What is Open Space Technology ?
Training and events
Examples of Open Space meetings
Logistics
Literature and resources
Other Large group methods
What is the Open Space Institute Denmark ?
Links
Contact
What is Open Space Technology ? PDF Print E-mail
Article Index
What is Open Space Technology ?
Page #
Page #
Page #
All Pages

How does it work ?

The central issue is identified in a preparation meeting. Both the issue as well as the invitation are formulated in such a way that those who are invited are inspired and focused. The invitation also clearly signals that the meeting will be unlike other meetings.

At the start of an Open Space, participants sit in a circle without tables. The host, usually the highest ranking person, makes a brief opening statement indicating the focus of the meeting and asking participants for their help. The facilitator then creates the Open Space and explains the framework.
Participants then make the agenda, posting those items which they feel are most important to them personally. These can be ideas, proposals, problems, questions, solutions, hopes and worries, technical and practical issues and so on.

When the agenda is ready, participants decide what issue they want to discuss, sign up and start. After all discussions have been finished, the report is handed out to all, a report which provides a good basis for later decisionmaking and follow-up. After the Open Space this report is analysed and follow-up actions are planned, as far as this has not been done yet during the Open Space itself.

When the Open Space lasts more than one day, prioritisation and action planning are done by the whole group.


Examples of recent themes of Open Space meetings

“Our company is growing explosively: how can we grow and a the same time focus on our personal development and joy in our work”
“We must close our hospital: how do we handle this as well as possible?”
“Is our profession a dying race or the profession of the future?”
“Our new organizational structure is in place: how do we make it work ?”
“Our product development is slower than our competitors’: how to we cut it into half?”
“What does a good Work-Life-balance look like, and how do we create this in our company?”
:What does the library of the future look like, and how do we create it?”
“How can we combine agriculture, recreation, nature and other functions in the best way in our
  province?”
“How do we utilize the crisis to strengthen our position towards the competition?”


The process

At the start of an Open Space meeting, participants sit in a circle of chairs – or several concentric circles.

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
01/16 


The host, usually the CEO or Chairman of the Board, makes a brief and powerful opening statement to:
(1) state the issue to be solved and why it is important;
(2) ask participants to contribute with their knowledge and experience;
(3) to announce that the conclusions of the meeting will play an important role in defining
      the way forward.

Opening1
Opening2
Opening3
Opening4
Opening5
Opening6
1/6 

The facilitator ensures participants focus, opens the space and explains the process.

Participants post topics which they feel are important to the issue to be solved, on the agenda –
These may be ideas, problems, proposals, technical or practical issues or solutions.
 

Agenda1
Agenda10
Agenda11
Agenda12
Agenda13
Agenda14
Agenda2
Agenda3
Agenda4
Agenda5
Agenda6
Agenda7
Agenda8
Agenda9
01/14 


After the agenda has been made, participants go to it and discuss which discussions they want to participate in, and write their names next to the topics. Groups which have been formed then get to work.

Discussions1
Discussions10
Discussions11
Discussions12
Discussions13
Discussions14
Discussions2
Discussions3
Discussions4
Discussions5
Discussions6
Discussions7
Discussions8
Discussions9
01/14 



 
Danish(DK)Nederlands (NL-BE)English (United Kingdom)