Open Space Technology

Brief Description:

Open Space Technology is often referred to as "Open Space". It is a meeting framework that allows unlimited numbers of participants to form their own discussions around a central theme.
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Description:

Open Space events have a central theme, around which participants identify issues for which they are willing to take responsibility for running a session. At the same time, these topics are distributed among available rooms and timeslots.
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When no more discussion topics are suggested the participants sign up for the ones they wish to take part in.
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Open Space creates very fluid and dynamic conversations held together by mutual enthusiasm for interest in a topic. A trained moderator can be useful, especially when people are used to more structured meeting methods.
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The fundamental principles of Open Space are:

• Whoever comes are the right people (the best participants are those who feel passionately about the issue and have freely chosen to get involved);
• Whenever it starts is the right time (Open Space encourages creativity both during and between formal sessions);
• When it's over it's over (getting the work done is more important than adhering to rigid schedules);
• Whatever happens is the only thing that could happen (let go of your expectations and pay full attention to what is happening here and now).

There is also one "Law": The "Law of two feet": (If participants find themselves in a situation where they are not learning or contributing they have a responsibility to go to another session, or take a break for personal reflection.).
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It is vital that there are good written reports from all discussions, complete with action points, available at the end of each day. Feedback and implementation structures are important to carry the suggestions forward after the event itself.
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Used For:

Good for harnessing the creativity that is stifled by more structured forms of meetings, and creating new forms of working relationships, for example cross-functional collaboration, self-managing teams, community building, conflict resolution, strategy development and implementation.
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Suitable participants:

Open Space is highly flexible in the number and nature of participants.
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It can be run with a handful of people up to 2000 participants or more.
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Cost:

This varies. The approach can be very cheap, but it requires a venue with space to accommodate all participants in one or several concentric circles.
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Time Requirements:

Flexible an event usually lasts between one and five days and can be run as a one off event.
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When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

You should use Open Space when large and diverse groups are involved, when you require creative thinking around an issue, when you want an open discussion and collective decisions, when you want to develop ownership over the results, when you want to develop better working relationships or when you want to build a sense of community.
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When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:

You should not use Open Space when you are unwilling to give up control over the direction of the meeting, if you are not prepared to follow through with the recommendations or if the achievement of a predetermined specific outcome is essential.
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Strengths:

• Extremely flexible process;
• Participant driven approach;
• Unleashes creativity.

Weaknesses:

• Cannot be used to direct people to a specific outcome.

Origin:

Organisational Development
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Open Space Technology was created in the mid-1980s by organisational consultant Harrison Owen when he discovered that people attending his conferences showed more energy and creativity during the coffee breaks than the formal sessions.
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Open Space is structured in a way that recreates this informal and open atmosphere combined with a clear sense of purpose.
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Case Studies:

• Nottinghamshire NHS Trust Open Space Event (CaseStudies)

Related Methods

Restrictions In Use

Further Information

Contact:
Romy Shovelton
Wikima
http://www.wikima.com
0207 229 7320
07767 370739
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Web Links:
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UK Portal on Open Space: http://www.openspaceuk.com/
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Popular Methods

21st Century Town Meeting

Citizens Jury

Deliberative Polling

Open Space

Participatory Appraisal

Participatory Budgeting

Webcasting