OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY (OST)

This collaborative workshop approach, developed by Harrison Own, can bring together small groups or groups up to 1000 to reach decisions, develop strategies, make plans, or generate idea quite rapidly with the support of one to two facilitators.

It creates an effective environment to foster innovation, problem solving, creativity, teamwork, and rapid change in way that leverages the existing potential in the workforce with inspiring growth in organizational performance. It enables participants to engage theirs and others passion around an issue.
Open Space:

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is a proven mechanism to help organizations develop quickly;

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makes use of the valuable knowledge and creativity your employees have;

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produces effective solutions to problems in double-time;

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opens space in the organization for real inspiration and innovation to occur;

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provides a completely interactive medium, where natural leadership surfaces;

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is quick to organize.

When to use Open Space?

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When transforming an organization into a high performance, collaborative organization.

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When seeking to rekindle the fire or re-discover spirit.

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Decision Time is Now!

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Develop strategic planning.

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When the input and knowledge of many people are desired.

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Creative planning needs to be done quickly.

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Communication needs to improve.

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To deal with a wide variety of issues at once.

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To explore Future Opportunities.

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To help a young organization develop its vision and structure quickly.

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When there is diversity of individual interests in a group.

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To facilitate a merger.

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When input from internal and external stakeholders are desired.

Meeting length: 1-2
1-day meetings: raise issues/opportunities
make commitment possible
2 or 3 day meetings: will go deeper into the issues and opportunities identify priorities and develop these steps into strategies and actions.

The Four Basic Principals:

1.

Whoever comes are the right people.

2.

Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.

3.

Whenever it starts is the right time.

4.

When it is over, it is over.

Finally the Law of Mobility governs the meeting, stating that if people find themselves in situation where they are neither learning anything nor contributing anything, they are responsible for moving to another place.

Paraphrased from trainings and works done by
Harrison Owen.