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Read My Blog: Magnetic North!

Meeting Facilitation
Open Space Technology

Open Space Technology (OST) is a meeting methodology, developed by Harrison Owen, that creates an environment for innovation and creative problem solving that comes from the passion of the people within the organization or the group. It energizes the work place or community with energy of involvement and commitment. OST accesses the wisdom of the people within the organization or involved with the organization to guide it. OST can be used to bring everyone into the process of strategic planning or to solve a particular problem that the organization is facing or identify opportunities for the future.

Donna Price, facilitates the process, mentoring the organization, but the people within the organization and the administration develop the strategic plan or direction.

Prior to an OST meeting Donna meets with the key people to identify the questions or issues that are at the forefront. In this initial meeting some organizational frameworks are used to assist the group in determining what the focus of the OST meeting will be, its length, and who will be invited.  OST is not recommended when the formal leadership of an organization or group needs to control the outcome of the meeting.  The "Givens" or non-negotiables are established prior to the meeting.

OST meetings are typically one half day to 2 1/2 days, with the longer meeting resulting in more energizing of the organization and its staff, and clearer plans of action and direction.

The OST process results in a report at the end of the meeting that each person attending receives. The reports outlines plans of action and next steps towards agreed upon goals.

In two and a half days an organization can plan real progress or change, with clear action plans and action steps. Key staff can commit at that meeting to move the plan forward and the group can leave with clarity of what will happen over the next few days and weeks, based on their collaborative work together. OST can result in real progress, progress that can take committees months or even years to achieve.

Key Benefits

• Taps into the wisdom and energy within the organization
• Involves all members of the organization in the process
• Increases organizational health, thus facilitating a healthier workplace
• Results in a written report with usable data at the end of the meeting that all participants receive.