From WikiSym 2008

Contents 1 OpenSpace 1.1 History 1.2 The Four Principles 1.3 The One Law 1.4 See also

OpenSpace

OpenSpace is the energy of a good coffee break, with the flexible structure of wiki, where last minute, new creative ideas that otherwise wouldn't be on the WikiSym program to be worked on by all types of wiki enthusiasts, in a format that allows deeper consideration of an issue than can be achieved with a 20 minute presentation.

As a point of reference, many unconferences are organized with OpenSpace or a variant.

History

Reference: http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm

In 1985, Harrison Owen organized The Third Annual International Symposium on Organization Transformation in a very different way. Harrison claims people have been meeting this way as long as there have been people on earth, though many would say that the minimal structure Harrison added is essential, just the minimal structure provided by a wiki is essential. In a wiki, automatic linking is one of those pieces of structure, for example. In Open Space, the time grid on the wall is perhaps essential.

The Four Principles

• Whenever is starts is the right time.
• Whoever comes is the right people.
• Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
• When it's over, it's over.

The One Law

• The Law of Two Feet (or the Law of Mobility)

See also

• http://www.openspaceworld.com/ - Harrison Owen's site
• http://www.openspaceworld.org/ - worldwide practitioner's site
• Chris Corrigan's Open Space Resources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Space_Technology
• Amazon listing for Open Space Technology: A User's Guide
• http://www.openingspace.net/ - Lisa Heft's site
• http://www.openspaceworldmap.org/ - find a facilitator near you