Swartz workshop attendees develop principles for complex change

Participants in an OSR Alumni workshop came together at Seattle University over the weekend of October 18th to talk, learn and develop key principles for dealing with complex change in organizations. The workshop was led by OSR founder, Don Swartz (pictured below), and co-facilitated by alumni from several cohorts: Michelle Alverson, Lucy Garrick, Marilyn Ferguson-Wolf, David Kleweno, Colleen Ponto and Dee Endleman.

On Friday night, Don set the stage for the weekend by providing an overview on the unique issues associated with what he termed "transformational change."

Drawing from the diverse experiences of workshop managers and consultants who work in/with systems ranging from metropolitan school districts to health care, human resources, computer technology, state agencies, financial services, engineering firms, non-profits and public libraries, over 40 complex change dilemmas were identified and grouped in to six key themes:

1.    Setting up change for success
2.    Designing, planning and implementing change while doing daily work
3.    Sustaining the commitment to the change effort
4.    The impact of leaders on change efforts
5.    Preparing ourselves to be change agents
6.    Building relationships to design, implement and sustain change

Working together, participants shared stories, expertise and insights to illuminate dozens of key principles for dealing with complex change. Sharing experiences and expertise across a wide diversity of organizational experience revealed common issues and opportunities.

At one point Don advised the group,  "Beyond what and why, principle-based change should drive 'how-to' solutions for change. Principles of involvement are the same, but how you get there can be different depending on culture, context, country, etc."

Share your thoughts about the workshop. Click on "Comments" below.

A family learning journey in South Africa

Li Lu-Porter, OSR-13 graduate and Dave Porter, OSR-14 student, along with their teenage son, traveled to South Africa this summer on a learning journey organized by The Berkana Institute.

Li writes: "There were many unforgettable, heart-touching and life changing moments, as we witnessed these amazing leaders at work.

"Mother Carol who came forward to care for 3 orphans from a friend dying of AIDS, and is now running the orphanage for over 1000 kids who lost their parents in similar circumstances. She also organized volunteers to teach and mentor young leaders in the community.

"Thulan in Soweto Kliptown ,who organized kids to learn and to stay away from drugs, invited us as guests to his community. The youth there welcomed us with an amazing dance performance. We experienced such joy and life celebration! Nicholas Negroponte’s $100 laptops were also present there to help kids learn.   

Going to Boston for the Pegasus conference?

Add your name to the list of OSR attendees.

OD Network seeks practitioners to help with 2009 conference design

The OD Network Conference will be at the Seattle Sheraton in 2009, and is now seeking Northwest OD practitioners to participate on the Conference 2009 Planning Team.  Please respond by Wednesday, October 15 if you are interested.

The Conference Planning Team works with OD Network staff to:

• Develop the design and themes for the Conference 2009 experience.

• Identify and engage keynote speakers.

• Review and rate session proposals, and select the final roster of presenters. (And in 2008, over 300 proposals were submitted!)

• Contact invited speakers and work with them, as needed, to enhance their presentations.

• Market and promote the event.

• Take a leadership role with various program elements during the conference.

OSR-12 grad Tracy Robinson to facilitate leadership intensive

Leadership Development Intensive (LDI) is a three and one-half day intensive workshop for leaders who want to go deeper in their personal and professional development. OSR-12 graduate Tracy Robinson facilitates the next session, Sunday–Wednesday, November 9–12. Learn more

Iris Lemmer introduces new forum, Sat Nov 8

Join the Sound Connections Community Forum on Saturday, November 8, where your passion to make a difference can come alive. Iris Lemmer (OSR-Midwest) is organizing this event to challenge and inspire business leaders and agents of social change to take action and invest their time, resources and talents to collaboratively make the positive social and ecological changes they want to see.   

If you are you interested in….

• Collaborating with others to develop and enhance new leadership and business development models
• Finding people with similar motivation, skills and talents  to combine with yours in unique and deeply meaningful ways
• Advancing grassroots community development efforts by linking people who may share a common vision, passion, or are simply curious about what a group of people could collectively do
• Accelerating and nurturing innovation through partnerships between non-profit and for-profit entities
• Working collaboratively with others to reshape the marketplace and the way people work together to create goods and services

… then this community and event is for YOU!

This open space forum will be held at a building on Microsoft’s campus. Activities will allow for sharing, exchange of dialogue and exchange of knowledge and ideas. This event is open to anyone with an interest in participation, at any level. Please RSVP Iris Lemmer at irisle@microsoft.com if you’ll plan to attend.