Open Space Technology: A Whole System Approach

By Anne Merkel, Ph.D., Senior Associate, The Ariela Group

CHALLENGES TO THE ORGANIZATION:

If the challenges facing your organization involve the following, then Open Space Technology could be right for you:

• High level decisions that need to be made
• High levels of ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
• High levels of CONFLICT
• High levels of DIVERSITY
• High levels of COMPLEXITY
• Break-downs in COMMUNICATION
• Decisions that should have been made YESTERDAY

OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY:

• A large group process involving 5-500+ people who come together for one half to three days to tackle an important challenge
• A creative problem solving process where those who show up create the agenda, no person knows the answer, and all the participants are experts
• A safe space for people to contribute and co-create
• A meaningful bottom-up process where people put their passion behind things that mean something to them in the organization
• Driven by individual passion, creativity, and responsibility
• Participation leads to commitment and ownership
• Used by organizations in 70 countries, including Dupont, Corning, Pepsico, Canadian government and military, among others

HOW IT WORKS:

1. The sponsor sets the theme, invites participants, and sets diversity of cross-functional group
2. Participants create their own agenda, within the theme, of one to two-hour workshop sessions dealing with burning issues about which they have passion and want to see action taken
3. Participants self-organize by signing up to attend those workshop sessions that are important to them
4. Focus begins with issues/opportunities then focuses on actions and priorities

Follow-up actions are ensured through task force groups and/or management response to support action and sustain momentum  

OPEN SPACE SOLUTIONS:

Open Space Technology (OST) is a proven technique that involves from 5 to 500 or more people brought together to deal with a range of organizational challenges. Some topics where OST works very affectively are listed here:

• Strategic Planning, Annual Meetings
• Re-engineering, Re-organization, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Facing Layoffs/ Downsizing
• Organizational Health and Balance
• Employee Retention
• Organization-wide Team Building and Re-design
• Quality Management Systems
• Customer Service
• Vendor Certification and Enhancement
• Cross-functional Communication, Joint-Venturing
• New Product/Service Development, R & D
• Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• Re-kindling Passion and Creativity at Work
• New Paradigm Leadership Issues
• Instituting Organization-wide Mentoring Programs
• Focus on a Specific Theme or Event
• Couples or Family Issues

The most important factor for success in Open Space Technology is the total involvement of all participants on an equal basis. Participation is based on passion for an issue by each participant; this leads to commitment; commitment leads to ownership; and with ownership follows constructive action.

BENEFITS OF OPEN SPACE TECHNOLOGY:

Although applications vary between organizations and industries, the following major benefits of OST are universal:

• Whole system approach to complexity, conflict, and change
• Accesses the collective wisdom and experience of people close to both customers and suppliers
• Opens up new communication channels within the organization and creates new networks and joint ventures, promoting more innovation
• Ownership through participation and co-creation resulting in the best sustainable implementation
• Higher productivity based on voluntary co-operation, not compliance
• Leadership harnesses the energy, creativity, motivation of every member of the organization, gaining the ultimate in the competitive edge
• Top management re-focuses on positive in order to develop for the future
• Shifts away from Old Paradigm command and control structures into New Paradigm Leadership including participation based on voluntary co-operation and co-creation

Open Space Technology is a proven management tool used to make things happen by involving all members of an organization. A productive, sustainable cycle is created when participation leads to commitment and ownership, enabling a positive change in behavior and follow-through on action plans.

For more information on Open Space Technology, or to discuss scheduling a meeting around your customized theme, please contact us at merakel@arielagroup.com .