MIND MAPPING THE OPEN SPACE?

[Eleder Aurtenetxe Pildain]

Hello,

as far as I'm quite unexperienced with OS (I started in year 2009 and open space twice with small groups) I feel most times quite awkward to do more than read and listen from the experts...

But may be I could add some questions and open new conversation spaces, I hope!

Something of this could happen in this group with a topic I can't keep out of my mind: I'm kind of a mind-mapping addict. This is the best way I know to work with written ideas. I almost can't do it any other way (and feel comfortable). I find mind mapping quicker and clearer, it enables creativity, it can be a powerful team builder, it's fun... and it's all the time opening space (due to the radiant structure)!

Do you know about experiences on documenting open spaces through mind maps?

I guess that a small mind-mapping training before an OS meeting could help those who are not used to this tool and expand powerfully the documenting with awesome results...

What do you think about it?

Best wishes from Bilbao,

Eleder

ps: This video shows how one can easily mind map

[Lawrence O'Connor]

I have been an OS facilitator and participant for many years and a mindmapping practitioner and trainer for many more.
Mind maps and Mind mapping principles apply perfectly in the Open Space context and I have experienced many examples of their very positive value.
Harrison Owen recommends that each time we Open the Space, we do one less thing. This is because there is a natural, human tendency to add, embellish and enhance and therefore complicate. So I would not recommended introducing an expectation for mindmapping to be used or pre-event training in it. A session in the Open Space on mindmapping is, of course, entirely valid.
I am enjoying the current trend for mind mapping and it's radiant thinking tools and techniques becoming more widely used and accepted in all areas. I am particularly excited that technology is able to provide great enhancements to this. I am an avid user of iMindmap, using both the laptop and mobile (iPhone) version instead of linear/paper notes. http://tinyurl.com/iMindmap4OS
http://tinyurl.com/OSmindmapexample

[Eleder Aurtenetxe Pildain]

I agree with keeping it simpler and having just a session in the OS on mindmapping. Would the facilitator be proposing it? Otherwise, how would we do it?
I use myself mainly XMind free software, even if I know there are more developed applications. XMind does the work ok.
Very useful the link with the mind maps. I guess it could be empowering if after an OS event a mindmapper take some time on re-mapping notes...
More views over there?

[Lisa Heft]

Great question, Eleder. I will soon be posting our Book of Proceedings from the Open Space on Open Space 2010 that was held in San Francisco recently. We had 'Documenting Dialogue' as one of our topics / groups, and someone mind-mapped our conversation about documenting dialogue. It would be great to have a discussion as people document in different ways (mind-map, graphic mural, word-for-word text and so on) and then share what they noticed and learned. Perhaps I will invite such a session at the World Open Space on Open Space in Berlin this May.

I agree that having everyone learn mind mapping before an event is perhaps good intention (giving everyone an extra tool) but it's true - you want to be sure you are not putting your wishes or your culture on a group. I do think it's great to teach mind mapping so more people have the capacity to do so for themselves or for groups. And in doing so you increase the capacity for that individual traveling to any group they are a part of....

What do others think?

[Lisa Heft]

And another bit: The facilitator in Open Space will be describing the process / instructions as they open - this includes 'there are notes-taker forms in your discussion areas - please, someone in each discussion self-select to take the notes for that discussion' (and those notes are combined into the Book of Proceedings for example and distributed to participants during or post-event). You could also say 'there are also flip-charts for those of you who think graphically' or otherwise let folks know what materials are available to them. But before you think of what more levels of instruction the facilitator should say or propose - think about how your additional added layers become less what is participant-generated and more what-the-facilitator-is-asking-them-to-do. Also ask yourself if it is because *you* like mind-maps and think they would be helpful, and/or if all your individuals think that way or need that - before you *assume* they do. Know what I mean? It is nuanced. If you were a *participant*, you could post a topic about exploring the use of mind-maps. If you are a *facilitator* and wishing to introduce some new tool at / to this event... see the difference? (in Open Space, particularly)

[Eleder Aurtenetxe Pildain]

Thanks Lisa,

I just spent some time reading your SF_OSONOS_2010 book of proceedings (http://openspaceonopenspace.net/2010/02/). Very inspiring conversations on Documenting Dialogue and other subjects. I saw the mind map too and read first time about and watched conversation-maps and other interesting stuff... (by the way, how did you do to document this meeting so well -lots on info, specific and not too long-? Recording and summarizing? Taking notes live? And you are the only one who appears as note-taker!)

Good idea for Berlin WOSONOS. I plan to be there also and would attend such a meeting, sure!

Sorry, Lisa, but at first I didn't catch completely your comment: "I agree that having everyone learn mind mapping before an event is perhaps good intention (giving everyone an extra tool) but it's true - you want to be sure you are not putting your wishes or your culture on a group."

But then, I think I caught it when reading your second message. Summarizing: "If you were a *participant*, you could post a topic about exploring the use of mind-maps. If you are a *facilitator* and wishing to introduce some new tool at / to this event... see the difference? (in Open Space, particularly)".

Another possibility, drawing after the event a big mind map or set of mind maps that would accompany the book of proceedings and could be used to brief the conversations to the client.

Any other ideas around?