Open Space Technology

What is Open Space (Technology)?

Open Space is a lightweight way for groups of people (that also includes teams in organizations) to gather for a couple of hours, a day or even multiple days and have truly meaningful conversations and learnings. Usually it is formed around a certain overarching challenge (although in organizations this often is as broad as: sharing knowledge and learning together).

Unlike at traditional pre-planned conferences, at an Open Space event there is no division between those who speak and those who attend. In Open Space anyone can host a session which e.g. can mean: bring a topic, ask a question, pose a challenge, suggest a prepared bit of training, share knowledge, test a talk or workshop elements. So in Open Space everyone is invited to speak and to attend alike. Everyone participates.

This might sound a bit strange and even "too free" for people who have never experienced it. It can even appear frightening to have no plan. Yet the vast majority of folks I've met *after* attending one or more Open Spaces shared that they were surprised by the quality of contents, the depths of connections and the power of collective co-creation.

Many pieces, introductions as well as whole books have been written about Open Space Technology, originally invented by Harrison Owen.

The best introductory piece IMHO still is his very own brief overview, which can be found on OpenSpaceWorld.org.

Why I wrote this piece?

I have a lot of experience with gatherings using Open Space Technology. For example, I facilitated Open Space at so-called unconferences like Agile Coach Camp Germany which is basically a 3 day on-site event using Open Space. I participated in plenty Open Space events e.g. remotely and also on-site e.g. at SoCraTes in Soltau, Germany. Furthermore I did faclitated Open Space (inspired) learning events at different employments in the past.

Open Space is also perfect for learning and cross-department exchange in companies; I know a couple that do it every once in a month e.g.  on a Friday or 3-5 times a year for like two full days.

Recently I was approached with some questions about starting with Open Space from different folks, so I decided that it is time to write this little piece. Please e-mail me any additions you'd like to see or events I should add.

What could be my (first) Open Space session?

From my experience ANY format fits well for hosting your own session at an Open Space. 

You can have e.g.:

1. a question (where you want to have help with / answers / exchange on)

2. share something you have learned

3. even do a short prepared session (e.g. I know many people use this also to get feedback on things they later pitch at "classic" conferences or somewhere else more public)

Where can I read more about Open Space?

• SoCraTes Conference has a wonderful description of Open Space here: https://www.socrates-conference.de/format (they also describe many different types of sessions / topics that people can bring)

• The Agile Coach Camp movement has a conscise description of Open Space here: https://agilecoachcamp.org/tiki-index.php?page=OpenSpace

• Corinna Baldauf created a Wall-Skills Onepager for Open Space: https://wall-skills.com/2014/open-space-technology/ 

Where can I attend an Open Space?

For people in Software Craft

• Friends of Good Software conference: https://frogsconf.nl/

• SoCraTes conference: https://www.socrates-conference.de/home (also: search for partner conferences at the bottom of this page!)

• Samman Coaching online networking events (Open Space style): https://sammancoaching.org/society/events/

For people who are into Agile Coaching

• usually any Agile Coach Camp uses Open Space: https://agilecoachcamp.org/

• Agile Lean Europe: https://agilelean.eu/unconference/ 

What else?

• What Open Space event(s) can you recommend and why? 

Let me know so I can enhance this article!