Open Space Technology

Not a training method or even a facilitation technique but another methodology I could see being useful in a GG UK environment. I recently experienced Open Space myself and admittedly I was sceptical to begin with, but it worked so I borrowed the book from the organiser. Harrison Owen: Open Space Technology - A users Guide 2nd edition, published by Barrett-Koehler Publishers in 1997 ISBN 1 57675 024 8.

Open Space works because the basic premise is getting people together who are both passionate and responsible for the issue/problem/dilemma etc. So no pre-set agenda or invitation list, everyone agrees on the first day what the priority questions are to progress. We did it by suggesting topics that could be discussed to progress our "difficulty" these were then written onto a matrix for time slots throughout the day and de-duped or combined. Volunteers were then sought to take contributors names, notes and key actions from each of the key discussions and type them up at the end of the day. Participants are free to move between discussion groups once they have contributed.

Equipment is limited to flip chart paper, pens, post its and a few lap tops so the notes (brief) from each group can be captured. The book focusses heavily on not being constrained by meal and coffee breaks.   

Day 2 starts with a precis of the discussion groups aided by the typed up notes from the day before and this provides another opportunity to combine topics with common or overlapping ground. Again passion and responsibility are involved as contributors opt to progress the topic which they feel most passionate about. Day 2 focusses on action planning and contributors offering to progress what is within their power.

Our Open Space facilitator (and book owner) had a lovely pair of Tibetan cymbals used to keep events to time  and the beautiful pitch seemed to match the nature of the event really well.

The reason I think this would work really well for some GG UK events is that we certainly have a lot of passion amongst volunteers, and generally volunteers know what is expected of them and are willing to step forward e.g 5 Essentials. What generally seems to be missing is communication - Open Space forces communication out into the round. Just think how powerful the technique could be when planning a major event or used against Growing Guiding - who wants to be first to try it?