://www.dalarinternational.com<http://www.dalarinternational.com/> Co-founder of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> Co-founder of the Genuine Contact™program and author of The Genuine Contact Way: Nourishing a Culture of Leadership http://www.genuinecontactway.com<http://www.genuinecontactway.com/> Co-owner of the Genuine Contact Co-owners Group Ltd. http://www.genuinecontact.net<http://www.genuinecontact.net/> Supporting leadership development for leading in a culture requiring agility and flexibility in a performance environment of constant change. Leadership development at your own pace? Become a member of the Extraordinary Leadership Network http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com<http://www.extraordinaryleadershipnetwork.com/> to participate in an online leadership development program designed to increase the leadership skills and capacity you need to perform in a performance environment of constant change. PO Box 19373, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 27619 phone: 1-919-522-7750
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