Open Space is a fun way to make sure that an event will matter to you.

The Open Space format has been used more than 60,000 times in at least 124 countries, involving millions of attendees over the past 20 years, so it obviously “just works”.

It's all about change, and the change that leads to the creation or evolution of whole systems. Pretty deep stuff!

Emergence is order arising out of chaos. A more nuanced explanation is higher-order complexity arising out of chaos in which novel, coherent structures coalesce through interactions among the diverse entities of a system.

Emergence occurs when these interactions disrupt, causing the system to differentiate and ultimately coalesce into something novel.

Emergent order appears in Open Space when the conditions for self organization are met.

Complexity, Self-Organization, complex adaptive systems

I have a growing, perhaps nagging, suspicion that there is no such thing as a non-self-organizing system, at least in the natural world, which would include us. Should this be true, then much of what we are currently doing under the heading of "getting organized" is rather a waste of time, and the potential implications are fairly mind-boggling. Regardless of the accuracy of my nagging suspicion, I feel quite confident that the phenomenon of self-organization lies at the heart of Open Space. -Harrison Owen

Influenced by Stuart Kaufman

Open Space Technology has been defined as:

1. A simple, powerful way to catalyze effective working conversations and truly inviting organizations -- to thrive in times of swirling change.
2. A methodological tool that enables self-organizing groups of all sizes to deal with hugely complex issues in a very short period of time.
3. a powerful group process that supports positive transformation in organizations, increases productivity, inspires creative solutions, improves communication and enhances collaboration.
4. The most effective process for organizations and communities to identify critical issues, voice to their passions and concerns, learn from each other, and, when appropriate, take collective responsibility for finding solutions.

The goal of an Open Space Technology meeting is to create time and space for people to engage deeply and creatively around issues of concern to them. The agenda is set by people with the power and desire to see it through, and typically, Open Space meetings result in transformative experiences for the individuals and groups involved.

Why does Open Space work?

The Principles and The Law appear to function more descriptively than prescriptively. In other words, and as strange as it may sound, both the principles and the law simply acknowledge what people are going to do anyhow.

If there is any substantive contribution derived from either principles or law, it is merely to eliminate all the guilt. After all, people are going to exercise the law of two feet, mentally if not physically, but now they do not have to feel badly about it.

By the same token, meetings will start when they start, regardless of what the clock says - so why feel badly about it. Just get on with the business. Truthfully, the elimination of major pieces of guilt and blame can go a long way towards the enhancement of group function. But not far enough to explain the quantum jumps in productivity typically experienced in Open Space. Something else is going on.

That "something else" is self-organization.

I have a growing, perhaps nagging, suspicion that there is no such thing as a non-self-organizing system, at least in the natural world, which would include us.

Should this be true, then much of what we are currently doing under the heading of "getting organized" is rather a waste of time, and the potential implications are fairly mind-boggling. Regardless of the accuracy of my nagging suspicion, I feel quite confident that the phenomenon of self-organization lies at the heart of Open Space.

-Harrison Owen

Harrison Owen, a then conference organizer, asked himself a question after receiving feedback from the less than stellar conference:

How can we create an approach as no-fail as the natural power of a good coffee break?

Thought bubble:

In the 1960's, as a Photo Journalist in a small W. African village in the interior of Liberia...hold on. Check this out (go to Prezi)

What are the appropriate conditions for using Open Space?

1. There is a real business issue
2. A great deal of complexity
3. Lots of diversity of thought, people, points of view
4. Real passion (people care) and also conflict (potential or actual)
5. A decision time of yesterday (genuine urgency)


Given these conditions, Open space is not only appropriate, but always seems to work.

In short:

An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. In other words: you decide what topics you want to talk about, and work on, with whom – instead of hoping a “speaker” will address that topic at least briefly.

Open Space (“Open Space Technology”, OST) is a specific form of an unconference that starts with an empty schedule. No times are set, no rooms are allocated, no topics are mandated, no separations made between “speakers” and “audience”. All participants work out a schedule by suggesting, planning, holding and evaluating sessions, collaboratively.

Since everything is created collaboratively by the participants, obviously it matters which people feel invited, and how to “call” them together. You can find the “call” for AgileCrete here.

The Four Principles and One Law guide behavior in Open space.

The principles are:
1)Whoever comes is the right people, which reminds people in the small groups that getting something done is not a matter of having 100,000 people and the chairman of the board. The fundamental requirement is people who care to do something. And by showing up, that essential care is demonstrated.
2) Whatever happens is the only thing that could have, keeps people focused on the here and now, and eliminates all of the could-have-beens, should-have-beens or might-have-beens. What is is the only thing there is at the moment.
3)Whenever it starts is the right time alerts people to the fact that inspired performance and genuine creativity rarely, if ever, pay attention to the clock. They happen (or not) when they happen.
4) Lastly When it’s over it’s over. In a word, don’t waste time. Do what you have to do, and when its done, move on to something more useful.

"If at any time you find yourself in a situation where you are not contributing or learning, move somewhere where you can."

One of the most profound impacts of the law is to make it exquisitely clear precisely who is responsible for the quality of a participant’s learning. If any situation is not learning rich, it is incumbent upon the individual participant to make it so. There is no point in blaming the conference committee, for none exists. Responsibility resides with the individual.

That "something else" is, I believe, self-organization. r.

I have a growing, perhaps nagging, suspicion that there is no such thing as a non-self-organizing system, at least in the natural world, which would include us. Should this be true, then much of what we are currently doing under the heading of "getting organized" is rather a waste of time, and the potential implications are fairly mind-boggling. Regardless of the accuracy of my nagging suspicion, I feel quite confident that the phenomenon of self-organization lies at the heart of Open Space. - Harrison Owen