Open Space Explanation

Open Space (aka Open Space Technology) is a somewhat different way of holding a meeting. Some of you will have been to conferences or meetings that were run a similar way.

Basically:

1. One person is the overall facilitator, and "opens" the "space".

2. Individuals can volunteer to facilitate a session. They briefly explain what the session is about, and "post it", so that others can join. (A session might be 45 minutes. Multiple sessions typically go on at the same time.)

3. Let's say three people announce a session each.

4. The others can join any of those three sessions.

5. Others can observe the "law of 2 feet". Meaning, stay in a session as long as you are contributing or learning. Leave when you want (that's ok).

6. Others can move to another session at any time.

7. Others can be butterflies (move briefly to each session) or bumble bees (buzz in and "sting" a specific session.

8. Others can be "bar flies" (my term), ie, socialize at the "bar" with butterflies and bumble bees who are between sessions.

The value to us...this approach allows the group to have diverse (yet related) interests. Ex: the "business people" can have a business topic, the PM types can have a proj mgmt topic, the managers can have a management topic.