Empathy List Archives

IA

isaac a

Sat, Mar 15, 2025 11:45 AM

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac

Hi, Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? Many thanks! Isaac

JA

Jeff Aitken

Sat, Mar 15, 2025 3:06 PM

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the
site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or
peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who
studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the
security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST
by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security
guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the
company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which
was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the
culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without
sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the
OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written
form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the
field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended
conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque
anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough
embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the
worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic
phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST,
and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series
of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County
California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his
eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList everyone@oslist.org
wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a
topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? Jeff The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company! (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?) My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants. A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-) warmly Jeff On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > > Hi, > Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a > topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? > Many thanks! > Isaac > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

IA

isaac a

Sun, Mar 16, 2025 6:23 AM

Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Cc: Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors. I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. Thanks again for your help. Best wishes. Isaac. ________________________________ From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com> Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? Jeff The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company! (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?) My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants. A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-) warmly Jeff On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Hi, Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? Many thanks! Isaac OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

BP

Bhavesh Patel

Sun, Mar 16, 2025 6:38 AM

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop:

https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/

On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList everyone@oslist.org
wrote:

Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich
variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel
comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly)
entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or
distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned
and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is
most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this
ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple
fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of
finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Cc: Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the
site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or
peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who
studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the
security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST
by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security
guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the
company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which
was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the
culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without
sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the
OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written
form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the
field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended
conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque
anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough
embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the
worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic
phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST,
and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series
of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County
California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his
eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList everyone@oslist.org
wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a
topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop: https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/ On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich > variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel > comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) > entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or > distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. > > In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned > and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is > most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this > ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple > fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of > finding supervisors. > > I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. > > Thanks again for your help. > > Best wishes. > > Isaac. > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com> > *Sent:* 15 March 2025 15:06 > *To:* isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> > *Cc:* Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> > *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology > > Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the > site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or > peer-reviewed studies here: > > https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ > > What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? > > Jeff > > The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who > studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the > security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST > by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security > guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the > company! > > (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) > > Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which > was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the > culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without > sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the > OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written > form, does anyone know?) > > My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the > field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended > conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque > anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough > embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the > worldviews of six participants. > > A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic > phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, > and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series > of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County > California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) > > I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his > eyebrows too ;-) > > warmly > Jeff > > > > > On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> > wrote: > > > Hi, > Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a > topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? > Many thanks! > Isaac > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

TH

Theresa Healy

Sun, Mar 16, 2025 5:36 PM

Open Space is indeed multidisciplinary and non hierarchical in scope, both in it's intention and aplication. Unfortunately most univer5sities don't function with this particular workld view. I might suggest that planning (where I have found a home) is well suited to using tools and techniques like Open Space. I also find that I have a range of students careers dreams in my classes, from forestry, public health, social work, etc. that take my classes because the word gets around the student world when students find a particular class to be practical and supportive of what they want to do. This oit is often professional schools with a public forward face.

The caveat is you need to find a school with a social justice/fair city foundation and one that values community engagement and empowerment as part of it's currciulum. Otherwise you will learn how to navigate a world of technicalities and bureaucracy where planning is the hand maiden of developers.

These are entirely my own opinions and may not fairly speak to the experiences within Schools of Planning.

Theresa Healy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning

UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH
(House of Learning)

"Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb

Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands.

From: Bhavesh Patel via OSList everyone@oslist.org
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 11:38 PM
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Cc: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

CAUTION: This email is not from UNBC. Avoid links and attachments. Don't buy gift cards.

