Open Space Technology

Open Space: Involving people in change

Ben Linders, Nico Bakker

1

Open Space Introduction

Law of 2 feet

3

If you're neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet and find a place where you can.

Law of 2 feet

4

Principles

5

• Whoever comes is the right people • Whatever happens is the only thing that could have • Whenever it starts is the right time • When it’s over it’s over

Open Space Preconditions

• Real issue• Issue is Complex or Chaotic• Safe environment• Drive for improvement• Diversity

Learning by doing

• Think back on your experience• Can you see Open Space as intervention?

7

How

• Open space and stand-up• Law, Principles and Practicalities• Theme• Topics presented at Marketplace– Attendants “sell” their topic– Attendants walk to preferred topic

• Informal plenary feedback• Roles

Open space as intervention

• Stimulates bottom up change• Provides all the space to speak up• Topic examples– Benefits and cost for the organization– Impact on me and my

colleagues– How to prevent likely

pitfalls

9

Why does it work?

• Supports bottom up approach• Involves all• Responsibility remains at participants• Many successful examples since start (80ies)

10

More information

• Blogs (in Dutch)– Open Spaces: Betrokken medewerkers bij verandering– Open Space Agile en ICT Cultuur

• Books– Open Space Technology: A User's Guide. Berrett-Koehler

• Websites– Wikipedia: Open Space Technology– Open Space World

11

Veranderproject.nl is an initiative by Ben Linders, André Heijstek, Michel Verweij & Nico Bakker

12