Open Space Technology

Purpose

Open Space Technology (OST) enables large groups to self-organise around the topics they care about most. Participants propose sessions, post them on a marketplace wall, and attend whichever ones matter to them. It harnesses collective passion and responsibility, producing rich output with minimal facilitation. Use it when the agenda should come from the group, not the organiser, and when complexity or diversity of interests makes a pre-set agenda insufficient.

At a glance

• Group size: 15–500+ people
• Duration: 90 minutes (minimum; can extend to full days)
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Facilitation style: Open
• Setting: Indoor / Both

How to run

1. Opening circle (10 min): State the theme. Explain the four principles (whoever comes are the right people, whatever happens is the only thing that could have, when it starts is the right time, when it's over it's over) and the Law of Two Feet (if you're not learning or contributing, move).
2. Marketplace (10 min): Anyone with a topic writes it on a sheet, announces it, and posts it on the schedule wall with a time and location.
3. Sessions (50–60 min): Multiple sessions run in parallel. Session conveners facilitate their own discussions and capture notes.
4. Closing circle (10–20 min): Reconvene. Each session convener shares a one-sentence summary. Harvest key themes.

Materials needed

• Large wall or board for the marketplace schedule
• A4 sheets and thick markers for session proposals
• Multiple meeting spaces (rooms, corners, outdoors)
• Note-taking templates for session conveners
• Timer or bell for session transitions

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Over-facilitating sessions — the facilitator's role is to open and close the space, not control what happens inside it.
• Not honouring the Law of Two Feet — if people feel trapped, the format loses its power.
• Skipping the harvest — without documentation, the session output is lost.

Inclusion & accessibility

• The Law of Two Feet empowers introverts and people with limited energy to manage their own participation.
• Ensure all session locations are physically accessible.
• For remote: use a digital marketplace board and breakout rooms.
• Allow asynchronous participation for people in different time zones.

Variations

• Half-day Open Space: Extend to 3–4 hours with two session rounds.
• Open Space + Action Planning: After the sessions, converge on the top themes and create action plans.
• Virtual Open Space: Use platforms like Qiqochat or Zoom breakout rooms with a shared schedule.

When NOT to use this

Avoid OST when the outcome is predetermined and management just wants buy-in — participants will sense the manipulation. Also not suitable for topics requiring expert-led instruction.

Source & further reading

Developed by Harrison Owen. See *Open Space Technology: A User's Guide* (2008) and openspaceworld.org. Included in the Liberating Structures repertoire by Lipmanowicz and McCandless.