Calling Up Justice often uses Open Space (Technology) a simple way to run productive meetings, for five to 2000+ people. It is a powerful approach to leadership in any kind of organization, in everyday practice and turbulent change. The definition of technology according to The Merriam Webster Dictionary is “the practical application of knowledge”. we embrace a definition of technology that acknowledges all the results of applying our scientific knowledge to improve quality of life and to solve needs. This is beyond computers or mechanical tools. Our technology can be expressed in ways we perform together.
What is Open Space Technology?
Open Space Technology enables all kinds of people, in any kind of organization, to create inspired meetings and events. In Open Space meetings, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance. Open Space is best when the work to be done is complex and the people and ideas involved are diverse. It’s useful when the passion for resolution and potential for conflict are high, and the time to get it done was yesterday. It’s been called passion bounded by responsibility, the energy of a good coffee break, intentional self-organization, spirit at work, chaos and creativity, evolution in organization, and a simple, powerful way to get people and organizations moving — when and where it’s needed most.
STEPS TO PRODUCE OPEN SPACE MEETING
- All of the issues that are MOST important to the participants will be raised.
- All of the issues raised will be addressed by those participants most qualified and capable of getting something done on each of them.
In a time as short as one or two days, all of the most important ideas, discussion, data, recommendations, conclusions, questions for further study, and plans for immediate action will be documented in one comprehensive report — finished, printed and in the hands of participants when they leave.
When appropriate and time is allowed for it, the total contents of this report document can be focused and prioritized in a matter of a few hours, even with very large groups (100’s).
After an event, all of these results can be made available to an entire organization or community within days of the event, so the conversation can invite every stakeholder into implementation — right now.
AND… results like these can be planned and implemented faster than any other kind of so-called “large-group intervention.” It is literally possible to accomplish in days and weeks what some other approaches take months and years to do.
Information and ideas on this page was sourced from – Michael Herman and https://openspaceworld.org/ and Indigenous Technologies