What is meant by it?
Open Space Technology is a liberating Structure that can help people in solving a complex problem that is common among people. It will help you be creative and polish your leadership skills and how you organize yourself. Everyone will be able to put forward constructive agendas and address issues that hold significance in their life.
How is it done?
Open Space Technology can be carried out by inviting people to solve a complex conflict by forming an agenda during posting sessions on the topics that they feel like they can talk. Microphones and chairs will be needed in an open space or a large room. Flip charts, agendas and tapestry papers should be given to the participants. The ‘Law of Two Feet’ will be governing how the participants will be contributing. Firstly, the leader will let the participants know what open space is all about along with the Law of Two Feet and the four principles. Then, the participants will propose a time and place where they all should meet along with the topic of their discussion. Then, the sessions start taking place, and in the end, everyone will be debriefed.
What is its purpose?
Open Space Technology is a liberating structure that can be used to address different conflicts and try to solve them by working together. It also helps in raising the issues which the participants think are essential so that they can be resolved too. This organizational structure will help in making the participants take responsibility to tackle any problems.
What are its Tips and Traps?
All the participants should be given a challenge so that they can write down the proceedings with the help of which they can solve the problem. They should be familiarized with the Law of Two Feet, mechanics of open space and Four Principles. You should also note down when you form an idea or judgment.
Examples – Where can it be used?
Open Space Technology is an agile way to get a lot of work done, and it can be used in the following circumstances:
- During management meetings.
- After a merger to bring together all the employees of the two companies.
- When sharing IT innovative prototypes.
— Slimane Zouggari