Open Space

Open-Space Technology is an alternative method of organising conference, and has been successfully used for meetings as large as two thousand people. It fosters creativity, requires personal responsibility, and encourages people to take on roles that they would not normally adopt. It is also self-organising, as the pre-determined agenda is defined only by the title of the event. The title is the core of the pre-preparation, as it draws participants, and sets the direction of the conference. 

At the Open Space Conference, participants are all invited to come together in a circle, which acts as a marketplace for ideas. They are then presented with the four principles, and the only rule of Open Space. 

The Four Principles

1. Whoever comes is the right person.
   Open Space is built around the idea that everyone has the capability and potential to contribute. Hence, welcome everyone.

2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could happen.
   Open Space is designed to provoke a creative response from participants, and the results may be surprising. It is important that both organisers and participants allow themselves to be surprised.

3. Whenever it starts is the right time.
   Creativity cannot be scheduled. Hence, whenever it starts is considered to be the right time.

4. When it’s over, it’s over.
   Or, “When it’s not over, it’s not over.” If a workshop has to continue outside of its allotted time, it can continue. Similarly, if a workshop ends early, it ends early. The schedule is built to accommodate the needs and creative energy of the participants.

The One Law

The Law of Two Feet
The law of two feet is what defines Open Space. People are asked to take responsibility for what they care about. They are free to move around as they choose. 

In effect, the Open Space Conference begins by asking participants to become workshop facilitators. It also demands that participants take responsibility for their time, and to be authentically present.

These are a few points commonly used to explain what Open-Space Technology is:

Open-Space Technology, invented by Harrison Owen (1992) is one of the related conference processes that overlap Future Search. In Open Space people select their agendas and groups, while in a future search predetermined groups work the same tasks toward a common future. Both models invite participants to manage their own small group tasks and both build a strong communal spirit.

• the energy of a good coffee break: OST began in part to the oft-quoted observation that in traditional conferences, the coffee breaks are the best part.
• growing more of what works: focusing attention on things makes them grow, in importance, detail and depth. So why not grow more of what works rather than stuff that doesn't?
• one more thing to not do: the essence of developing an OST facilitation practice is to continually practice letting go. Finding one more thing not to do help develop this practice over time.
• passion bounded by responsibility: Passion gets you out of your chair, responsibility moves you to action. Things only get done by individuals, and nothing gets done unless people want to do. Passion is great, but goes nowhere until the feet take it somewhere.
• a practice in invitation, an inviting practice: The essence of OST is invitation. Invitation gathers people into the event, where they are further invited to post more invitations. The results of the groups that accrete around those smaller invitations are invitations to carry the work into the larger world. Practicing invitation...
• fully present and totally invisible: An OST facilitator holds space open like trusses keep a roof perched on top of the walls. Without the trusses the room collapses. Without the conscious act of holding it open, space closes.
• letting go… into movement: Open Space Technology (OST) is a simple, powerful way to get people, information and whole organizations moving. It's not so much about feeling good or talking tough, but that can happen. What it's really about is getting the most important things done in organization - done now and done well.
• conflict, complexity, urgency, diversity: Harrison always says, OST works best where conflict is present, things are complex, there is huge diversity of players and the answer was needed yesterday. And the more of all of that you have, the better OST works. Go figure.
• what do you really want to do + why don’t you take care of it: The highest form of OST facilitation practice is to turn back everything to the people. When confronted with a question, respond with two: what do you really want to do? And why don't you take of it? Every thing the facilitator does for a group is one less thing the group knows it can do for itself.
• marketplace, circle, board, breathing: the four basic mechanisms at work in an open space meeting or event. Of course, these exist everywhere in the world, in all kinds of forms, but they tend to exist more cleanly and clearly in open space. The effect is generally faster, easier movement.
• invitation, invite list, space time, footprints: The four seasons of Open Space Technology. Everything begins with the invitation (purpose), is transmitted to the invitation list (story), is organized in the event (structure) and follows through with footprints (action). Spring, summer, fall, winter. The room used for OST begins cold, fills with warmth and growth, witnesses the dispersal of people and effort and ends cold again.
• the law of two feet (two footprints graphic): If you find yourself in a situation where you are neither learning or contributing, move somewhere where you can. This is a law like the Law of Gravity. You can choose to notice it or not, but it's safer just to notice it.
• the four principles (question mark graphic): Whoever comes is the right people, whatever happens is the only thing that could have, when it starts is the right time, when it’s over it's over. These aren't prescriptive; they are the results of thousands of little experiments.  

Reference:

Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide (Second Edition). Harrison Owen. Berett-Koehler Publishers Inc. San Francisco, 1997.

Source: http://www.openspaceworld.org/cgi/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceExplanations