A few years ago I Googled "Open Space Technology is" and came up with
these 29 snappy definitions...I suppose now I'll have to revise that
list...<br>
<br>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>29 snappy
definitions of Open Space Technology</b></p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;">Open Space is:</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<ol>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">one way to enable all kinds of
people,in any kind of organization, to create inspired meetings and
events.<br><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
simple, powerful way to catalyze effecitve working conversations and
truly inviting organizations -- to thrive in times of swirling
change.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">an
effective and productive way of conducting meetings with stunning
results. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
delightful, useful tool for any group of people who are really
interested in exploring something that they all care deeply about.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">the
most powerful leadership and meeting approach for the 21st century.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
simple approach to the accomplishment of complex tasks.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
meeting methodology that helps individuals, groups and communities
become more effective in environments that are rapidly and
constantly changing.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
methodological tool that enables self-organizing groups of all sizes
to deal with hugely complex issues in a very short period of time. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">an
effective, economical, fast, and easily repeatable strategy for
organizing meetings of between 5 and 1,000 participants.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">innovative
group facilitation methodology suitable for large groups. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">at
the very least, a new way to hold better meetings.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">is
a facilitation method that is gaining a reputation in the business
world as well as the Not-for-Profit sector as an effective,
economical, fast and easy way to organize meetings of any size. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
conference design that is characterized by what is absent: there is
no predetermined agenda, there are no months of preparations and
preparatory committees, and there is no blow-by-blow meeting
schedule. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
highly democratic and self-managing meeting methodology. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">the
process of choice when confronted with new and complex issues
requiring systemic solutions. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
fast, cheap, and simple way to better, more productive meetings.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">rapidly
becoming known as a powerful group process that supports positive
transformation in organizations, increases productivity, inspires
creative solutions, improves communication and enhances
collaboration.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
powerful approach for engaging people. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">used
by Hanna & Associates to facilitate meetings, community forums,
and communicating with the moral ownership of a nonprofit
organization.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">an
effective, powerful, precise, and results-oriented approach to
managing meetings.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">ideal
when you are working with a diverse group of people, dealing with
complex or conflicting situations/issues, need innovative and
productive answers, and the answers are unclear. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
structured dialogue that enables all kinds of people to create
inspired meetings and events.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
framework that enables participants in meetings and conferences to
create their own programme of workshops, presentations and
discussion groups around a central theme.<br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
way of facilitation where original concepts from African meeting
traditions, such as circles, rhythm of breath, a bulletin board, a
village marketplace and 'talking stick ceremonies', have been
adapted to an innovative, widely accepted and productive manner of
working with groups and teams in training and meetings. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">centred
around self-organising and self-managing groups of people that
within a minimal methodological framework of procedures develop
their own way of working, building on the knowledge, skills, values
and attitudes that already exist within the group. <br></font></font><br>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">the
most effective process we have found for organizations, and
communities to identify critical issues, voice to their passions and
concerns, learn from each other, and, when appropriate, take
collective responsibility for finding solutions.</font></font></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<ol start="27">
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">an
innovative organizing tool designed to<br>draw forth the potential
residing in all members of a group. </font></font>
</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<ol start="28">
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">an
effective, economical, fast, and easily repeatable<br>strategy for
organizing meetings of between 5 and 1,000 participants</font></font></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br>
</p>
<ol start="29">
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" lang="en-US"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif">a
working mode/ workshop of focusing the energy of large groups (up to
1000) on one "big issue" by self-creation and
self-organization of dozens of mini-workshops around the major task/
issue.</font></p>
</li>
</ol>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
chris<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 12/20/05, <b class="gmail_sendername">Erich Kolenaty</b> <<a href="mailto:erich.kolenaty@utanet.at">erich.kolenaty@utanet.at</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2">Here comes the pile in the reziprok order of approaching. I apologize, if
I've missed one</font></div>
<div><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2">Erich from lovely Vienna</font></div><span class="q">
<div><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font><br>...and if
you/anybody cares enough about this thread to gather up the<br>little <span id="st" name="st" class="st0">25</span>-word
quotes into on small pile, i would post, or you/i could<br>post them in the osw
weblog in the 'what is ost' category.<br><br>michael</div>
</span><div><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2"></font><br><font color="#800080" face="Arial" size="2">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</font>
<br></div><span class="q">
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">self-organization - discovery - laughter -
productivity - co-creation -<br>understanding - action - witnessing -
achievement - reflection -<br>celebration</span></p></span><span class="q">
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">once you've tasted how Open Space unleashes
creativity and productivity,<br>it will be hard to fit back into the shape of
those other meetings</span></p></span><span class="q">
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">if you've tried open space you know that
meetings can be productive,<br>creative, energizing and worth your
time.</span></p></span><span class="q">
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">why sit and listen in conferences when you can
tap into the knowledge<br>and wisdom of everybody there and feel engaged the
whole time?</span></p></span><span class="q">
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">it's time to have meetings and conferences
where work gets done<br>creatively, emergent issues are named, resources are
shared and the work<br>really matters.</span></p></span><span class="q">
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">a co-created agenda, conversations that matter,
work that uses the<br>energy and wisdom of each individual: a celebration of
what people can<br>do – together</span></p></span>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="q">People self-organize according to their
interests, co-create solutions<br>and appreciate across differences -- taking
care of themselves and each<br></span>other and getting great things done.(all Lisa
Heft)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span> </p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="q">OS adds nothing but simply uncovers what is
present.<br>It is a new, deeper awareness of what we already are: naturally
occuring <br></span>self-organizing systems (Harrison Owen)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="q">Open Space Technology ...is a simple way to run
productive meetings, with five to 2000+<br>people, and a powerful way to lead
any kind of organization, in<br></span>everyday practice and ongoing change. (Michael
Herman)</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;" lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;" lang="EN-US">Open space ... the
serendipitous intersection of unleashed minds, hearts, eyes, ears, hands,
</span><span lang="EN-GB">and feet.(Jack
Ricchiuto)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="q">Open space is a lot like tofu, which can be
used in countless ways<br></span>because it readily absorbs the flavors and spices of
anything. (Tree Fitzpatrick)</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;" lang="EN-GB"></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Onion Skin Technology...peel back the layers
and it makes you cry...but cook it up and it gets sweet and juicy. (Chris
Corrigan)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Open Space combines the rigor of a great board
meeting with the energy of conversation around a coffee pot. (John
Rapp)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Open Space enables groups of any size to
organize themselves to deal with complex, important issues and accomplish
something meaningful by inviting people to take repsonsibility for what
they love. (Peggy Holman)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Do you yearn to be in conversations about
questions that matter where you feel alive, inspired, connected, surprised,
engaged, empowered, responsible and open to possibility. Well, that's what
happens in open space. (Alan Steward)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">If it's markets, it's markets, if it's
activists I talk about getting people to work on stuff that really
matters. If it's business people it's "creating and immediately
implementing high performance work teams." If it's religious people it's
"harnessing the power of Spirit to bring meaningful work to our
community." If it's community building we're all about "discerning what's
most important and taking responsibility for it."(Chris
Corrigan) </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Open Space Technology is a surprisingly simple
high performance system,<br>binding passion with responsibility.. (Mikk Sarv
& Eric Lilius)</span></p>
<div><br><br></div>
*
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br>CHRIS CORRIGAN<br>Consultation - Facilitation<br>Open Space Technology<br><br>Weblog: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot">http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
</a><br>Site: <a href="http://www.chriscorrigan.com">http://www.chriscorrigan.com</a>