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We offer Open Space Technology facilitation to assist organizations with creativity and innovation, change management, conflict resolution, problem solving and strategic planning.
Open Space Technology is the most powerful meeting methodology for the 21st Century. Developed by organizational consultant Harrison Owen from Potomac, Maryland, USA, it taps into the spirit of an organization like no other large or small group intervention can. It is now used around the world to enable organizations to learn and achieve beyond their expectations with a simple approach, based on clear values and principles. Open Space creates an environment for innovation, problem solving, creativity, teamwork, and rapid change. Open Space creates the conditions for an organization to utilize the potential of the workforce, inspire growth in organizational performance, and to learn to use the chaos in the organization to work for you rather than against you.
Open Space Technology is a means of conducting meetings that has both form and essence. Open Space Technology has since evolved resulting in the emergence of the Open Space Organization. Since organizations use meetings as a primary way of connecting people to get work done, it is imperative that meetings be "opened up" in terms of appropriate structure and process to really get the work done that is needed for organizational excellence. Individuals need to be brought together quickly in ways that remove the constraints of inappropriate structure and control. Open Space Technology achieves this. Open Space Technology is a meeting methodology that helps individuals and groups become more effective in work environments that are rapidly and constantly changing by developing their skills as lifelong learners and collaborative problem solvers. It creates the conditions so that the maximum potential of the individual and the organization to be realized. Open Space Technology captures the knowledge, experience and innovation in the organization that is not captured through less open processes.
When is Open Space Technology the best meeting format to use?
Any organizational situation in which there is:
- A real issue of concern
- Diversity of players
- Complexity of elements
- Presence of passion (conflict is an element of passion)
- Decision time is now
What are the Results of Using Open Space Technology?
Concrete information gathered results in the forming of a "book of proceedings". This is created after each discussion group when the recorder inputs the report from the group into the computer. These reports are printed, copied, and one "book of proceedings" is available for each participant. In a two-day meeting, this is printed over the lunch break for distribution after the break. This kind of two-day meeting is possible only with smaller groups of up to 50. In a three-day meeting, it is printed during the second night, for distribution at the start of the third day. The "book of proceedings" is the basis for prioritizing and the development of action steps, both of which are included in a final report.
Far more important and far-reaching, however, is the change which takes place in the minds of the participants, who emerge from the event as ambassadors for change within their organization. Results that they experience include:
- Breakthrough learning
- Appropriate structure
- Genuine community
- Spirited performance
- Playful involvement
- High efficiency
- High productivity
- Shared leadership
- Growth from within
- Elimination of barriers to do a job with excellence and with pride
- Genuine excitement to be a part of the changes needed instead of fearing the changes and resisting them
Open Space Technology is Appropriate When:
- An existing organization needs re-energizing
- Creative planning needs to be done quickly
- An organization faces challenges that need immediate action
- Communication needs to improve
- A wide variety of issues need to be dealt with
- Opportunities for the future need to be explored
- An organization is in its embryonic stage, to enable it to develop its vision and structure quickly
- Individual interests with a group appear to be quite diverse
- A merger is required
- Public input is desired