Overview 

I could probably write 1000 pages about what Open Space is . . . The bottom line is that it began as a meeting process that begins without a set agenda.  The first portion of the meeting is a time for the group to identify each person's passions regarding the topic  . . . the whole thing runs on the passion bounded by the responsibility of the group . .  . whether used in a corporate setting or personal life . . . the result is one that brings out the spirit and soul of the group. 
 
The Four Principles of Open Space 

1.Whoever comes is 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 

If at any time you are in a place where you feel you are neither contributing nor learning, you alone have the responsibility to remove yourself from that place and find a place where you CAN contribute and learn. 

 
Quick and Dirty Description 

Open Space Technology (OST) is a process that was "discovered" by my father, Harrsion Owen, in 1985.  It is best used by an organization facing a very complex issue, with a vast diversity of people (EVERYONE from the CEO to the janitor), with much potential for conflict (every person has true passion for the topic), and with a very short time fuse (need quick resolution).  Organizational Transformation consultants identify the need for Open Space (usually when a company is facing 
tremendous transformation of some sort) . . . and propose an Open Space event. 

The event is VERY simple to organize . . . All you gotta do is invite the people (informing them of the topic) by saying that if they have TRUE PASSION for this topic to show up . . . else, no agenda is discussed . . . no speakers or organizational meetings.  When the participants show up, the space for the meeting is set up with sufficient chairs in a circle with a pile of magic-markers and butcher block paper in the center . . . the walls have some strange posters.  When the group stops "buzzing," the facilitator "bounds the circle" . . . that is, Opens the Space for the group by taking about 20 minutes to comment first on why they came (the Topic) and then on the Four Principles and the one law of mobility (see above box).  The facilitator then invites the folks to come to the center of the circle and propose "sessions" related to the main topic.   Within 30 minutes, most groups have MORE than enough topics posted to "fill" the time allotted for the event . . . that is when "the Market-Place" opens during which time the group, "negotiates" times and places for sessions that may conflict with each other.  From that point forward, the group has become empowered and usually "runs" itself for the remainder of the event.  The 
only group meetings are each morning and evening at the main circle. 

 -- Barry 

by Birgitt Bolton 

The Story of the emergence of Open Space Technology has been told and is recorded in a number of books and journals. What is less well documented to the present is what I consider even more exciting---the story of the Open Space Organization. There is an emerging field of knowledge, experience, and development about the Open Space Organization. 

With  the story of Open Space Technology, Harrison Owen did not sit down one day and devise the technology. It emerged and developed, involving numbers of people and experiences. Likewise, with the story of the Open Space Organization, no one, not even Harrison, sat down one day and decided to “plan and develop” the Open Space Organization. It just emerged and in fact is not commonly (yet) called the Open Space Organization. The choice of the name is mine, to differentiate it from being called a “learning organization” which is also true in practice, and to differentiate it from being called a “millennium organization” in my assumption that within the  next year or so there will be numerous authors with books of the title “millennium organization” purporting that they have the answer. 

In the Open Space Organization, we do not “have the answer”. We only know what we are witnessing, what we are experiencing, and what appears to be emerging. For sure, there are different  interpretations of what this is, and so it should be if we are staying true to the principles of Open Space. The Open Space Organization is one that lives within and practices the four principles and one law of Open Space Technology on an ongoing organizational basis, of course bounded by passion, responsibility, and “the givens”. We are experiencing high learning, high creativity, high achievement, and high productivity. We are also experiencing organizations that can withstand a great deal of change and chaos. There is much more to be learned, much more to be tried, and much more to be documented.  Please join us in this exciting exploration. When you do, we would appreciate receiving your stories, to build add to our knowledge, and to continue this learning journey together. 

The initial postings to this page cover some of the early work with the Open Space Organization. The initial postings are as follows: 

1. An article written by Michelle Cooper and myself that highlights critical points from Harrison Owen’s 1994 book Millennium Organization. The article “Journeying to the Millennium Organization” as well as pulling up what we believed were the critical points in moving towards a better and more productive way of being in organization, highlights the role of the manager in the new organization. We strongly recommend reading Millennium Organization to capture the essence and theory of Harrison’s thinking at the time. 

2. Some of the earliest awareness of what was possible is recorded in a chapter that I wrote that was published by Harrison in Tales From Open Space, 1995. The chapter is entitled Open Space in a Social Service Setting (Keeping the Spirit Alive) . 

3. An article written by Larry Peterson and myself positioning our thoughts and ideas about the ongoing Open Space Organization is entitled “Managing the Organization in Ongoing Open Space”, 1996 

4. An article written by Harrison Owen early in 1998 outlining his current direction of theory, experience and passion “Opening Space for Emerging Order” 

Please join us with your contributions. There is much work being done on this that we are aware of, and probably much, much more that is happening out there that should be shared. Harrison Owen and Anne Stadler are sure to be sharing their growing knowledge and excitement about “self-managing systems” and “emergence”. Larry Peterson’s work is being influenced not only by chaos theory but also by synchronicity and winning teams. For my own self, for some reason, I am on one of those absolutely earthy practical jaunts that has the Open Space Organization grounded in archetypes and sacred geometry. Each of us is excited about the development, the creativity, and the possibilities of co-creativity. After all, it is Open Space. 

Click on the title to see the story . . . click on the author's name to email the author . . . Happy reading :-)