"Proactively" designed OS?

[Gerard Muller]

In my experience there is a difference between an organisation who  
wants to have an Open Space (typically when the conversation starts  
this is for a more or less well defined group of participants)
and a system (around a river with some serious kind of illness).

In the first case it is often easier to get those who you'd like to  
come to come, in the second case you really have to make an effort to  
achieve this.

In reality I find in many cases there is in reality not too much  
difference between the two situations, as many issues an organisation  
would like to discuss in
an Open Space turn out to be issues where much of the relevant  
knowledge is not within the organisation itself, but with clients,  
suppliers, competitors and so on.

The situation in which you want to organise an Open Space and take the  
initiative yourself, I have found the following useful.

1.	Define the issue
2.   	Ask yourself what would be the stakeholders you would most like  
to be present
3.  	Decide which of these stakeholders (or another person/ 
organisation) would be the ideal one(s) to (co)invite together with you
4.  	Consider what would be compelling reasons for them to do so
5.	Talk to them (and possibly to others who you consider key to the  
success of the event)
6.	Have a meeting with the most important stakeholders to get their  
input and obtain their - active - support.

In other cases, simply organising an Open Space with a small group can  
turn out to be the springboard to a larger event.


Greetings from Denmark




Gerard Muller
Open Space Institute Denmark



On Oct 11, 2009, at 5:10 PM, ELEDER AURTENETXE PILDAIN wrote:

> Hello,
>
> as far as I have read, OS is called by a community, company,  
> association or group that regularly works together, let's say.
>
> My question is: would OS work also if an individual invited openly  
> people for an Open Space about a topic that may get the interest of  
> a general group of people? For example, do you think we - a  
> facilitator or facilitating team - (on our own through our social  
> net, or, supported, maybe, by an organisation that usually holds  
> summer university courses, by a local administration or so...) could  
> call for OS events on this topic:
>
> "the river in our city is painfully ill. Due to it, all of people  
> here are losing a great opportunity to enjoy a more local and  
> healthy lifestyle. Imagine you could daily walk or bike to the  
> river, dive into and  swim in it, and get back home,... wouldn't it  
> be great for all of us? Can we do something to enhance the recovery  
> of the river? Can we dream about swimming in it in, let's say, 10-15  
> years? Do you feel like acting on? Join us in OS and let's start  
> acting on it..."
>
> This may be a good way for facilitators to open space and spread OS  
> practice and let their dreams start coming true... it may also give  
> birth to new groups to deal with such topics from this OS meeting  
> on...
>
> What do you think about it?
>
> Have you ever open such kind of space "proactively", let's say?
>
> Do you know about similar experiences?
>
> Kindest regards,
>
> Eleder Aurtenetxe Pildain
> BM31_BILBAO
>
> Mind mapping - Open Space Technology - Creativity
>
> www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com
> www.burumapak.blogspot.com
>
>
>
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