Open Space Technology (OST)

What is Open Space Technology (OST) and what are the benefits?

Using the OST approach, the facilitator sets the scene – creates the open space – and then allows the participants to explore the issues of their choice within the space. The Open Space approach has several key advantages over a more traditional leader-led structured approach:

• all the issues are chosen by the participants, not the facilitator

• all the issues addressed are issues about which the participants feel a degree of passion and for which they are willing to assume some responsibility and on which there is some possibility of them taking further action

• all the people who have an interest in a particular aspect of the issue get a chance to express their thoughts on it and suggest what action(s) might be taken to develop the issue

• the ‘proceedings’ are easily written up; they can be circulated to the entire participant group immediately following the open space session; and from there, they can if necessary be prioritized for action.

Ground rules

OST presupposes a potential sharing of input and responsibility amongst the group members.

Sessions open and close with all participants sitting in a circle to acknowledge that this is an exercise in creative shared thinking together.

Participants break into small groups to discuss issues that they have themselves articulated relating to the topic

Four underlying principles are acknowledged:

• Whoever comes is the right people

• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have

• Whenever it starts is the right time

• When it’s over, it’s over

The Law of Two Feet

The ‘law of two feet’ states that whenever someone becomes aware that s/he is no longer learning/contributing to a particular group, it is time to move elsewhere.

Passion bounded by responsibility

Open Space Technology has been described as ‘passion bounded by responsibility’ and as having the energy of a productive board meeting coupled with the fun of a good coffee break! My group of participants certainly agreed.

OST was ‘invented’ some 15 years ago by Harrison Owen as a way of working with groups engaged in dealing with complex issues to which there were no readily available answers and on which there tend to be a great diversity of opinions. It is ideal for situations involving future visioning for a group, organization, or business. It is also a flexible and productive process to use to resolve long-standing conflict within groups.

OS websites to visit

Two interesting OS sites to visit are Harrison Owen’s site:

http://www.openspaceworld.org

and Michael Herman’s site:

http://www.globalchicago.net.

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