Open Space Technology
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Open Space Technology is a large group facilitation process developed by Harrison Owen.
In practice, Open Space Technology meetings take on many forms and variations, but they follow a basic format, outlined in the book - Harrison Owen's Open Space Technology: A User's Guide. Open Space Technology meetings begin with all the participants sitting in a circle, and no items on the agenda. The meeting opens with an agenda setting exercise following which the group self-organizes into smaller discussion groups. Discussion group conveners are responsible for providing a report of the discussions, which is immediately added to a book of proceedings. At the conclusion of the meeting, or very shortly thereafter, participants receive a copy of the proceedings including all of the discussion groups’ reports and any action plans that were developed.
Open Space Technology meetings operate on four principles and one law. The principles are:
- Whoever comes is the right people
- Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened
- When it starts is the right time
- When it's over it's over
And the law is known as The Law of Two Feet (sometimes referred to as "The Law of Mobility"). It states that “If you find yourself in a situation where you are neither learning or contributing, go somewhere where you can.”
Originated in 1985, the Open Space process has been used in over 90 countries and in diverse cultures and settings. One facilitator can convene a group of from 5 to over 2000 using this method, and the entire meeting may last from a few hours to a few days. It has been used for strategic planning, participatory conferences, developing new products or programs, designing buildings and land use agreements, bringing together people in conflict...any situation where the issues are complex, the outcome is unknown, a diversity of people can be brought together, and when the time for new thinking 'was yesterday' (according to Owen).
External links
- A Brief History of Open Space by Harrison Owen (http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm)
- Open Space World site (http://www.openspaceworld.org) (covers many languages - English portion is a wiki)
- Opening Space for Collaboration and Communication (http://www.openingspace.net/papers_facilitation_OSCollaborationCommunication.shtml) (An article describing the process, by Open Space facilitator Lisa Heft)
- Photos of the Open Space process (http://www.openingspace.net/gallery/agora.cgi?cart_id=2162770.25906*Jc37h7&xm=on&product=Anatomy_of_an_Open_Space_Event)