Open Space Technology

Open Space Technology, or OST, is a format or process to engage people in meaningful conversations about issues most important to them and/or their organizations. It can involve as few as five people, or be effective with a thousand. The key ingredient, according to Harrison Owen, originator of OST, is people must have a passion for the issue or issues they bring forward, and they must be willing to be responsible for the outcomes they create.

Owen says it best in his book, Open Space Technology: A User's Guide, "Open Space Technology is effective in situations where a diverse group of people must deal with complex and potentially conflicting material in innovative and productive ways."

Owens has used the OST process with clients all around the world, such as Procter and Gamble, Dupont, Shell, the IRS, the Army, AT&T, IBM and Lucent Technologies, just to name a few.

The only requirement for OST is to have a room big enough to allow participants an opportunity to sit in a circle, and for breakout groups to occur. A blank wall is needed to post information; and then people.

Key to success is how the theme or topic of the OST event is stated. It needs to be clear and easy to understand. An example might be: What are the future issues and opportunities for our organization? It is also important to remember that OST is designed to deal with real issues and concerns.

PALM believes in the power of Open Space and has organized several Open Space opportunities in the Peoria area. The first, on the topic of health care in April 2002, catalyzed the community and resulted in PALM's Health Care Task Force, which has since sponsored a number of health programs and initiatives in the Peoria tri-county area. Another, which in June 2002 brought together more than 200 people interested in the future of Peoria's District 150 schools, created a list of priorities that became an action plan for the district's new superintendent.

Both of these gatherings, plus two local Open Space trainings also sponsored by PALM, were faciliated by Michael Herman of Michael Herman Associates, Chicago.