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Open space

Open Space Technology is designed to unlock the full creative and problem-solving potential of a group - especially when facing complex, shared challenges. 
What Is Made Possible
  • Self-organization at scale: Open Space allows large groups (even hundreds or thousands of people) to co-create their own agenda and organize around the issues they care most about.
  • Ownership and initiative: Because participants choose what to work on and how to contribute, they quickly take responsibility for solving problems and driving action.
  • Creativity and leadership: By removing top-down control and letting participants follow their passion, Open Space taps into the group’s natural leadership and innovation capacity.
  • Commitment and follow-through: When people are free to engage where they have energy and interest, the result is stronger commitment and more sustainable outcomes.
  • Agility in complexity: It’s especially effective when the challenge is complex, the solution is unknown, and broad engagement is essential.

  • Time needed

    90 minutes

  • Preparation

    1. Miro Board (online) or paper (F2F)
    2. Prepare smaller separate sessions based on participants voting (separate Teams rooms)

  • How to start

    1. Invite participants to co-construct the agenda by posting sessions that they will convene on topics they are passionate about
    2. Invite participants to join any session that they care about
    3. The “Law of Two Feet” governs the participation of all attendees in the various sessions. It says: “Go and attend whichever session you want, but if you find yourself in a session where you are not learning or contributing, use your two feet!”

  • Step-by-step and timing

    1. Short form:
      • Explain concept and the Law of Two Feet (5 min)
      • Participants propose topics plus a time and place for groups to meet (15 min)
      • On separate sessions: groups develop recommendations and action plans. All notes are posted publicly (2rounds x 30 min or 1 round x 60 min)
      • Debrief, distribute and close (10 min)
    2. Long form:
      • Explain concept and the Law of Two Feet (20-45 min)
      • Participants propose topics plus a time and place for groups to meet (20-30 min)
      • On separate sessions: groups develop recommendations and action plans. All notes are posted publicly (several rounds x 60-90 min sessions)
      • Debrief, distribute and close (60 min)

  • Hints

    1. To get started, please read Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide by the founder of Open Space, Harrison Owen
    2. A compelling challenge and attractive invitation are key requirements.
    3. Write up the entire proceedings in a single document, completed and distributed/shared immediately during the meeting.

  • Examples of use

    1. Immediately after a team merger to bring all people together and shape next steps
    2. Work on organizational level and generate ideas or innovations

  • Link with other Liberating Structures

    Link with:

    25/10 Crowd Sourcing

    Appreciative interviews

    Celebrity Interview

    TRIZ

  • Link to Liberating Structures page

    Open space

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