Purpose
The method helps clarify group input, selection, and decision concretely. It turns individual contributions into a visible selection. The result is captured as a session marketplace, proceedings, and action topics.
Facilitation
Open Space Technology
Turns group input, selection, and decision into a tangible result by explaining the theme and frame, collecting session proposals, and bundling results and next steps.
Which topics under the guiding theme are important enough that people lead a session themselves, and what outcomes come out of self-organized conversations?
HighWorkshop0.5-2 Tage
How it works
The team follows the steps: explain the theme and frame, collect session proposals, build the agenda marketplace, run sessions self-organized, and document results while bundling next steps. Each step is captured visibly. At the end, a session marketplace, proceedings, and action topics are available so decisions, tests, or actions can follow directly.
Visual orientation
Method sketch for a quick mental model.
Flow
- 1Explain the theme and frame
- 2Collect session proposals
- 3Build the agenda marketplace
- 4Run sessions self-organized
- 5Document results and bundle next steps
The runsheet guides execution with 5 phases, timeboxes, 6 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.
Open runsheetIdeal for
- Conferences
- Community Alignment
- Complex Change Topics
Not good for
- Tightly controlled deliverables
- Groups without decision space
Deep dive
In detail
Open Space Technology replaces a preplanned detailed agenda with a marketplace of concerns. Whoever brings in a topic takes responsibility for a session; everyone else chooses freely where they want to contribute or learn. This lets the work follow the real energy and relevance in the room. From many parallel conversations come documented insights, connections, and action areas.
Facilitation
Prepare the room, time grid, session surfaces, and documentation mechanism. Explain the principles and the law of two feet clearly and hold the frame without steering content. A typical mistake is too much moderation; the value comes from self-organization inside a clear container.
Output artifacts
Session MarketplaceProceedingsAction Topics
Artifact templates
Open Space Technology Working TemplateCompact working template for Open Space Technology with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.markdown
Open Space Technology Working TemplateCompact working template for Open Space Technology with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
markdownopen-space-technology-working-template.md
Compact working template for Open Space Technology with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
Open Space Technology Working Template
Goal
Self-organized large-group format in which participants shape the agenda and sessions themselves.
Context
When and for what do we use this method?
Input
Which data, observations, decisions, or materials are available?
Execution
Short notes along the runsheet.
Output artifacts
- Session Marketplace:
- Proceedings:
- Action Topics:
Assumptions and open questions
- ...
Decision / Next step
Owner, date, and success signal.
When to choose differently
Short decision aid for existing alternatives.
Barcamp
Statt Open Space Technology, wenn ihr ein offenes Konferenzformat braucht, in dem Teilnehmende Inhalte selbst setzen.
Similar methods
All methodsFacilitation
Barcamp
Turns group contributions, selection, and decisions into a tangible result by explaining slots and schedule, collecting session proposals, and sharing learnings.
Statt Open Space Technology, wenn ihr ein offenes Konferenzformat braucht, in dem Teilnehmende Inhalte selbst setzen.
Facilitation
Fishbowl Discussion
Turns group input, selection, and decision into a tangible result by clarifying the topic and rules, forming the inner and outer circles, and reviewing insights and tensions.
Facilitation
Lean Coffee
Turns group contributions, selection, and decisions into a tangible result by collecting topics, clustering and voting on them, and documenting actions.
Facilitation
Troika Consulting
Turns group input, selection, and decision into a tangible result by forming trios, sharing the challenge briefly, and rotating roles to capture insights.
Facilitation
World Café
Turns group input, selection, and decision into a tangible result by defining the guiding questions, preparing tables and host roles, and bundling patterns in plenary.
Facilitation
1-2-4-All
Turns group input, selection, and decision into a tangible result by asking a focus question, reflecting individually, and sharing the strongest patterns in plenary.