Hi
Thanks Juan Luis for breaking the silence, due, no doubt, to the
occasional technical wobble that sometimes affects our LISTSERVE,
which, otherwise, is so ably served by BOISE STATE.
As we were preparing another tender for the Scottish government, I
would like to share the portion that describes Open Space as a
methodology:
Open Space is a large group process devised in 1985 by Harrison Owen
and currently used in 122 countries. It is a bottom-up process
during which participants organize their own agenda around issues of
concern to them. Other people volunteer to work in breakout groups
on the issues raised. Actions from each group are presented to
everyone who then vote on priorities, creating an agreed list of
priority actions deemed important on the day.
Open Space provides easy access and total involvement of all
participants who are invited to work on the sponsor's theme. During
the process, participants share experience, hear different views and,
most importantly, learn quickly from each other. The process is
driven by passion (care about an issue) and responsibility (do
something about it).
Open Space conferences look markedly different from conventional
workshops. There are no experts making presentations, no power
point, no top table and no prearranged workshops. Nobody knows what
issues will be raised or actions proposed until they happen in real
time during Open Space, except they all would be within the framework
of the sponsor's theme, which is included in the invitation for every
event.
As participants create their own agenda and vote in real time within
an open and transparent marketplace, the process generates commitment
and ownership of outcomes. It also provides an opportunity for
participants to learn from the direct experiences of others in a
supportive and positive context, demonstrating participatory
democracy and good citizenship by treating everyone as equals,
valuing all contributions and providing equal access to raise and
discuss issues and vote on priorities. In other words, the process
itself is an exercise in citizenship and participatory democracy.
Open Space, therefore, has demonstrated the ability to inculcate
democratic values.
Kind regards
Kerry
Edinburgh
www.openfutures.com
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