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Amazon Reviews


4 of 4 people found the following review to be helpful:

Creating Space for Dialogue and Action,  February 21, 2010

By Keith E. Webb

How many conferences or seminars have you been to where the most stimulating parts were the coffee break discussions between sessions? Harrison Owen, the originator of Open Space Technology, designed a strategy to power the whole event with the passion and energy of coffee break discussions.

Open Space is a facilitation strategy that enables groups of 5 to 2000 to create their own agenda and self-organize to dialogue about the important issues of large complex theme. The event participants are invited to identify issues or challenges related to the larger theme that they have real passion for and for which they are willing to take responsibility. With this self-organized agenda, participants move into groups to work on literally dozens of issues in a safe, open environment. This collaboration turns into greater understanding, innovation, and action.

Open Space has been used in business, government, and the social sector in 134 different countries over the past 20 years. The beauty of Open Space is the simplicity of how it functions and results in engaging all participants with a voice in what they are passionate about and willing to work on. The philosophical roots of empowerment and self-organization in Open Space will be refreshing to those tired of a command and control style meeting.

This book is a complete guide to what Open Space is, how to determine if this approach is appropriate for your event, and details on how to successfully facilitate an Open Space event. The book is very engaging and readable. I'm new to Open Space so I wanted details, but I also wanted it quickly so I could understand the flow of the process.

After reading this book I'm ready to dive in and try Open Space myself.





5 of 6 people found the following review to be helpful:

A highly recommended book for both personal and community library business collections,  July 12, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Organizing meetings can be a bit of an arduous task when the amount of participants reaches nearly two thousand. "Open Space Technology: A User's Guide" introduces a new concept for businesses to follow known as open space technology, where groups can self-organize in a short amount of time. To implement the technique into one's business, "Open Space Technology" lays out a step by step guide including all the resources one needs to get ideas off the ground. The third edition features a survey of open space technology's current usage around the world and an updated list of resources. A highly recommended book for both personal and community library business collections.





1 of 1 people found the following review to be helpful:

Action from Chaos,  December 20, 2009

By Martin Erasmuson

For some time I've been interested in how to effectively tackle complex problems. While I've picked up and learnt techniques and approaches myself over the last few years, it was great to find a 'Complex Problem Solving 101' text. I wouldn't go as far as to say this is a definitive text, but for anyone who wants to learn the principles and basics, this is a great place to start.







 

Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide is just what the name implies: a hands-on, detailed description of facilitating Open Space Technology (OST). OST is an effective, economical, fast, and easily repeatable strategy for organizing meetings of between 5 and 2,000 participants that has been used in thousands of organizations in 134 countries and just keeps growing in popularity. Written by the originator of the method, this is the most authoritative book on the rationale, procedures, and requirements of OST.

OST enables self-organizing groups of all sizes to deal with hugely complex issues in a very short period of time. This step-by-step user’s guide details what needs to be done before, during, and after an Open Space event.

Harrison Owen details all the practical considerations necessary to create Open Space. He begins with the most important question—should you use Open Space at all?—and examines what types of situations are appropriate for Open Space Technology and what types are not. He then goes on to look at nuts-and-bolts issues such as supplies, logistics, and who should come and how you should go about getting them there.

This third edition adds a survey of the current status of Open Space Technology around the world, an updated section on the latest available technology for report writing (a key aspect of the Open Space process), and an updated list of resources.