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Open Space Technology The Process
In Open Space participants create and manage multiple agendas in parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance. For example: "What is a strategic direction for our group, organization or community that all the stakeholders can support and work together to create?" Open Space is used with groups from 25 to 500 participants. It can be done in one or two-day workshops, three-day conferences, or in regular weekly staff meetings. The results are often powerful and frequently unpredictable. They are powerful because they effectively connect and strengthen what is already happening in an organization:
When and Why? Open Space works best when
By those who have experienced and implemented successful changes, it has been called passion bounded by responsibility, the energy of a good coffee break, intentional self-organization, spirit at work, chaos and creativity, evolution in organization, and a simple, powerful way to get people and organizations moving -- when it's needed most. And, while Open Space is known for its apparent lack of structure and welcoming of surprises, it turns out that an Open Space meeting or organization is actually very structured. But, that structure is so perfectly fit to the people and the work at hand, that it goes unnoticed in its proper role of supporting (not blocking) best work. In fact, the stories and work-plans woven in Open Space are generally more complex, more robust, more durable -- and can move a great deal faster than expert or management-driven designs. What Will Happen At An Open Space Meeting?
1. All of the issues that are MOST important to the participants will be raised. 2. Those participants most qualified and capable of getting something done on each of them will address all of the issues raised. 4. When appropriate, and when time allows, the total contents of the report can be focused and prioritized in a matter of a few hours, even with very large groups (100's). 5. After an event, all of these results can be made available to an entire organization or community within days of the event, so the conversation can invite every stakeholder into the implementation - right now. 6. Results like these can be planned and implemented faster than any other kind of so-called "large-group intervention". It is literally possible to accomplish in days and weeks what some other approaches take months and years to do. Results of an Open Space session are both good and bad news. The good news is that it gets people and work moving. The bad news is that it may mean lots of things are going to be different from before. Wanted things can appear, unwanted things disappear, and sometimes vice versa. In short, Open Space brings life back to organizations and organizations back to life. Facilitation Return to Articles
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Open Space Technology is a process that enables people, in any kind of organization, to create inspired meetings and events. Over the last 20 years it is clear that Open Space, as an intentional leadership practice, can create inspired organizations where ordinary people work together to create extraordinary results. 
We never know exactly what will happen when we open the space for people to do their most important work, but we can guarantee these results when any group gets into Open Space:
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