OPEN SPACE FACILITATION

Open Space Technology, originated by Harrison Owen, is an inspiring and unconventional, results orientated, method of meeting facilitation for businesses and organisations of every size and complexion.

To quote –

“At the very least, Open Space is a fast, cheap and simple way to better, more productive, meetings. At a deeper level, it enables people to experience a very different quality of organisation in which self-managed groups are the norm, leadership a constantly shared phenomenon, diversity becomes a resource to be used instead of a problem to be overcome, and personal empowerment a shared experience. It is also fun.
Open Space is appropriate in situations where a major issue must be resolved, characterised by high levels of complexity, high levels of diversity (in terms of the people involved) the presence or potential for actual conflict, and a decision time of yesterday.
Open Space runs on two fundamentals: passion and responsibility. Passion engages the people in the room. Responsibility ensures things get done. A focusing theme or question provides the framework for the event. The art of the question lies in saying just enough to evoke attention, while leaving sufficient open space for the imagination to run wild”  Harrison Owen

“Open Space is based in the belief that organizations and communities run on passion and responsibility. It allows groups of any size to self-organise around what they really care about to get things done”  Peggy Holman

“Open Space Technology is a natural communication process that recognises that people take responsibility to pursue what they are passionate about, and it ensures that what is important to each participant will be discussed”  Birgitt Williams

Open Space meetings are based around simple long-standing concepts of human communication and interaction, where passion and commitment rule. Invitees are presented with a theme or question, but thereafter the agenda is self-created and managed – with no presentations, no PowerPoint slides and no pre-defined outcomes.
Four simple principles and one absolute rule govern the process. Each session is minuted and the results circulated to all participants before the end of the programme, ensuring the defined actions and outcomes are then adopted by all those who actively participated, in recognition of a shared experience.

Open Space Technology has been used by large and small organisations across all continents, addressed business issues and religious divides, problems experienced by nations and Columbian street children > and it has always worked, and always changed participants’ views of future meetings.