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From RECL 3P25 Fall 2011 - Group 07 - Open Space Technology
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| - | + | There are many benefits to open space technology. Each individual has the ability to follow their own agenda. There are no set instructions or directions, no two people are required to do the same tasks. Everyone has the power of choice, they can choose to join in with people who have similar interests. In our interview with Michael Herman he stated that open space technology works because people have the power to alter their own experiences, learning, contributions and their own boredom.<ref>(Personal Communications,Interview Michael Herman, 2011)</ref> No one is passivly participating. Individuals can join in conversations that interest them rather than passively listening to a speaker. As a result of active participation, all partcipants have a say throughout the entire process. Their is a fun atmosphere that is conductive to learning, because of equal partcipation. All individuals feel a sense of genuine community. This results because every individual attending the meeting wants to be their, which leads to a positive environment. | |
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Revision as of 14:12, 23 November 2011
Open Space Technology
Contents |
Description of the Technique
Defined: Open Space Technology was created by Harrison Owen, an Anglican Priest in the early 1980s when he was organizing an international symposium. Harrison Owen discovered the most significant learning happened during coffee breaks...the open spaces in the agenda. Open Space Technology is about creating a space where individuals who feel strongly about an issue can raise it amongst similarly interested people who want to be there and to listen and contribute.
Four Principles:
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
The Law of Two Feet In
“there is a time to talk and a time to walk” Essentially this law reinforces the fact that participation in open space technology is completely voluntary.Convenors cannot force participants to participate in the discussions that will take place during the meetings.
Benefits of Open Space Technology
There are many benefits to open space technology. Each individual has the ability to follow their own agenda. There are no set instructions or directions, no two people are required to do the same tasks. Everyone has the power of choice, they can choose to join in with people who have similar interests. In our interview with Michael Herman he stated that open space technology works because people have the power to alter their own experiences, learning, contributions and their own boredom.[2] No one is passivly participating. Individuals can join in conversations that interest them rather than passively listening to a speaker. As a result of active participation, all partcipants have a say throughout the entire process. Their is a fun atmosphere that is conductive to learning, because of equal partcipation. All individuals feel a sense of genuine community. This results because every individual attending the meeting wants to be their, which leads to a positive environment.
Role of the Convenor
The role of the convenor is very important this individual must know when to intervene and when to step back and observe. Firstly they must organize the day (this ususally takes place before the meeting). Once everything is orgranized and planned they will brainstorm and create the question for discussion (this is also completed prior to the meeting).They then act as the facilitator, they bring the group together and focus all partcipants so the discussion can run smoothly. The convenor provides an explanation and introduces to the process, and how the meeting should run. Once the meeting has started and everyone is up and moving, the convenor will step to the background and observes. The ability to step back is one only a true leader can do. Lastly, the convenor will bring everyone back together and re-focus the group. Provide debreifing points, answer any questions, and create a final report.
Applications
Open Space Technology is best used for:
- Business issue
- Strategic direction setting
- Envisioning the future
- Identifying the issues and opportunities to realize the desired future
- Conflict resolution
- Morale building
- Organizational transformation to a high performing and high learning organization
Open Space Technology is best meeting format when:
Any organizational situation in which there is:
- A real issue of concern
- Diversity of players
- Complexity of elements
- Presence of passion (conflict is an element of passion)
- Decision time is now
Methodology of Open Space
- The meeting starts in a circle, the theme is stated and a question is posed
- Something people feel strongly about and want to do something about
- Participants generate issues
- Announce your topic and post it in one of the available time slots on the wall
- Any clashes are sorted out by participants themselves
- Note taking is essential because the sharing of the learning is critical
- The notes are posted on the Bulletin Board for all to read and add comments
Open Space Report
- Identify the steps toward vision
- List available resources
- Identify follow up persons
- Commit to next meeting
Examples 1.title 2.title 3.It can be used in a Residence Setting to discover issues that residence students feel strongly about.
Procedure
Step 1. The meeting starts in a circle, the theme is stated and a question is posed:
Theme: Recreation and Leisure at Brock University.
Question: Why did you choose to take Recreation and Leisure at Brock University?
Step 2. Something people feel strongly about & want to do something about.
•We assumed that the participants of our practice sessions would feel strongly about Recreation and Leisure at Brock University and would want to help promote the program to others.
Step 3. Participants generate issues.
•Participants would state why they chose to take Recreation and Leisure at Brock University
Step 4. Announce your topic and post it in one of the available time slots on the wall.
•Participants announce why they chose to take Recreation and Leisure at Brock University and post it on the white board
Step 5. Any clashes are sorted out by participants themselves.
•Participants would be invited to walk around the room and discuss the areas of interest with other participants
Step 6.Note taking is essential because the sharing of the learning is critical.
Step 7.The notes are posted on the Bulletin Board for all to read and add comments.