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop:

https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/

On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>
Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Open Space is indeed multidisciplinary and non hierarchical in scope, both in it's intention and aplication. Unfortunately most univer5sities don't function with this particular workld view. I might suggest that planning (where I have found a home) is well suited to using tools and techniques like Open Space. I also find that I have a range of students careers dreams in my classes, from forestry, public health, social work, etc. that take my classes because the word gets around the student world when students find a particular class to be practical and supportive of what they want to do. This oit is often professional schools with a public forward face. The caveat is you need to find a school with a social justice/fair city foundation and one that values community engagement and empowerment as part of it's currciulum. Otherwise you will learn how to navigate a world of technicalities and bureaucracy where planning is the hand maiden of developers. These are entirely my own opinions and may not fairly speak to the experiences within Schools of Planning. Theresa Healy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH (House of Learning) **************** "Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb **************** Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands. **************** ________________________________ From: Bhavesh Patel via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 11:38 PM To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> Cc: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology CAUTION: This email is not from UNBC. Avoid links and attachments. Don't buy gift cards. There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop: https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/ On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors. I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. Thanks again for your help. Best wishes. Isaac. ________________________________ From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com<mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>> Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com<mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>> Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? Jeff The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company! (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?) My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants. A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-) warmly Jeff On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Hi, Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? Many thanks! Isaac OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

IA

isaac a

Sun, Mar 16, 2025 6:04 PM

Thanks Theresa! This is a great help. It's helping me in deciding which institutions to focus more on. So far, Sheffield University seems to be resonating with the kind advice I'm receiving from most people. They have a 'socially conscious' approach to Architecture and Urban Design, as well as a great landscape design school. (My academic background is in architecture, and the research I'm considering involves people, development, buildings and forestry). Fingers crossed I can find a fit.
Many thanks.
Isaac

From: Theresa Healy Theresa.Healy@unbc.ca
Sent: 16 March 2025 17:36
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com; Bhavesh Patel bhavmail@gmail.com
Cc: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

Open Space is indeed multidisciplinary and non hierarchical in scope, both in it's intention and aplication. Unfortunately most univer5sities don't function with this particular workld view. I might suggest that planning (where I have found a home) is well suited to using tools and techniques like Open Space. I also find that I have a range of students careers dreams in my classes, from forestry, public health, social work, etc. that take my classes because the word gets around the student world when students find a particular class to be practical and supportive of what they want to do. This oit is often professional schools with a public forward face.

The caveat is you need to find a school with a social justice/fair city foundation and one that values community engagement and empowerment as part of it's currciulum. Otherwise you will learn how to navigate a world of technicalities and bureaucracy where planning is the hand maiden of developers.

These are entirely my own opinions and may not fairly speak to the experiences within Schools of Planning.

Theresa Healy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning

UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH
(House of Learning)

"Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb

Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands.

From: Bhavesh Patel via OSList everyone@oslist.org
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 11:38 PM
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Cc: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

CAUTION: This email is not from UNBC. Avoid links and attachments. Don't buy gift cards.

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop:

https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/

On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>
Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Thanks Theresa! This is a great help. It's helping me in deciding which institutions to focus more on. So far, Sheffield University seems to be resonating with the kind advice I'm receiving from most people. They have a 'socially conscious' approach to Architecture and Urban Design, as well as a great landscape design school. (My academic background is in architecture, and the research I'm considering involves people, development, buildings and forestry). Fingers crossed I can find a fit. Many thanks. Isaac ________________________________ From: Theresa Healy <Theresa.Healy@unbc.ca> Sent: 16 March 2025 17:36 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com>; Bhavesh Patel <bhavmail@gmail.com> Cc: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: Re: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology Open Space is indeed multidisciplinary and non hierarchical in scope, both in it's intention and aplication. Unfortunately most univer5sities don't function with this particular workld view. I might suggest that planning (where I have found a home) is well suited to using tools and techniques like Open Space. I also find that I have a range of students careers dreams in my classes, from forestry, public health, social work, etc. that take my classes because the word gets around the student world when students find a particular class to be practical and supportive of what they want to do. This oit is often professional schools with a public forward face. The caveat is you need to find a school with a social justice/fair city foundation and one that values community engagement and empowerment as part of it's currciulum. Otherwise you will learn how to navigate a world of technicalities and bureaucracy where planning is the hand maiden of developers. These are entirely my own opinions and may not fairly speak to the experiences within Schools of Planning. Theresa Healy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH (House of Learning) **************** "Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb **************** Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands. **************** ________________________________ From: Bhavesh Patel via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 11:38 PM To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> Cc: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology CAUTION: This email is not from UNBC. Avoid links and attachments. Don't buy gift cards. There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop: https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/ On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors. I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. Thanks again for your help. Best wishes. Isaac. ________________________________ From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com<mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>> Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com<mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>> Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? Jeff The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company! (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?) My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants. A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-) warmly Jeff On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Hi, Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? Many thanks! Isaac OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

TH

Theresa Healy

Sun, Mar 16, 2025 6:23 PM

and my apologies for typos. I am aging and developing arthritis!!! Of course, I don't see the errors till I hit send.

