The Open Space concept originated in North America from the realisation that the most creative and productive parts of meetings and events often take place during unscheduled time, such as in a coffee break. The aim of an Open Space event is to recreate the energy of a coffee break with a focused quality discussion.
How it works
In an Open Space meeting the participants create their own programme of selfmanaged sessions (such as discussion groups, experiential workshops, ideas sessions and planning meetings) related to a central theme of strategic importance.Open Space meetings allow diverse and often very large groups of people to get together, discuss issues of heartfelt concern, share ideas, pool their knowledge and develop plans for collaborative action.There are no invited speakers, and just one facilitator to explain the procedure and facilitate the plenary sessions.
When to use it
Open Space meetings are particularly effective when complex or conflict-ridden issues must be resolved very quickly, and when people need to work together as equals to decide how they will bring something new into being or bring about a mutually-desired change. A prerequisite is that the focal issue or theme must be of genuine concern to all those involved, as participation is normally voluntary.The participant group can be of any size, from twelve people to a thousand or more, and the meeting is usually held over one, two or three days.
Principles and Laws of Open Space
There are four principles and one law; these are displayed in the room and explained by the facilitator.
Four Principles
Who comes are the right people! It is not about how many people come or their position, but the quality of the interaction and conversation that makes the difference. What is important is that people who are there want to be there and have a shared passion or interest for the issue.
What happens is the only thing that could have. Real learning only takes place when we let go of original agendas and expectations. Be open to surprises.
Whatever it starts is the right time.Creativity does not happen according to a timetable - it appears in its own time.
When it’s over, it’s over. If an issue is dealt with in 10 minutes, move on. On the other hand, if an issue is deeply engaging and needs more time, keep doing it until you are finished.
The law of two feet
If anyone finds that they are neither learning nor contributing where they are, they can use their two feet to go else where. This law is fundamentally about personal responsibility- the only person responsible for the experience is you.
Bees and Butterflies
The law of 2 feet makes two additional contributions to the world of Open Space: bumble bees and butterflies. Some may choose to take the role of a bee- moving from group to group and pollinating the discussion. Some many choose to be butterflies, fluttering around the edges of discussions, perhaps not joining in, or initiating one to ones on new topics.
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