Open Space Technology

Open Space ( English for " open ", " open " or " wide space " ) or Open Space Technology is a method of large group moderation for structuring conferences. It is suitable for groups of about 50 to 2000 participants. Characteristic is the substantive openness: Participants provide their own topics to the Chamber and to make each one work group. In these potential projects will be developed. The results are collected at the end. Important is an infrastructure that organizes the implementation of the resulting project ideas for open space can produce a wide variety of concrete measures in a short time.

History

The Open Space Technology was developed in the USA by Harrison Owen in 1985 and has since spread worldwide. The site open space world map is one of the entries in 125 countries around the world and hundreds of registered open-space companion. Since then other large group methods have been developed, such as the often more organized and more online emerged from the Community Barcamp or the very low threshold marketplace method.

The founding legend of open space, such as Harrison Owen always convincingly told he had prepared in 1983 for one year a congress for 250 organizational development and carried out. At the end of the conference, all participants came to the unanimous conclusion that the had " really useful part " passed by the way of the successful meeting in the coffee breaks. This " coffee break" metaphor helped to shape the self-understanding of Open Space today. In an attempt to systematize this knowledge to investigate basic mechanisms of meetings, Owen recalled one every four quadrennial initiation festival in Balamah, Nigeria: " As far as I could tell, there was nothing to compare in any way with a planning committee would have been, either during the festivities still in front. Spite of this, the 500 villagers to organize this four-day event on highly ordered, satisfying and, I must say, highly entertaining way. How was that possible? "

Target

The goal is, with a large number of people to a broader topic essential part of themes for a innovative and solution-oriented in a short time and to create a spirit of optimism ( or use ). Depending on the objectives and implementation variation, at the end of the Open Space event will be an action plan in which participants agree to meet to implement ideas from the working groups. This action plan can also be very concrete. The result of the open space may, for example, be a checklist for immediate implementation.

Method

Open Space creates a stable methodological framework in which many people can self-organized and self- edit their concerns jointly responsible. There are no set individual topics. Anyone can be a concern, which is particularly close to his heart, forge ahead. These can be complex and urgent common, but also personal issues and topics. They are formulated only at the beginning of the event. Also, conflicts can be edited. Thus, a large " themes marketplace " on which unite the participants on topics groups. The method allows, if it is carried out correctly, wide participation, creates mutual understanding and energy to implement the jointly developed ideas.

Topics

Open Space is always under a general theme. Suitable subjects have one or more of the following:

• Urgent - it burns the participants under the nails, it concerns she / it goes to / touched it, and the solution had yesterday are already available
• Broad - space for new ideas and creative solutions
• Complex - there are many different ideas and ways it can not be solved by one person
• Important - is of central importance for the future of the system

Possible topics include: urban planning, threat of plant closure, problems with product quality, development of an educational program, a merger of two companies, project development, concept for large buildings, church development, restructuring, etc.

Participant

In Open Space there is not the right or wrong participants. Everyone is welcome, the manager or directly affected and feels motivated to want to change something. It should be invited different people as possible ( professional groups, responsibilities, age, but also customers, neighbors, etc.), including the key opinion makers and multipliers.

Regulate

In Open Space, there are four principles ( actually more observations, as can be seen the world)

• Whoever comes are the right people - one or 25 does not matter, and everyone is important and motivated.
• Whatever happens, it is the only thing that could happen - the unplanned and unexpected is often creative and useful.
• It starts when the time is right - the importance of energy (not the punctuality )
• Gone is gone - Not gone is Not Over - if the energy is over, the time is up.

And a law:

Law of Two Feet

The law of two feet is an expression of freedom and responsibility: The subscriber is only so long in a group, as it deems appropriate, so long as he learn something and / or can contribute.

Bumblebees and Butterflies

When people apply the law of two feet, they sometimes exhibit behaviors that could be metaphorically expressed by the terms " bumblebees " and " Butterflies": " bumblebees " flutter from group to group and form a bridge between the subjects with frequent breaks, the stroll and pause " butterflies " are just there and " be nice ".

