Open Space Technology
Open Space Technology (OST) is a self-organising large-group facilitation method developed by Harrison Owen in the 1980s after he observed that the most valuable conversations at conferences happened during coffee breaks — not in the formal sessions. His insight: when people care about something and take responsibility for it, they will self-organise into extraordinarily productive conversations without needing a pre-set agenda or expert facilitators managing the process. OST works by inviting a group of any size — from a dozen to several thousand — to gather around a single compelling theme or challenge. There is no pre-determined agenda. Instead, participants themselves propose and host the sessions they care about most. The agenda is created in real time on a shared 'marketplace' board at the start of the event, and participants vote with their feet by attending whichever sessions interest them. Four principles and one law govern the process. The four principles are: (1) Whoever comes is the right people — size doesn't matter; a conversation between two deeply committed people has more value than a panel of fifty uninvested ones. (2) Whatever happens is the only thing that could have — release expectations and engage with what is actually present. (3) Whenever it starts is the right time — creativity and insight do not run on a schedule. (4) When it's over, it's over — when a conversation reaches its natural conclusion, move on rather than fill time. The one law is the Law of Two Feet: if you are not learning or contributing, use your two feet to go somewhere where you can. OST is particularly powerful for complex, multi-stakeholder challenges where the right questions are not yet fully known, where diverse perspectives need to surface, and where commitment and ownership are as important as the ideas themselves. It has been used for organisational transformation, post-merger integration, community engagement, open-source software development, and large-scale change programmes. The role of the facilitator in Open Space is radically different from other methods: they hold the container, explain the principles and the law, and get out of the way. Control is consciously surrendered to the collective intelligence of the group.
Come eseguirlo
- 1
Design the invitation: craft a clear, compelling theme or question that is genuinely important, has no single known answer, and will attract the right mix of people. The invitation should communicate urgency and possibility — not just logistics.
- 2
Set up the space: arrange chairs in a large circle or concentric circles for the opening. Designate a 'marketplace' wall or bulletin board for the agenda. Set up breakout areas — these can be corners of the main room, corridors, outdoor spaces, or adjacent rooms. Post time-slot columns and location rows on the marketplace board.
- 3
Open the circle: welcome participants and explain the four principles and the Law of Two Feet without apology. Invite participants to propose sessions: anyone who wants to host a conversation writes a topic on a card, announces it to the group, and posts it on the marketplace at a time and place. Allow 20–40 minutes for agenda creation in larger groups.
- 4
Hold the marketplace: participants review the agenda, note which sessions they want to attend, and begin. Encourage bumblebees (people who drift between sessions cross-pollinating ideas) and butterflies (people who sit quietly — their presence and reflection are valid contributions).
- 5
Run the breakout sessions: the host opens with their topic and hands the conversation to the group. A note-taker (often a volunteer from the group) captures key points, decisions, and questions on a documentation sheet.
- 6
Collect documentation: gather all session notes during or immediately after the event. Compile and distribute them — this living document is the primary output of Open Space.
- 7
Close the circle: reconvene the full group. Allow time for open reflection, convergence on key themes, and identification of commitments or next steps. A final check-out round anchors the collective experience.
Suggerimenti
Open Space works best when the challenge is genuinely complex and the answer is not already known — if leadership already has a predetermined outcome, OST will feel manipulative.
Participants should attend voluntarily, not be mandated.
The facilitator's hardest task is trusting the process and resisting the urge to intervene.
Invest in the invitation — who you invite and how you frame the theme determines the quality of the whole event.
Collect session notes digitally if possible so they can be shared immediately after the event.
Variazioni
Virtual Open Space: run entirely online using digital whiteboards (Miro, MURAL) for the marketplace and video breakout rooms for sessions — works surprisingly well if participants have stable internet. Hybrid Open Space: mix in-person and remote participants, though this requires careful facilitation of the breakout logistics. Mini Open Space: a 2-hour version with 3–4 breakout slots, suitable for team away-days or department retrospectives. Barcamp/Unconference: a variant common in the tech world, typically one-day, with a stronger programme structure but the same self-organised agenda-setting principles. Open Space can be adapted to virtual environments using digital tools for agenda setting and breakout discussions. It can also be scaled down for smaller groups by reducing the number of breakout sessions.
Casi d'uso
Metodi correlati
Approfondimenti
Domande frequenti
Quando usare Open Space Technology?▾
Usa Open Space Technology quando vuoi: Organisational transformation and culture change programmes; Post-merger integration — surfacing concerns and aligning diverse teams; Strategic planning with large, distributed stakeholder groups; Community engagement and participatory decision-making; Annual conferences where participant-generated content is valued over keynotes; Innovation festivals and internal hackathon-style events; Opening a multi-day off-site to set priorities collaboratively; Organizing a conference where participants determine the agenda.; Hosting a community meeting to address local issues with diverse input.; Facilitating a corporate retreat focusing on strategic planning..
Quanto dura Open Space Technology?▾
Open Space Technology dura tipicamente 120 minuti.
Per quanti partecipanti è adatto Open Space Technology?▾
Open Space Technology funziona meglio per gruppi di 10 o più persone.
Di quali materiali ho bisogno per Open Space Technology?▾
Per condurre Open Space Technology avrai bisogno di: large open room with movable chairs, bulletin board or wall for the marketplace agenda, index cards or A4 paper for topic proposals, markers, flip charts or easels for breakout sessions, breakout spaces (corridors, side rooms, outdoor areas), documentation sheets for each session, microphone (for large groups).
Quanto è difficile facilitare Open Space Technology?▾
Open Space Technology è classificato come intermedio — è utile avere un po' di esperienza di facilitazione.
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Prova gratisMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Harrison Owen.