Tess

Theresa Healy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning
Adjunct Professor Gender Studies
President, Public Health Association of British Columbia (PHABC)
Co-PI, Plural Rural Health Economics Research Project
T & L Building, 3333 University Blvd., UNBC Prince George BC
Office: 250-960-5936 / Cell 250-301-6310

UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH
(House of Learning)

"Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb

Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands.

From: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 11:04 AM
To: Theresa Healy Theresa.Healy@unbc.ca; Bhavesh Patel bhavmail@gmail.com
Cc: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

Thanks Theresa! This is a great help. It's helping me in deciding which institutions to focus more on. So far, Sheffield University seems to be resonating with the kind advice I'm receiving from most people. They have a 'socially conscious' approach to Architecture and Urban Design, as well as a great landscape design school. (My academic background is in architecture, and the research I'm considering involves people, development, buildings and forestry). Fingers crossed I can find a fit.
Many thanks.
Isaac

From: Theresa Healy Theresa.Healy@unbc.ca
Sent: 16 March 2025 17:36
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com; Bhavesh Patel bhavmail@gmail.com
Cc: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

Open Space is indeed multidisciplinary and non hierarchical in scope, both in it's intention and aplication. Unfortunately most univer5sities don't function with this particular workld view. I might suggest that planning (where I have found a home) is well suited to using tools and techniques like Open Space. I also find that I have a range of students careers dreams in my classes, from forestry, public health, social work, etc. that take my classes because the word gets around the student world when students find a particular class to be practical and supportive of what they want to do. This oit is often professional schools with a public forward face.

The caveat is you need to find a school with a social justice/fair city foundation and one that values community engagement and empowerment as part of it's currciulum. Otherwise you will learn how to navigate a world of technicalities and bureaucracy where planning is the hand maiden of developers.

These are entirely my own opinions and may not fairly speak to the experiences within Schools of Planning.

Theresa Healy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning

UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH
(House of Learning)

"Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb

Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands.

From: Bhavesh Patel via OSList everyone@oslist.org
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 11:38 PM
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Cc: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

CAUTION: This email is not from UNBC. Avoid links and attachments. Don't buy gift cards.

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop:

https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/

On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>
Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