In places other metaphorical terms are used in Open Space conferences used, such as " law of attraction forces ", " comet " and " meteors ": " comet " do laps several groups, thus connecting the thoughts of all, " meteors " dive suddenly and leave it their ideas as streaks of light in the sky.

Duration

An " Open Space Technology meeting " takes two to three days, the " classic form " two and a half days. Depending on the topic can be successful even a shortened version of just one day.

Takes an Open Space for several days, the last half day of the evaluation and, if necessary, action planning serves. Often working groups are already compiled and agreed to implement the first steps at the meeting.

Unusual

Despite the three-day period, there are:

• Not a typical agenda
• No predetermined speakers
• No set tasks

There is a very time accessible break buffet with finger foods (nuts, fruits, vegetables and dips, coffee, tea, water and juice) that turns over lunch in a lunch buffet to ensure maximum flexibility for the participants in their daily organization

Process step by step

In the shortened implementing variation of only one day account for the evening and morning news.

Evaluation and Implementation

With the final round of the nucleus of an Open Space is basically ended. Depending on the organization and degree of dependence among the participants have in the past different options out peeled, whether to make the results of other visible or even to develop further project steps jointly. For open spaces for personal issues, for instance on issues of child education, where it just went just to experience basically, this is not necessary. Otherwise, the convener record the main points of their results. The escort team hangs from the logs to the Documentation wall. This allows all participants to gain at any time an overview of the intermediate results. The protocols are provided as copies or electronic document for each participants.

The last half day is used for evaluation and planning of implementation.

• Each participant is already receiving on the eve of the conference documentation with copies of all reports of the working groups.
• The results are merged into thematic blocks and prioritized by the participants according to their importance (see Moderation ).
• The main topics to be taken up again and concretized for appointments or action plans.
• In the final round, each participant reported, what has impressed him in recent days.

Control circuit and moderation

The control circuit is responsible for the formulation of objectives and overall theme for the invitation of participants for the organization ( rooms, materials, food, documentation). Will moderate the overall presentation of the event.

The control circuit consists of the responsible initiator, key decision makers and moderation. He is supported by an organizational team. Initiator and control circuit support participants in implementing their projects.

Felicity conditions

• There is a detailed preparation process, who participated in the deputy of all relevant stakeholder groups.
• The participants represent the system of those who are affected and can contribute to the solution.
• This topic is relevant for the participants.
• The solution is urgently needed and is not yet known.
• The topic has many facets and it therefore seems appropriate to include as many perspectives to its processing.
• The participants trust that after the Open Space will and resources to implement the developed projects are available.
• Participation is voluntary.

Strengths and dangers

Strengthen

• Complex topics are dealt with comprehensively by many people in a very short time.
• Many people are willing to engage in sustained for one thing.
• Promotes many ideas for action and motivation for groups, then also implement.
• Always acts as community-forming - you learn to new and better acquainted than was possible in their daily work before.
• Finally, a documentation of all topics presented for all participants is prepared as a basis for further cooperation.

Hazards

• If the organization the resources necessary to implement the results can not provide, harm an Open Space event - regardless of the quality of the results at the meeting. Motivation turns into frustration.
• Groups speak sensitive issues may not, or not open at if the participants doubt the will of the inviter to comply appointments or implement results.
• The theme of the Open Space does not hit the " nerve" of the participants.
• When forced participation is a risk that the work groups do not work constructively.

After the conference

The success of an open- space conference stands and falls with the reaction of the resulting ideas. Often the participants are then so strongly motivated that by itself caused the diverse activities. However, the reaction must always be supported and monitored. For this, the control circuit is responsible. Regularly checking which projects require that support. In business, management must provide resources needed for implementation (working time, money, freedom of action, etc.). For more complex issues fixed project teams have formed or groups are further divided.

Virtual collaboration

Team projects that wish to continue working on the basis of the open-space philosophy, even over long distances, can OpenSpace-Online organize (r ) Internet conferencing.