Expanding Our Now: The Story of Open Space Technology Book

Contents

Prologue....................1
Chapter I: East Meets West....................7
It Was Bizarre....................9
The Impact of Honesty....................13
Breaking Through....................14
Results?....................15
All About Now....................18
Chapter II: Open Space Discovered....................21
Metaphysical Management and Open Space Technology....................21
Inspiration for Open Space....................23
I Believe I've Got It!....................25
Engines of Open Space: Passion and Responsibility....................27
Four Principles and One Law....................28
The Law of Two Feet—Personal Freedom and Responsibility....................32
Indications and Contraindications for Use....................39
Open Space as a Journey....................40
Critical Elements of Open Space....................40
Chapter III: Open Space on the Loose: The Now Grows....................43
Open Spaces and Places....................45
The Stories of Open Space....................46
Expanding Our Now: A Work in Progress....................54
After Open Space—What?....................56
Open Space as Part of Larger Interventions....................58
Open Space as the Intervention....................59
Before and After Open Space....................59
Chapter IV: What on Earth Is Going On?....................61
Open Space Is Not the Exception?....................63
Open Systems/Closed Systems....................63
The Emperor Is Naked....................65
Muddling Through....................67
The Lessons of Open Space....................70
Chapter V: Chaos and Order....................75
The Design Principle for Open Space—Occam's Razor....................78
Working in the Domain of Spirit—Doing Nothing with Elegance....................79
Chapter VI: Giving the Power Away: The Hero/Heroine's Journey....................87
Open Space as the Hero/Heroine's Journey....................88
Operating at a Deeper Level....................91
Do You Really Have to Talk Weird?....................92
Personal Preparation for Facilitation....................93
Is There Something More Here?....................99
Chapter VII: What Next?....................101
A New Mental Model....................102
New Paths for Assessment and Compensation....................103
New Paths for Training and Development....................105
New Paths for the Body Politic....................107
Cyberspace and Open Space....................111
Organization as Spirit: The Gift of Open Space....................115
Chapter VIII: Expanding Our Now: A Journey to Wholeness....................119
The Systems Approach....................122
The Way of Contemplation....................124
The Expanding Now in Open Space....................126
The Appearance of the Stranger....................128
And How Big Is Now?....................130
Expanding Our Personal Now: Bringing Our Whole Selves to the Party....................131
Open Space Print and Video Resources from Harrison Owen....................135
Open Space Institute....................137
Index....................141
About the Author....................147