and my apologies for typos. I am aging and developing arthritis!!! Of course, I don't see the errors till I hit send. Tess Theresa Healy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning Adjunct Professor Gender Studies President, Public Health Association of British Columbia (PHABC) Co-PI, Plural Rural Health Economics Research Project T & L Building, 3333 University Blvd., UNBC Prince George BC Office: 250-960-5936 / Cell 250-301-6310 UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH (House of Learning) **************** "Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb **************** Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands. **************** ________________________________ From: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 11:04 AM To: Theresa Healy <Theresa.Healy@unbc.ca>; Bhavesh Patel <bhavmail@gmail.com> Cc: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: Re: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology Thanks Theresa! This is a great help. It's helping me in deciding which institutions to focus more on. So far, Sheffield University seems to be resonating with the kind advice I'm receiving from most people. They have a 'socially conscious' approach to Architecture and Urban Design, as well as a great landscape design school. (My academic background is in architecture, and the research I'm considering involves people, development, buildings and forestry). Fingers crossed I can find a fit. Many thanks. Isaac ________________________________ From: Theresa Healy <Theresa.Healy@unbc.ca> Sent: 16 March 2025 17:36 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com>; Bhavesh Patel <bhavmail@gmail.com> Cc: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: Re: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology Open Space is indeed multidisciplinary and non hierarchical in scope, both in it's intention and aplication. Unfortunately most univer5sities don't function with this particular workld view. I might suggest that planning (where I have found a home) is well suited to using tools and techniques like Open Space. I also find that I have a range of students careers dreams in my classes, from forestry, public health, social work, etc. that take my classes because the word gets around the student world when students find a particular class to be practical and supportive of what they want to do. This oit is often professional schools with a public forward face. The caveat is you need to find a school with a social justice/fair city foundation and one that values community engagement and empowerment as part of it's currciulum. Otherwise you will learn how to navigate a world of technicalities and bureaucracy where planning is the hand maiden of developers. These are entirely my own opinions and may not fairly speak to the experiences within Schools of Planning. Theresa Healy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Environmental Planning UNBC | NIZDEH NEKEYOH HOHUDEL'EH BAIYOH (House of Learning) **************** "Until lions have their own historian, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb **************** Gratefully acknowledging the traditional and unceded territories of the Lheidli T'enneh on which UNBC stands. **************** ________________________________ From: Bhavesh Patel via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2025 11:38 PM To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> Cc: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Subject: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology CAUTION: This email is not from UNBC. Avoid links and attachments. Don't buy gift cards. There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop: https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/ On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors. I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. Thanks again for your help. Best wishes. Isaac. ________________________________ From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com<mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>> Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com<mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>> Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? Jeff The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company! (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?) My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants. A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-) warmly Jeff On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Hi, Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? Many thanks! Isaac OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

TV

Tonnie van der Zouwen

Mon, Mar 17, 2025 11:29 AM

Hello everyone,

Thanks Bavesh for sharing my book. The first part reports my research journey in developing a practical guide to Large Scale Interventions as an approach to systems change. The second part offers the practical guide, for what to do before, during and after a large group conference.

@Isaac, regarding your question on Open Space as a research method. I have used an Open Space conference in an Action Research project on Impactful Graduation in higher education. This is a part of an article that will be published in the Journal of Participatory Research Methods in June 2025:

The first conference was held in October 2019, six months after the project was officially funded. The main inquiry question asked at this conference was, ‘What will make this project successful?’. About 80 participants were engaged using the large group method of Open Space Technology (Owen, 1997) to create and discuss agenda items for both the research process and desired products. This conference resulted in criteria and areas of concern for the research process, as well as some elements for the scenarios for impactful graduation.

We invited teachers, students, program developers, professionals from the practice, managers, researchers, and accreditation organisations. We analysed the reports of the subgroups and did a member check using a Trello Board; it is still available, see https://trello.com/invite/b/5d9b06bf0af262692b50932d/8050fdf7a54b3690e8b59d313797bcfd/werkconferentie-aandachtspunten-impactvol-afstuderen (it is in Dutch, use your favourite translation App). The Trello cards can easily be used for qualitative analysis to arrange the ‘data’ into categories and draw conclusions.

The photo report of the Open Space conference can be downloaded here: https://impactvolafstuderen.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rapportage-werkconferentie-impactvol-afstuderen-4-oktober-2019.pdf

The whole research setup is available (in Dutch) on www.impactvolafstuderen.nl http://www.impactvolafstuderen.nl

If you like to talk a bit more about this, I will be happy to. My perspective is on putting the purpose front and centre and the system of stakeholders relevant for that purpose and not focusing on a specific institution.

All my best,

Tonnie

[Afbeelding met Menselijk gezicht, persoon, kleding, Kin Door AI gegenereerde inhoud is mogelijk onjuist.] [Dr. Tonnie van der Zouwen MCM Expert in Participatory Change and Action Research Van der Zouwen Consultancy , icon,Youtube, google, player, social, video icon - Free download,Spotify,Blog, google, blogger icon - Free download on Iconfinder]
[cid:image015.jpg@01DB9738.2E07AFA0]https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WiJB5m2dEMmWdLsvSycuk?si=YynvyEXdSTi5HOu1xzsRGA

