「哈里森‧歐文(Harrison Owen) 專訪：接納順應萬物自然節奏與自發性組織狀態」

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3月2014年 對話新訊息

開放空間科技是一種組織會議或引導團體的模式，而對許多引導者來說，開放空間是一種生活型態。以下的文章是Ashley Cooper在Mycelium school，針對自發性組織、架構、邀約及甚至是悲傷等議題，專訪開放空間科技創辦人哈里森‧歐文(Harrison Owen)的精華內容。

問：即便您被認為是開放空間的發明者，但您卻十分堅持您並未創造它，您能解釋您說的意思嗎?

開放空間背後是一個自發性組織的概念，這概念已經存大約13.7億年之久了。此過程有效，我並沒有創造它。我沒有發現任何東西。只能說當時我已經山窮水盡，需要進行一項會議，會有很多人參加，當時的我根本不知道該怎麼做。

所以，只要有人試著要了解那所謂為哈里森‧歐文發明的開放空間過程，就有人會想要發明出更好的、不同的或隨便什麼的方法。實際上，哈里森‧歐文並沒有發明它，也並未這樣聲明過，它完全是自行運作的。這是為什麼他們稱它為自發性組織。要組織一個自發性組織的系統，不但是自相矛盾，更是愚蠢。

問：當事情有所進展並促進自發性組織時，組織架構扮演甚麼樣的角色?

若你是要討論組織架構的話，你真是找錯人了。我見過績效最強的工作團體，其實從未有實際的指揮組織架構。他們也許會說他們有，並且是按照計畫執行，但事實上，當他們已經融入於中，無論進行的內容是什麼，他們都會隨機應變，發明進行的方式。無論是將軍、橄欖球員、經理人、諾貝爾得獎者等等都是這樣。若有人認為他們都是跟隨著計劃執行，那真是一派胡言。

這聽起來很邪門，但想想看，組織架構只是我們想像力去虛構出來的。每件事情從真實世界

到環境都是一個不斷持續的過程，都是能量，都是能量的流動。結果我們只擷取其中的一個小片段，就認為「事情應該是這樣的」。實際上，那早就已經是25秒鐘以前的狀態。實際上，萬物都是處於一個流動的節奏中。這樣的情況下，組織架構像是一個支柱，讓我們以為我們可以控制及了解我們所處的環境。

問：邀約的力量是什麼？

邀約能讓生活豐富。邀請對方時，你讓對方感受到你將別人真的當一個人來尊重。尤其是當你要創辦新的企業、一流的公司或是規劃你的生日派對，如果某人說「你給我過來，然後這做這個做那個」，我立刻就知道我的生活品質會下降了。但若有人告訴我；「哈里森，我們衷心希望你能參與，做你自己，發揮你的所長」，我定會全力奉獻。

對我來說，開放空間就是生命。當我被邀請，我就在那裏。當我被控制，我就不出現。我不認為我和地球上其他75億人口或地球上的其他人有什麼不同。過去我們一起工作的所有團體，當我們發出真誠的邀約，他們可以選擇接受或拒絕，他們如果來到現場，就是因為他們真的想參與，那時候就會有很棒的事情發生。不僅僅在開放空間、埃及的解放廣場、中國的天安門廣場、阿拉伯之春、美國大革命。全球各地的人，當他們真的關心某些事情，他們會有激昂的反應並且擔起責任來。

問：當人們對於自己熱衷的事物願意扛起責任，且迫切要成為蛻變及變革的一份子時，這過程也可能讓人歷經悲傷。您能說說悲傷及哀悼的重要性嗎?

我認為在所有的商學院中應納為必修課的一門課程，就是走過悲傷的學習。我的意思是，萬物中恆定不變的現象就是結束。許多人會想：「哦，這樣不是太糟了嗎？」我不這麼認為，我覺得很棒。生命真正美好的，就是它誕生，經歷燦爛的生命，然後結束。哀傷的過程是人也是組織會經歷的過程。這是我們都必經的歷程，我們也可以幫助人們度過這困難的歷程。比起浪費時間枯坐在會議裡，我想這是值得去做的事。

問：您認為像開放空間這樣的做法是否會越來越有名氣且被接受?

無論是否值得，我自己感覺我們正處於重大變革的邊緣。事實上，並沒有人轉變什麼。轉變表示有人殷切地往某個方向去做，希望產生後續的發展。我覺得我們正處於這股轉變之中。我覺得開放空間是個訊號而非起因，指引我們，讓我們知道我們已經到了臨界點，以前管理學的書籍教導我們管理的方法的不足，終於充分顯現出來，讓人們知道這些控制、控制、不斷控制的過程已經不再有效。

我想接下來要思考的一個嚴肅的議題是：既然我們是一個自發性組織的系統，那接下來呢?我們是否能接受我們不去管理這個自發性組織的系統，而順勢而行？每個水手、滑雪者、衝浪者都這麼做。順勢而行並不代表不需要技巧，或是我們沒辦法讓運作的過程發揮最大的效益。

「我希望能使人類的生活更人性化。」- 哈里森‧歐文

來源:  http://tyhallock.blogspot.tw/2014/02/harrison-owen-interview-inviting-flow.html

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Harrison Owen interview: 
Inviting Flow and Self-Organisation

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March 2014 Dialogue Newsletter

Open Space Technology is a method for organising meetings or facilitating groups; and for many practitioners Open Space is a way of life. The following is an interview with Harrison Owen, the founder of Open Space Technology, to learn his views on self-organization, structure, invitation and even grief.

