Over the past 12 years, we have held oe-tag in a wide variety of conference formats at different locations in Berlin. We have met in a church and in an old freight depot, travelled together by bus through the city to the old stock exchange, and met in traditional conference venues, schools and co-working spaces.

This June, we will meet on the internet.

The learning curve in terms of video conferencing and digital moderation has never been as steep as it has been in recent weeks. At SOCIUS, we have also used the acceleration that social distancing has given us to practise online communication and interaction to regularly exchange ideas with colleagues close to us about the challenges and opportunities of this time. This gave rise to the idea of not simply cancelling or postponing oe-tag 2020 on 11 June, but instead using the already published date for an online event.

No one has failed to notice that society is undergoing massive change in these crazy times.  We want to use our own organisational development lens to shed light on the perspectives of individuals, teams, organisations and society, and explore with you at the oe-tag what this change, which we can witness and observe in slow motion, has in store for us.

For the content, we focused on what has been on our minds in recent weeks, including:

• How can digital organisational development Can this succeed in a society where direct contact is permanently reduced?
• What can we do in uncertain times What can we learn from improvisational theatre?
• how can it be digital embodiment give?
• What special systemic considerations Is there a world in which complexity reaches unimaginable proportions?

Experiencing and shaping change and social transformation in real time means that we usually find ourselves in a state of not knowing. So we set out to seek experimentation and exchange in order to conclude the first part of the oe-tag with new experiences and new questions. To this end, we approached people and invited them to meet with you and us on the afternoon of 11 June at 3 p.m. for the oe-tag online on Zoom to discuss these and other questions.

On 11 June at 3 p.m., you can expect a joint introduction (to the oe-tag online), followed by at least eight different workshops and a joint harvesting session at the end, which will transition into a Zoom party.

We are currently experiencing changes that would have found their way into the Bible 2,000 to 5,000 years ago. It is not yet clear what the „new normal“ will look like and which new – or reaffirmed – forms of social interaction will shape it. How can organisations maintain their internal capacity to act and develop and strengthen their external effectiveness?

Openness and complexity are perceived in a variety of ways: as an opportunity, as a risk and threat, as a moment of exhaustion and stagnation, or as strength and active solidarity.

As actors in civil society, in teams, organisations and in a social context, how can we shape change in such a way that creative collaboration can continue and deepen?

Workshop overview online

individual level

Digital Embodiment (3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

individual level

Questioning your own body – Somatic organisational development (5.15 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.)

individual level

Collegial exchange – an online format from SOCIUS NextWerk (3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

The effects of the last few months have been varied. We were forced into immobility because we were subject to contact restrictions and were no longer systemically relevant with seminars, consultations and training courses on organisational development. Or, although our position meant we were cut off from direct contact and exchange, we had to form crisis teams and be available around the clock, racing and restless. However you experienced this period, both personally and professionally, we venture to suggest that it was a very moving time for all of us, both internally and socially. 

We invite you and challenge you to share your vision of social change with us as part of our community, and we offer you the opportunity to receive and give feedback.

This workshop is limited to 10 participants.

team level

The analogue-digital transition: Quality of contact between worlds (5.15pm to 6.30pm)

team level

Advice in uncertain times (3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

What prospects does counselling have when counsellors and clients find themselves in similar situations at the same time? What can we offer? What are we looking for? What gives us stability? Coronavirus took us by surprise. But we didn't need a viral pandemic to realise that we are living in uncertain times.

Since the shutdown, Norbert Poppe has been focusing intensively on two topics: being effective online in counselling and how to lead in uncertain times. Building on the experience he has gained together with Dr Michael Funke in various online workshops, in particular with the map of uncertainties, he will spend 75 minutes providing space to consolidate initial experiences from this period and to consider together what security means in counselling.

team level

Agile learning – from knowledge transfer to learning design and teaching coach (3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Traditional forms of continuing education (e.g. standardised seminars or degree programmes) no longer meet the dynamic technological developments of many industries and the asynchronous learning needs of employees. As a response to increasing complexity, agile learning pursues competence-oriented learning in iterative loops, tailored to the specific needs of learners and the organisation.

The workshop will discuss approaches and provide practical exercises using the example of an agile learning artefact.

team level

And when you think you can't go on... Improvisation through uncertain times (5.15 pm to 6.30 pm)

In times like these, with global crises, what can we learn from the methods and approach of improvisational theatre when it comes to dealing with uncertainty, ad hoc decisions and not knowing?

We want to learn about and practise two components of applied improvisation: „Be in the moment!“ (Don't judge and don't plan ahead!) and „Yes, exactly!“ (Recognise and accept offers). We move from our heads to our intuition and consider together in which situations on the stage of life this can help us. Our everyday lives in organisations are often shaped by conditions and restrictions. When we focus our attention on the scope for creativity in between, something new emerges with surprising ease.

organisational level

Interplay of roles in the organisation (3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

organisational level

Navigating in the fog – pocket formats for strategic foresight (5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

organisational level

Digital OE in a remote society – How can online learning contexts be creatively stimulated/supported/expanded/designed? (5.15 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.)

societal level

Living, acting and making an impact – even when much seems uncertain (3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

societal level

Utopia 2048 (5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

What might an ideal future for companies, organisations and human cooperation look like? In this workshop, we will enter the inspiring realm of utopian thinking and envision the dormant potential of collaborative action in organisations. In addition to addressing major topics such as decision-making structures, new forms of enterprise and progressive forms of collaboration, we will also turn our attention to each individual's place in such a beautiful world in order to gain clarity about our own goals and bring that radiance and inspiration back with us into the present. As an introductory impulse, there will be a short reading from the book „Utopia 2048“.