Van: Bhavesh Patel via OSList everyone@oslist.org
Verzonden: zondag 16 maart 2025 07:38
Aan: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
CC: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Onderwerp: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop:

https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/

On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:
Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>
Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org>
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-)

warmly
Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?
Many thanks!
Isaac
OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org mailto:everyone@oslist.org
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Hello everyone, Thanks Bavesh for sharing my book. The first part reports my research journey in developing a practical guide to Large Scale Interventions as an approach to systems change. The second part offers the practical guide, for what to do before, during and after a large group conference. @Isaac, regarding your question on Open Space as a research method. I have used an Open Space conference in an Action Research project on Impactful Graduation in higher education. This is a part of an article that will be published in the Journal of Participatory Research Methods in June 2025: The first conference was held in October 2019, six months after the project was officially funded. The main inquiry question asked at this conference was, ‘What will make this project successful?’. About 80 participants were engaged using the large group method of Open Space Technology (Owen, 1997) to create and discuss agenda items for both the research process and desired products. This conference resulted in criteria and areas of concern for the research process, as well as some elements for the scenarios for impactful graduation. We invited teachers, students, program developers, professionals from the practice, managers, researchers, and accreditation organisations. We analysed the reports of the subgroups and did a member check using a Trello Board; it is still available, see https://trello.com/invite/b/5d9b06bf0af262692b50932d/8050fdf7a54b3690e8b59d313797bcfd/werkconferentie-aandachtspunten-impactvol-afstuderen (it is in Dutch, use your favourite translation App). The Trello cards can easily be used for qualitative analysis to arrange the ‘data’ into categories and draw conclusions. The photo report of the Open Space conference can be downloaded here: https://impactvolafstuderen.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rapportage-werkconferentie-impactvol-afstuderen-4-oktober-2019.pdf The whole research setup is available (in Dutch) on www.impactvolafstuderen.nl<http://www.impactvolafstuderen.nl> If you like to talk a bit more about this, I will be happy to. My perspective is on putting the purpose front and centre and the system of stakeholders relevant for that purpose and not focusing on a specific institution. All my best, Tonnie [Afbeelding met Menselijk gezicht, persoon, kleding, Kin Door AI gegenereerde inhoud is mogelijk onjuist.] [Dr. Tonnie van der Zouwen MCM Expert in Participatory Change and Action Research Van der Zouwen Consultancy , icon,Youtube, google, player, social, video icon - Free download,Spotify,Blog, google, blogger icon - Free download on Iconfinder] [cid:image015.jpg@01DB9738.2E07AFA0]<https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WiJB5m2dEMmWdLsvSycuk?si=YynvyEXdSTi5HOu1xzsRGA> Van: Bhavesh Patel via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> Verzonden: zondag 16 maart 2025 07:38 Aan: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> CC: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> Onderwerp: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop: https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/ On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors. I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. Thanks again for your help. Best wishes. Isaac. ________________________________ From: Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com<mailto:r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>> Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06 To: isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com<mailto:isaac48@hotmail.com>> Cc: Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or peer-reviewed studies here: https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? Jeff The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the company! (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written form, does anyone know?) My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the worldviews of six participants. A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his eyebrows too ;-) warmly Jeff On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org>> wrote: Hi, Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? Many thanks! Isaac OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org<mailto:everyone@oslist.org> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org<mailto:everyone-leave@oslist.org> See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

BW

Birgitt Williams

Mon, Mar 17, 2025 4:36 PM

Hi Tonnie...thanks for great information. Your emphasis on the
theme/purpose is important...a seemingly simple task, yet maybe the most
challenging to get right. Please remind us when that journal article comes
out as it is also going to be interesting to read.

@Isaac...although the OST you are planning is not intended for follow up
actions by the participants with each other, I encourage you to include a
component at the end of the OST to make available the opportunity for
people to collaborate on actions that may have surfaced in their
conversations. In other words, open what you are doing up to even more
possibilities than you might be imagining. Be prepared to be
surprised...and be prepared to be delighted.

Birgitt

Birgitt Williams
*Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants *
Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership
development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.
www.dalarinternational.com

Upcoming Workshops
Holistic Leadership Development | June 23-27, 2025 | Waterloo, Canada
Individual Health and Balance for Leaders | November 29, December 5, 12 &
19, 2025 | Online

Learn More & Register

http://www.dalarinternational.com/upcoming-workshops/ for any of these
workshops here.