Implementation Strategies Learned From Workshop
- To give clear instructions
- Know when to observe and when to lead
- Find participants that are enthusiastic and passionate about the topic
- Go with the flow, whatever happens happens
- It can be catered to many needs and topics
- Meetings can take place anywhere and at anytime
- All participants can equally partcipate
Technique Strengths
“Open space technology is fast, economical and effective, but it is more than just a mega-monster-meeting-manager.”[6] With this practice, effectiveness and strengths of the technique are fostered by the following:
- Energetic performance
- Advance learning
- Authentic community
- Suitable structure
“It has now been used around the world with all types of organizations including corporations, community groups, government agencies, schools, and churches.”[7] These strengths are useful in the manner that it offers approaches to not address the same problem that is happening during the meetings, so it negates all poor conversations and offers to the point learning and no reoccurring themes in a meeting portion within a group of individuals. “Over facilitation is minimal to nonexistent, and preplanning, so far as the agenda is concerned, never happens.”[8]
Ideas that help this occur are as follows:
- Growth from within
- Shared leadership
- High efficiency
- High productivity
- Playful involvement
The elimination of barriers and doing a job promptly with quality and satisfaction will aid in the process of making this technique effective. You can take away many outcomes from the practice sessions that occurred throughout this workshop. Most importantly knowing that you can always have a meeting with any set number of individuals anywhere, at any time and about any given topic. This technique when used in a circle, can better impact the results of a meeting that you are trying to have. “The starting point may be better meetings, but the endpoint is richer ways of being together in that wonderful thing we call organization.”[9]
Technique Limitations
While open-space technology has many uses,there are some instances where this is not a suitable option. This technique is not recommended for people who are not comfortable with running meetings. Harrison Owen author of Open Space Technology states, “in the wrong situation, OST may create more problems than it solves” [10] He also shows, in a later work, that if people do not truly care about the issue, than they will put in a lacklustre effort into the planning process [11] Harrison Owen is the expert on this topic, so going back into another issue of his is that “when well done, an OST conference produces long proceedings (100-200 pages) of conferees‘ findings. In my experience, lengthy proceedings are less likely to be useful or used then a skinny set of clear recommendations”[12] Owen also believes that certain aspects can be beneficial in various meeting settings, but for the reasons mentioned above may not be perfect as a whole style for various groups.
Successful Implementation
- Open space works because it is based on true assumptions
- It acknowledges realities like “people are responsible for their own experience,their own learning and contribution, or their own boredom and suffering if that’s what they choose for themselves.”
- It acknowledges that everything is moving, everything is connected, and everyone matters and adds something to the mix.
External Links
http://www.openspaceworld.org/news/join-us/
http://www.openspaceworld.org/cgi/wiki.cgi?AboutOpenSpace
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-space_technology#Law_of_two_feet
http://www.michaelherman.com/cgi/wiki.cgi?OpenSpaceTechnology
http://www.chriscorrigan.com/openspace/
Authors
- Stephanie Pavao
- Brain Dunford
- Samantha Bruce
- Sarah Wollcott
- Graham Anderson
- Phillip Jedrzejczak
Notes and References
- ↑ Varghese, S. (2010). Open Space Technology. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: https://niagara.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
- ↑ (Personal Communications,Interview Michael Herman, 2011)
- ↑ http://www.openspaceworld.org/tmnfiles/choosingopenspace(Bolton).com
- ↑ http://www.openspaceworld.org/tmnfiles/choosingopenspace(Bolton).com
- ↑ Varghese, S. (2010). Open Space Technology. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: https://niagara.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
- ↑ Harrison, O. (1997). Expanding our now: The story of open space technology. (1 ed., pp. 1-2). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler-Publishers. Inc.
- ↑ Harrison, O. (1997). Expanding our now: The story of open space technology. (1 ed., pp. 1-2). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler-Publishers. Inc.
- ↑ Harrison, O. (1997). Expanding our now: The story of open space technology. (1 ed., pp. 1-2). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler-Publishers. Inc.
- ↑ Harrison, O. (1997). Expanding our now: The story of open space technology. (1 ed., pp. 1-2). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler-Publishers. Inc.
- ↑ Quality improvement...Cross-work puzzle solved...Engineers getting MBAs...Exploring open-space technology...Mission statements: pious platitudes. (1995).Journal of Management in Engineering, 11(6),
- ↑ Owen, H. (2008). Open space technology: A user's guide. (p. 47). Barret-Kohler Publishers. Retrieved from http://books.google.ca/books?id=UMLjSm6hcZUC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=open space technology negatives&source=bl&ots=dJC0QdvSij&sig=zkL540z_-Zgyya5GXaQQO28eDv4&hl=en&ei=ddjKTt__C- L00gHewpUE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAQ
- ↑ Quality improvement...Cross-work puzzle solved...Engineers getting MBAs...Exploring open-space technology...Mission statements: pious platitudes. (1995).Journal of Management in Engineering, 11(6),
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