[OSList] Half-day Open Space?

[Kathleen Osta]

Hi Gray,

Most of my OS experience is with shorter ones like yours. It can work  
just fine. With coaching from experienced OS folks, I've learned to  
experiment with 45 minute sessions where the last 15 minutes is  
focused on any actions that might want to be taken; or a variation is  
a 60 minute session with the last 15 for an actions conversation. (And  
the bottom of the notes page has 3 columns labeled "Action" "Who" "By  
When" in case there's enough juice to keep going with it.

Just like others have said, it depends on what the client wants from  
it. You can always do 2 (1.5 hour) sessions, too.  I lean toward at  
least 3 sessions with more topics so the group can see what the range  
of interest is.

The short window can actually be pretty energizing.

Go for it!

Kathleen


On Jul 18, 2011, at 2:41 PM, Gray Miller wrote:

> I have a bit of a crisis as I am trying to negotiate an open space  
> for a relatively large (500-700 attendee) conference that would like  
> to incorporate Open Space.
>
> Namely, I was just informed (via text message, before the meeting)  
> that rather than having a full day, I will have about 6 hours  
> (beginning at 11:30) to make the open space happen.
>
> I already have some of the excellent words I've heard from Lisa Heft  
> in mind for talking to the event manager. However, I'm curious if  
> anyone else has had experiences with successful half-day Open Spaces  
> (or other event models) and how that looked. I'd also be interested  
> in hearing attempts that didn't work; my impulse initially is to say  
> to the manager "perhaps open space is not the approach we should  
> take here."
>
> However, part of that is being in unfamiliar territory; I've only  
> done OS in multiple-day setups.
>
> Any ideas or resources would be appreciated,
>
> Gray
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org