Open Space Technology

In Open Space, groups self-organize to create their own agendas and activities. Shared leadership and diversity are celebrated, as each and every person within the group has a meaningful role and responsibility.

Open Space Technology typically begins by the group sitting together in a circle. Their time together (be it three hours or one week) is divided up into discrete time periods (usually 1½ hours each). Each person in the group is asked to identify the issues they most want to discuss. When someone proposes an idea, s/he is agreeing to host the discussion — not to answer the question or give the solution, but simply to help facilitate a conversation about that topic. The topic, its time slot, and the location for the discussion, are all posted on a large chart visible to the entire group. (The number of topics per time slot varies, depending on the size of the group and time and space constraints). Each small group will report on its discussion to the whole group at the end of the meeting.

Once all the topics are posted, the different members of the group move around and join discussions according to the Law of Two Feet and the Four Principles. The Law of Two Feet asks each person to use their two feet to go to the spaces where they can learn and make constructive contributions. If they feel unable to contribute or learn in a given space, they may move flexibly and freely to another one. The Four Principles, which guide Open Space Technology are:

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 system encourages dialogue, listening and questioning. It draws upon self-motivation and mutual respect to think through ideas and generate actions. Since each person takes responsibility for the outcome of the gathering, gone are the anger, guilt and finger-pointing that often plague group meetings. They are replaced by passionate learning through personal and collective sharing. In this way, Open Space Technology complements Imagine Chicago’s belief that citizens can catalyze and create their own spaces for civic dialogue and action.