PREPARED BY HOMER JAY SIMPSON OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY PREPARED BY HOMER JAY SIMPSON

Definition Open Space Technology is an approach to purpose-driven leadership, including a way for hosting meetings, conflict minded peacebuilding, conferences, corporate-style retreats, symposiums, and community summit events, focused on a specific and important purpose or task — but beginning without any formal agenda, beyond the overall purpose or theme.

“Open Space is the only process that focuses on expanding time and space for the force of self-organisation to do its thing. Although one can't predict specific outcomes, it's always highly productive for whatever issue people want to attend to. Some of the inspiring side effects that are regularly noted are laughter, hard work which feels like play, surprising results and fascinating new questions.” — Michael M Pannwitz, “Meine Open Space Praxis”

Open Space – basic mechanisms Broad, open invitation which articulates the purpose of the meeting; Participants' chairs arranged in a circle; “Bulletin board" of issues and opportunities posted by young participants; “Marketplace” with many break-out spaces that young people move freely between, learning and contributing as they “shop” for information and ideas; “Breathing” / “pulsation” pattern of flow, between plenary and small-group breakout sessions.

Open Space technology works best when these conditions are present Real issue that people care about, that it is something worth talking about. Mind numbing complexity, such that no single person or small group fully understands or can solve the issue. High levels of much diversity, in terms of the skills and people required for a successful resolution. Much passion and real or potential conflict, which implies that people genuinely care about the issue. Real sense of urgency, meaning the time for decisions and action was "yesterday".

Open Space process Opening Circle (agenda co-creation process at the start, without the facilitator helping / synthesizing / suggesting / reducing topics). Facilitator’s explanation of principles and law. Multiple conversations happening around the same big space (without the facilitator helping those groups). Closing Circle (comment and reflection).

Participation roles Bird - young person who will lead his group's work, remain at the table / circle (the "nest") at all times and be in charge of the feedback. Bee - young person who got interested in a particular theme proposed by someone else, and joins him to work on it; the bees won't leave the table until the end of the work, unless anyone is following the "Law of two feet". Butterfly - young person who is not willing to be fixed on a single theme and would rather visit many different groups, collaborating in a more punctual way; butterflies have a very important role in the dynamics, because they represent the space of freedom of the process and perform the task of “cross-fertilization”, helping groups to overcome creative blocks, inspiring them with fresh views or sharing solutions they already saw in another group.

Guiding principles Whoever comes is the right people - reminds participants that they don't need 100 people to get something done, you need people who care. Whenever it starts is the right time - reminds that “spirit and creativity do not run on the clock.” Wherever it is, is the right place - reminds participants that space is opening everywhere all the time. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have - reminds participants that once something has happened, it's done - and no amount of fretting, complaining or otherwise rehashing can change that. When it's over, it's over - reminds participants that we never know how long it will take to resolve an issue, once raised, but that whenever the issue or conversation is finished, move on to the next thing.

Law of two feet If at any time during our time together you find yourself in any situation where you are neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet, go someplace else.