Go to www.genuinecontact.net http://www.genuinecontact.net to see the
public Genuine Contact training and mentoring options by Genuine Contact
trainers internationally. If you wish to schedule an "in-house" training
for people in your organization, please contact me, Birgitt Williams
birgitt@dalarinternational.com, via email to set up a consultation to
discern what is the best option to meet your development goals.

16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729
Phone: 01-919-522-7750
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On Mon, Mar 17, 2025 at 7:29 AM Tonnie van der Zouwen via OSList <
everyone@oslist.org> wrote:

Hello everyone,

Thanks Bavesh for sharing my book. The first part reports my research
journey in developing a practical guide to Large Scale Interventions as an
approach to systems change. The second part offers the practical guide, for
what to do before, during and after a large group conference.

@Isaac, regarding your question on Open Space as a research method. I have
used an Open Space conference in an Action Research project on Impactful
Graduation in higher education. This is a part of an article that will be
published in the Journal of Participatory Research Methods in June 2025:

The first conference was held in October 2019, six months after the
project was officially funded. The main inquiry question asked at this
conference was, ‘What will make this project successful?’. About 80
participants were engaged using the large group method of Open Space
Technology (Owen, 1997) to create and discuss agenda items for both the
research process and desired products. This conference resulted in criteria
and areas of concern for the research process, as well as some elements for
the scenarios for impactful graduation.

We invited teachers, students, program developers, professionals from the
practice, managers, researchers, and accreditation organisations. We
analysed the reports of the subgroups and did a member check using a Trello
Board; it is still available, see
https://trello.com/invite/b/5d9b06bf0af262692b50932d/8050fdf7a54b3690e8b59d313797bcfd/werkconferentie-aandachtspunten-impactvol-afstuderen
(it is in Dutch, use your favourite translation App). The Trello cards can
easily be used for qualitative analysis to arrange the ‘data’ into
categories and draw conclusions.

The photo report of the Open Space conference can be downloaded here:
https://impactvolafstuderen.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rapportage-werkconferentie-impactvol-afstuderen-4-oktober-2019.pdf

The whole research setup is available (in Dutch) on
www.impactvolafstuderen.nl

If you like to talk a bit more about this, I will be happy to. My
perspective is on putting the purpose front and centre and the system of
stakeholders relevant for that purpose and not focusing on a specific
institution.

All my best,

Tonnie

[image: Afbeelding met Menselijk gezicht, persoon, kleding, Kin Door AI
gegenereerde inhoud is mogelijk onjuist.] [image: Dr. Tonnie van der
Zouwen MCM Expert in Participatory Change and Action Research Van der
Zouwen Consultancy , icon,Youtube, google, player, social, video icon -
Free download,Spotify,Blog, google, blogger icon - Free download on
Iconfinder]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WiJB5m2dEMmWdLsvSycuk?si=YynvyEXdSTi5HOu1xzsRGA

Van: Bhavesh Patel via OSList everyone@oslist.org
Verzonden: zondag 16 maart 2025 07:38
Aan: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
CC: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com; Open Space Listserv <
everyone@oslist.org>
Onderwerp: [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology

There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop:

https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/

On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList everyone@oslist.org
wrote:

Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich
variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel
comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly)
entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or
distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible.

In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned
and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is
most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought
to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?).
This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors.

I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me.

Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes.

Isaac.

From: Jeff Aitken r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com
Sent: 15 March 2025 15:06
To: isaac a isaac48@hotmail.com
Cc: Open Space Listserv everyone@oslist.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology

Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the
site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or
peer-reviewed studies here:

https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/

What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you?

Jeff

The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who
studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the
security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST
by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security
guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the
company!

(PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.)

Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which
was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the
culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without
sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the
OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written
form, does anyone know?)

My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the
field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended
conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque
anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough
embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the
worldviews of six participants.

A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic
phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST,
and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series
of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County
California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.)

