Open Space
What have you found the most valuable at past events (not the eCampaigning Forum)? Was it the speakers? The panel discussions? The breaks/meals where you could talk to other delegates?
For most of us - the coffee breaks and meals are the most useful part of most events. We get to talk to our peers about real issues that face us. Now what if events were organised as a series of these 'tea-breaks' and just cut out most of the speakers all together. What you'd have is an innovative form of gathering called 'Open Space'.
What is Open Space?
Open Space is a well established (20+ year old) methodology for facilitating people to get the most out of coming together. It has been successfully run for only a few people or for thousands. Furthermore, Duane Raymond - the eCampaigning Forum event coordinator has been running events like this for over a decade.
Open Space works best when the other people in the room are peers with something to give as well as get. For the eCampaigning Forum - you are definitely in good company.
To facilate the process, the topics listed at the bottom of the Topics page can each be explored before the event so that the process has already started and you can make the most of your time there.
Recently, some the term unConference has started to be used to describe events based on participation.
Principles
Open Space operates on a few simple principles with which you'll need to be familiar for it to work for you:
- Whoever comes are the right people
- You don't need lots of people; just people who care
- Only one? Maybe use the time to reflect on what you've learnt so far
- Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
- About letting go of expectations: coulds, shoulds; whatever is, is; work with it
- You've got your objectives for the event - find a way to acheive them
- When interesting stuff starts is the only time it could have started
- Creativity does not happen according to a schedule
- When it's over, it's over
- Done in 10 minutes? Great! Move on.
- When its not over, keep going until you're done
- Law of 2 Feet: Move when it is right for you
- Move when you are neither learning nor contributing
- Its up to you to take a stand get your own needs met
- If someone is hogging air-time, vote with your feet
- Bumblebees: Cross-pollinate ideas
- OK to sign up for multiple topcs occuring at the same time; its possible to be in multiple places at once
- Butterflies: look delicate; deceptive impact
- May never participate in a session or they hang out in the cafe
- Sit down and have a quiet, reflective talk with one of them; a chance remark may impact you're thinking and you take it back into the larger group and it affects others
- Irritated by people who never participate in sessions? Know they do serve a useful purpose. You're one of them? Don't need to feel guilty about it – in open space you're valued.
- Be prepared to be surprised
- Never before, never again will this group be together
How Does it Work?
- Sign-up for a topic group on the topic Wiki to indicate your interest
- Meet in the main room but go where you feel comfortable (and post on the topic group signup sheet where you are so others can find you!)
- At the event, introduce yourself and why you are interested in the topic
- Explore the topic as a group; split into subgroups as necessary
- No pre-set agenda for a topic group; not a brainstorm
- Group has responsibility: to convene group, document session
- Group managed it's own time for food, breaks logistics
- Arrange extra time to discuss in small groups if needed
