[OSList] Open Space and Research

[Michael Wood]

Is anyone aware of Open Space being used to support Social Sciences Qualitative Research  in organisations?  I have an organisation that wants to work on a particular question (how to attract and retrain 'older' workers) and they want to work with a University to doing some evidenced based internal research on this question. It seems to me that the Sponsor could open up a space on the question with the university researcher being part of the circle (with me facilitating the Open Space). As well as dealing with any action plans that emerge from the day, the university researcher could then sit down with the Sponsor after the event and do some systematic analysis of the Book of the Proceedings to identify emergent themes and then decide how to design further research as required by the Sponsor. In effect the Open Space would be a broad brush 'step 1' in the research design. Of course all the normal conditions of Open Space would be encouraged - voluntary participation and as much diversity in the room as possible. 

Anyone been involved in a project like this, particularly in the Health Care industry, collaborating with a university researcher?

Michael Wood
Perth, Western Australia