Open Space Technology

Adapted from http://www.openspaceworld.org/:

“Open Space method is one way to enable all kinds of people, in any kind of situation, to create participatory workshops and events. In Open Space workshops, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance, such as: What is the integrated approach to environmental, cultural and social instabilities that all involved can support and work together to create?

Open Space works best when the work to be done is complex, the people and ideas involved are diverse, the passion for resolution (and potential for conflict) are high, and the time to get it done was yesterday. Open Space runs on two fundamentals: passion and responsibility. Passion engages the people in the room. Responsibility ensures things get done. A focusing theme or question provides the framework for the event. The art of the question lies in saying just enough to evoke attention, while leaving sufficient open space for the imagination to run wild.”