Open Space offers universal solutions

What is your definition of Open Space? The term conjures up images of undeveloped land reserved for use today and into the future.

Open Space is special because it has been designated as a way to preserve unique features of nature and create a boundary between development and the natural world. We like to hike, picnic, and recreate in Open Space. It is a special place.

Let me introduce another way to think about Open Space.

If you could find a universal solution to improve performance, customer service, collaboration, project management, systems thinking, and more, would you be interested? What if you could bring together a large group of people (10 to 2,000) who are enabled to deal with massive, conflicted and complex issues in a respectful and productive fashion in a short period of time, would you want to learn more?

The methodology that allows you to do this is called Open Space Technology. Its originator, Harrison H. Owen, is a visionary who applies the methodology all over the world in such complex areas as health care, education, the Haiti Community Enterprise, government, South African apartheid, and the Girl Scouts. The key to Open Space Technology is the concept of self-organization. The outcome of OST is improved performance with the intent of achieving sustained high performance.

What does it mean to self-organize? Unlike the traditional organizational structure, self-organization is just that – individuals come together around a common concern and create a solution with minimal intervention from outside the group. When OST is facilitated, most of the work is done by the participants. They create the agenda, define the workshop sessions, provide the content for the sessions, and negotiate with each other to determine what sessions will be combined, eliminated, and expanded. The entire group comes together periodically to share learning and observations. From this group collaboration, the agenda, workshops and content may change.

OST is an experimental undertaking. The outcome is not known at the outset. The hypothesis may actually change after the session is complete. This is the good news. We are all seeking creative and innovative solutions. Innovation emerges when there is limited control, and the process of discovery is unfettered.

Four principles, one law

There are four principles and one law that govern Open Space. The four principles are simple:

• Whoever comes are the right people;
• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have;
• Whenever it starts is the right time; and
• When it is over it is over.

The Law of Two Feet frees everyone to change sessions if they are not learning or contributing. If a particular session does not work for you, walk out and find a session where you can engage.

Self-organization is a real solution to create the lasting, durable changes that are needed in today’s teams and organizations. It facilitates a level of participation that is often impractical – all of the people who have a passion for solving the issue. The people who volunteer to conduct sessions and capture ideas become accountable to their peers in a way that no other process can produce. The outcome represents the entire system because everyone is allowed to participate. The facilitator is almost invisible, allowing the participants to take leadership. This method overcomes many of the limits that we experience when using other structured processes.

Will everyone be slightly uncomfortable with the process? Will we have to give up some things in order to make it work? Will it violate our long-held beliefs that we must control hierarchical interactions? Yes, OST challenges many current practices and beliefs. However, authentic leaders know that facing the confusion, chaos and complexity of issues is the path to real solutions. Leaders with the courage to employ Open Space Technology will be rewarded with passionate employees, systemic solutions, and the accountability for successful implementation.

In the last two years this column has focused on a variety of organizational and business challenges, and, hopefully, provided some innovative suggestions. I leave you with what I consider to be a universal solution or methodology for inspiring passion and building responsibility to solve complex problems.

This will be my last “Practicing Innovation” column. My life has taken a dramatic turn and I will be living outside the U.S. for the next two years. I thank you for responding so positively to my ideas. This has been a very rewarding experience.

I dedicate this column to Harrison H. Owen, who inspired me to become a facilitator. I encourage you to explore Harrison’s writing. Owen believed that Open Space should always be in the public domain and it remains open. Check out OST at www.openspaceworld.org and consider how it might help you innovate and build sustainable practices.

Shirley Esterly is a master facilitator and systems thinker who works with clients to build sustainable business practices. She can be reached at [email protected].