Workshop schedule and approach
The aim of the workshop was to encourage participant's to learn from each other, forge new partnerships, enforce existing initiatives and design from multiple perspectives. The workshop was designed based on Open Space principles, and focus on skills and knowledge sharing, collaboration and creativity.Open Space technology
"Technology" in this case means 'tool' - a process; a method. Participants are asked to generate the meeting agenda as well as participate by leading small group break-out sessions during the meeting time. There is usually a facilitator, but no official meeting leader who demands compliance. In Open Space meetings, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme of mutual importance.Open Space works best when the work to be done is complex, the people and ideas involved are diverse, the passion for resolution (and potential for conflict) are high, and the time to get it done was yesterday. It's been called passion bounded by responsibility, the energy of a good coffee break, intentional self-organization, spirit at work, chaos and creativity, evolution in organization, and a simple, powerful way to get people and organizations moving - when and where it's needed most.
And, while Open Space is known for its apparent lack of structure and welcoming of surprises, it turns out that the Open Space meeting or organization is actually very structured - but that structure is so perfectly fit to the people and the work at hand, that it goes unnoticed in its proper role of supporting (not blocking) best work. Rag-tag movies and video sites is an "invitation to take responsibility for discussing your passion."
How it works
At the workshop, we explained the process (as described here) and then all participants were invited to co-create the agenda and host their own working groups. Discussions/hands-on work was carried out in designated areas known as 'breakout spaces' and participants were free to move amongst the work groups. Each group recorded the conversations/practical work in a form which can be used to distribute or broadcast the proceedings of the meeting (in hard copy, on this wiki, by means of photos, video, etc). A wiki was set up to allow for online networking both before and following the actual workshop so discussions can continue seamlessly. It also helped us map all participants interests, in order to buy material for the practical sessions. We also had a photographer/camera man helping out with the documentation. In a multi-day Open Space, as is the case with our workshop, participants have the opportunity to announce new discussion topics / late-breaking sessions each new morning. At the end of the day the full group will reconvened for comments and reflection. This helped participants to re-engage in the full group over the duration of the meeting. Lunch and dinner were be served at the workshop premises.While the mechanics of Open Space provided a simple means to self-organize, it is the underlying principles that made it a guidepost for individual and collective effectiveness.
The Law of Two Feet
The Law of Two Feet (also known as the Law of Mobility in settings where participants don't necessarily have the use of both feet) - a foot of passion for the topic and a foot of responsibility - expresses the core idea of taking responsibility for what you love. In practical terms, the law says that if you're neither contributing nor getting value where you are, use your two feet (or available form of mobility) and go somewhere where you can.From the law, flow four principles:
* Whoever comes are the right people
* Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
* Whenever it starts is the right time
* When it's over, it's over
What is my role as a participant?
People could choose different roles for participation in Open Space meetings:* Host(s): the person who feels a burning passion for the subject and is willing to take responsibility to call the conversation, invite others in and make sure something gets harvested.
* Participant: Anyone who is drawn to a conversation wants to stay the whole time and participate fully.
* Bumble bee: The ones who move from conversation to conversation cross-pollinating the learning.
* Butterfly: A butterfly may not want to be in any conversation, instead they prefer to sit on the lawn and look beautiful. A new, unexpected conversation may happen when two butterflies meet.
The organizing theme of an Open Space meeting is that people who care about the subject will come together. The initial meeting notice takes the form of an invitation, thus the people who have attended have chosen to be there and are willing to contribute. The objectives for the meeting and the time available affect design decisions such as whether action planning is included in the Open Space or not.
With support of:
