What is Open Space Technology?
At the very least, Open Space is a fast, cheap, and simple way to better, more productive meetings. At a deeper level, it enables people to experience a very different quality of organization in which self managed work groups are the norm, leadership a constantly shared phenomenon, diversity becomes a resource to be used instead of a problem to be overcome, and personal empowerment a shared experience. It is also fun. In a word, the conditions are set for fundamental organizational change, indeed that change may already have occurred. By the end, groups face an interesting choice. They can do it again, they can do it better, or they can go back to their prior mode of behavior.
Open Space is appropriate in situations where a major issue must be resolved, characterized by high levels of complexity, high levels of diversity (in terms of the people involved), the presence of potential or actual conflict, and with a decision time of yesterday.
Open Space runs on two fundamentals: passion and responsibility. Passion engages the people in the room. Responsibility ensures things get done. A focusing theme or question provides the framework for the event. The art of the question lies in saying just enough to evoke attention, while leaving sufficient open space for the imagination to run wild.
The principles of Open Space
Whoever comes is the right people.
Whatever happens is
the only thing that could have.
When it starts is the right time.
When it's over, it's over.
These principles are simple statements of the way things work. While they may appear counter-intuitive to some, they are my observations of what always happens when people interact.
The Law of Two Feet says to stand up for what you believe and if you feel you are neither contributing nor learning where you are, use your two feet and go somewhere else. The law is fundamentally about personal responsibility. It makes it clear that the only person responsible for your experience is you.
From Owen, Harrison, (1999), Open Space Technology. In (Holman, P. & T. Devane (Eds.), The Change Handbook: Group Methods for Shaping the Future (pp. 235-237). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
For more
information, contact Peggy Holman
peggy@opencirclecompany.com
www.opencirclecompany.com