Open Space

OpenSpace is a simple technique for creating a self-organizing conference! It is the grandmother of today's BarCamps and "unconferences." Created twenty years ago in a two-martini brainstorming session by Harrison Owen, it runs on Owen's ''four principles and one law," which been used by thousands of people around the globe since then:

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’s over it’s over

• The LawOfTwoFeet : "If at any time you find that you are neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet and move to some place more to your liking." Such a place might be another group, the coffee machine, or even outside in the fresh air. No matter what, don't sit there feeling miserable. It's your conference, and you're in charge of it.

Does this sound strange? In OpenSpace there are no leaders, no followers, definitely no talking-heads - only participants. Come prepared to create the event you need - starting with collaboratively building our agenda on the first day, full of topics we have passion for.

Don't worry how this will work - just show up with your passion and PrepareToBeSurprised !



You may ask: "How can I convince my boss to send me to a three-day event without an agenda?!"
GOOD QUESTION! You can help us answer it here:

• OpenSpace is a recognized as way to share knowledge quickly - the latest information, fresh from the community of practice. No need to wait for that knowledge to make it into a book, two years later!
• OpenSpace has been used for two decades by governments, businesses and non-profits. Its use is on the rise in the form of the un-conference movement. WhereHasOSBeenUsed ?
• OpenSpace allows beginners to learn from experienced practitioners, and allows experienced practitioners to solidify what they know through teaching and getting feedback from peers (articleOpenSpace benefits both Beginners and Experts)

An OpenSpace event requires people to fill three important roles:

1. A sponsor - who has the pulse of their group and sets a theme people can get passionate about, who cares enough to puts in place the structure needed, then makes an invitation and steps back to let things happen. For the first AgileCoachCamp2008 this is NareshJain and DeborahHartmann , but we hope that others will take it on next year,or sooner!<br><br>
2. An OpenSpace facilitator - who helps the sponsor craft the theme and an invitation to bring in "the right people", and guides the use of OpenSpace, "holding space" for participant self-organization. The facilitator for May 2008 will be determined soon.<br><br>
3. Passionate and responsible participants - who self-select into the event and bring their passion and responsibility to co-create the event, one discussion at a time. That would be you and your friends!

Running a discussion in OpenSpace can take many forms. The important common element is leaving the "space" for people to participate (i.e. no monologues in OpenSpace!). Examples of past sessions:

• Write your topic on the flipchart, and ask if anyone who's showed up wants to facilitate the conversation (or do it yourself). Then start a discussion, see what happens. Take notes, or ask someone else take notes, or take turns!
• use a fishbowl to run a session. It keeps the conversation intimate, but lets everyone talk in turn, if a large group shows up.

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Links:

• OpenSpace in words and pictures on the Qcon site
• a description of how I run an OpenSpace event, on my blog (Deb)
• the book by Harrison Owen: Open Space Technology: A User's Guide
• the philosophy behind "holding space" for a conference to self-organize
• An example: newspaper article and photos from RoCoCoCamp 2007 in Montreal - an exciting event for Wiki users, creators and administrators.

More: Open Space Patterns

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