Even though the invention of Open Space is attributed to you, you’ve been pretty firm in your stance that you didn’t invent it. Could you explain what you mean by this? 

The concept behind Open Space is self-organizing and it’s been going on for roughly 13.7 billion years. The process works and I didn’t create it. I didn’t discover anything. I was desperate. I needed to run a meeting, I didn’t know how, and I had a whole lot of folks coming.

So as long as people try to understand Open Space as some group process that somebody called Harrison Owen invented, then they’re going to try to invent ways to make it better or different or whatever. The actual truth of the matter is that Harrison Owen didn’t invent it, he has no claim on it and it runs totally by itself. That’s why they call it self-organization. Organizing a self-organizing system is not only an oxymoron, it’s stupid.

What is the role of structures when it comes to getting things done and encouraging self-organization?

You’re talking to the wrong guy when you’re talking about structure. The most productive work groups that I’ve ever seen have virtually no prescribed structure. They may say they do and they may say they follow the plans, but the truth of the matter is that once they’re in the game, whatever that game is, they’re inventing it as they go and responding to whatever.  And that comes from generals, football players, managers, Nobel Laureates, etc.  Anybody who ever thinks they ever follow the plan is full of bullshit. 

This is going to sound totally heretical, but think about it, structure is very simply a figment of our imagination. Everything from the fiscal world to environmental groups is an ongoing process. It’s all energy, it’s all flow. And what we do is we take a snapshot and we say, “This is the way it is.” Well that’s the way it was 25 milliseconds ago. But the truth of the matter is, it’s always in flow. So in a way, structure is kind of a crutch to allow us to think we have some control and understanding of the environment we’re in. 

What is the power of invitation?

Invitation is what makes life rich. With an invitation, you make it clear that you respect people as human beings.  And that’s true if you’re talking about a start-up, a major corporation, or your birthday party. If somebody says, “You will get your ass over here and do such-and-such”, I know immediately my life is impoverished. But if someone says to me, “Harrison, we’d really love to have you and come and be yourself and do what you can”, then I’m all on board.

For me, Open Space is simply life. When I’m invited, I’m there. When I’m commanded, I don’t show up. And I don’t think I’m different than any of the other 7 ½ billion or so people on the planet. Any time there’s ever been a group we’ve worked with that have responded to a real invitation that they could accept or turn down, and came because they cared to come, great things happened. That’s not just Open Space; that’s Tahrir Square. That’s Tiananmen Square. That’s Arab Spring. That’s the American Revolution. That’s every time people around this planet have responded passionately to something they seriously cared about and took responsibility for it.

When it comes to people taking responsibility for what they are really passionate about and being a part of transformation and change, grief can sometimes be a part of the process. Can you talk about the importance of grief and grieving? 

The one important course that should be taught in all business schools is being there through grief work. I mean the one thing that is an absolute constant phenomenon of our existence is that things end. A lot of people think, “Well, isn’t that terrible?” I think, no, it’s wonderful. The truly wonderful thing about existence is that stuff shows up, it has its day and then it passes on.  Grief work is an individual and an organizational thing. It’s a process we all go though and we can help people through it. I think that’s something worthwhile doing, verses sitting in meetings which I think is a waste of time.

What do you think about the fact that processes like Open Space are becoming more known and accepted? 

For whatever it’s worth, I find myself feeling that we are right on the edge of a serious transformational movement. Truth of the matter is nobody transforms anything. Transformation means dying to one way so something else can happen. And I think we’re in the midst of this. I see Open Space as a sign and not a cause, indicating that we’re getting to the point that the notion of us being in charge and doing things the way the management books say we should, is finally breaking through as bullshit. It’s finally becoming clear enough, to enough people, that the process of control, control, control has reached the end of effectiveness. 

I think the next serious discussion is – given that we ARE a self-organizing system, now what? We can accept that we aren’t going to organize a self-organizing system, but we can learn to flow with it. Every sailor, skier, and surfer does it. That doesn’t mean there’s no skill or nothing we can to do to optimize performance. 

My hope would be to somehow make human life more human.”  ~Harrison Owen

Source: http://tyhallock.blogspot.tw/2014/02/harrison-owen-interview-inviting-flow.html