I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his
eyebrows too ;-)

warmly

Jeff

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList everyone@oslist.org
wrote:

Hi,

Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a
topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples?

Many thanks!

Isaac

OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Hi Tonnie...thanks for great information. Your emphasis on the theme/purpose is important...a seemingly simple task, yet maybe the most challenging to get right. Please remind us when that journal article comes out as it is also going to be interesting to read. @Isaac...although the OST you are planning is not intended for follow up actions by the participants with each other, I encourage you to include a component at the end of the OST to make available the opportunity for people to collaborate on actions that may have surfaced in their conversations. In other words, open what you are doing up to even more possibilities than you might be imagining. Be prepared to be surprised...and be prepared to be delighted. Birgitt *Birgitt Williams* *Senior consultant-author-mentor to leaders and consultants * *Specialist in organizational and systemic transformation, leadership development, and the benefits of nourishing a culture of leadership.* www.dalarinternational.com *Upcoming Workshops* *Holistic Leadership Development* | June 23-27, 2025 | Waterloo, Canada *Individual Health and Balance for Leaders* | November 29, December 5, 12 & 19, 2025 | Online >> Learn More & Register <http://www.dalarinternational.com/upcoming-workshops/> for any of these workshops here. *Go to www.genuinecontact.net <http://www.genuinecontact.net> to see the public Genuine Contact training and mentoring options by Genuine Contact trainers internationally. If you wish to schedule an "in-house" training for people in your organization, please contact me, Birgitt Williams <birgitt@dalarinternational.com>, via email to set up a consultation to discern what is the best option to meet your development goals.* 16 Sunny Acres Dr., Etowah, North Carolina, USA 28729 Phone: 01-919-522-7750 Like us on Facebook <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=6677c35b38&e=e7zyhHfiqG> Connect on LinkedIn <https://dalarinternational.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35ed818c946a88ba7344da05f&id=c26173f86b&e=e7zyhHfiqG> On Mon, Mar 17, 2025 at 7:29 AM Tonnie van der Zouwen via OSList < everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > Hello everyone, > > > > Thanks Bavesh for sharing my book. The first part reports my research > journey in developing a practical guide to Large Scale Interventions as an > approach to systems change. The second part offers the practical guide, for > what to do before, during and after a large group conference. > > > > @Isaac, regarding your question on Open Space as a research method. I have > used an Open Space conference in an Action Research project on Impactful > Graduation in higher education. This is a part of an article that will be > published in the Journal of Participatory Research Methods in June 2025: > > > > The first conference was held in October 2019, six months after the > project was officially funded. The main inquiry question asked at this > conference was, ‘*What will make this project successful?*’. About 80 > participants were engaged using the large group method of Open Space > Technology (Owen, 1997) to create and discuss agenda items for both the > research process and desired products. This conference resulted in criteria > and areas of concern for the research process, as well as some elements for > the scenarios for impactful graduation. > > > > > > > > We invited teachers, students, program developers, professionals from the > practice, managers, researchers, and accreditation organisations. We > analysed the reports of the subgroups and did a member check using a Trello > Board; it is still available, see > https://trello.com/invite/b/5d9b06bf0af262692b50932d/8050fdf7a54b3690e8b59d313797bcfd/werkconferentie-aandachtspunten-impactvol-afstuderen > (it is in Dutch, use your favourite translation App). The Trello cards can > easily be used for qualitative analysis to arrange the ‘data’ into > categories and draw conclusions. > > > > The photo report of the Open Space conference can be downloaded here: > https://impactvolafstuderen.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rapportage-werkconferentie-impactvol-afstuderen-4-oktober-2019.pdf > > > > The whole research setup is available (in Dutch) on > www.impactvolafstuderen.nl > > > > If you like to talk a bit more about this, I will be happy to. My > perspective is on putting the purpose front and centre and the system of > stakeholders relevant for that purpose and not focusing on a specific > institution. > > > > All my best, > > > > Tonnie > > > > > > [image: Afbeelding met Menselijk gezicht, persoon, kleding, Kin Door AI > gegenereerde inhoud is mogelijk onjuist.] [image: Dr. Tonnie van der > Zouwen MCM Expert in Participatory Change and Action Research Van der > Zouwen Consultancy , icon,Youtube, google, player, social, video icon - > Free download,Spotify,Blog, google, blogger icon - Free download on > Iconfinder] > > <https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WiJB5m2dEMmWdLsvSycuk?si=YynvyEXdSTi5HOu1xzsRGA> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > *Van:* Bhavesh Patel via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> > *Verzonden:* zondag 16 maart 2025 07:38 > *Aan:* isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> > *CC:* Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com>; Open Space Listserv < > everyone@oslist.org> > *Onderwerp:* [OSList] Re: Open Space as a research methodology > > > > There is also Tonnie's book and she is on this loop: > > > > > https://eburon.nl/en/product/building_an_evidence_based_practical_guide_to_large_scale_interventions_ebook/ > > > > > > > > On Sun, 16 Mar 2025 at 08:23, isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> > wrote: > > Thanks so much everyone. There seems to be quite an interesting and rich > variety of source material on the Openspaceworld site. I don't usually feel > comfortable publicly announcing big goals and dreams, but I'm (vainly) > entertaining the idea of pursuing research, maybe a PhD, in some near or > distant future, and I'm scoping, and getting a feel for what's possible. > > > > In response to Jeff's question of "what would be helpful", I'm concerned > and wondering about which 'field'/'type of department' OS methodology is > most likely to sit comfortably in, although a part of me thinks this ought > to be moot (surely OS should/could sit in multiple fields/departments?). > This concern is also about the likelihood, or not, of finding supervisors. > > > > I have a lot of reading and thinking and reflecting ahead of me. > > > > Thanks again for your help. > > > > Best wishes. > > > > Isaac. > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* Jeff Aitken <r.jeff.aitken@gmail.com> > *Sent:* 15 March 2025 15:06 > *To:* isaac a <isaac48@hotmail.com> > *Cc:* Open Space Listserv <everyone@oslist.org> > *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Open Space as a research methodology > > > > Hi Isaac. My first stop with such an inquiry is usually Openspaceworld the > site that Michael Herman hosts. There's a good list of academic or > peer-reviewed studies here: > > > > https://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/open-space-research/ > > > > What brings you to the question Isaac? What would be helpful for you? > > > > Jeff > > > > The first PhD dissertation I read on OST was by Marlene Daniels (1994) who > studied the famous Rockport OST that Harrison facilitated. The one when the > security guard filled the archetypal role of "welcomed stranger" in the OST > by asking why Rockport didnt make shoes that met the needs of security > guards. His question led to a lucrative new line of business for the > company! > > > > (PS the guard was actually not a stranger in the building obviously.) > > > > Marlene found something that many practitioners began to understand, which > was that a single OST retreat was not likely sufficient to change the > culture of the company. The effects "wore off" in six months without > sustained attention to the raised spirit and fresh ways of working that the > OST revealed. (I dont know if Harrison ever reflected on this in a written > form, does anyone know?) > > > > My own PhD dissertation was more personal, and reflected my start in the > field, when my first dozen OST events were large multi-day open-ended > conferences facilitated by others. As a student of the Basque > anthropologist Angeles Arrien, I was curious if OST events were enough > embodied experience of her "Four Fold Way" such that it might affect the > worldviews of six participants. > > > > A qualitative study using Organic Inquiry (feminist heuristic > phenomenology), it was mostly a vehicle for sharing origin stories of OST, > and my own lineages, and hearing stories of six colleagues after a series > of OST I facilitated on the theme of a sustainable future in Sonoma County > California (Coast Miwok and southern Pomo ancestral territories.) > > > > I was relieved that Harrison signed off - tho I could see him raising his > eyebrows too ;-) > > > > warmly > > Jeff > > > > > > > > > > On Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:46 AM isaac a via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> > wrote: > > > > Hi, > > Can anyone comment about Open Space as a research methodology (or as a > topic of the research itself) within PhDs? Any existing examples? > > Many thanks! > > Isaac > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >