What is Open Space Technology?
Open Space Technology (OST) is a meeting methodology that enables groups of any size—from 5 to 2,000 participants—to self-organize around a central theme or question. Unlike traditional conferences with predetermined speakers and schedules, Open Space meetings are self-organizing, with participants creating the agenda once they are physically present. The process is guided by Four Principles: “Whoever comes is the right people,” “Whatever happens is the only thing that could have,” “Whenever it starts is the right time,” and “When it is over, it is over.” These are complemented by One Law—the Law of Two Feet—which states that every individual has two feet and must be prepared to use them, with responsibility for a successful outcome residing with each participant.
The methodology strips away conventional meeting structure to create space for passion-driven dialogue and emergent collaboration. What distinguishes Open Space from other large-group formats is the absence of pre-set agendas, keynote speakers, or pre-assigned working groups—participants decide which topics to propose, which discussions to join, and when to move to another conversation.
Origins & Lineage
Harrison Owen created Open Space Technology in the early 1980s as an alternative to pre-planned conferences, where conference organizers predetermined speakers and time was often scheduled months in advance. Owen organized an international conference for 250 participants in 1983, which took a full year of labor; at the conclusion, it was agreed by all that although the total event had been outstanding, the truly useful part had been the coffee breaks. When Owen convened another symposium, Open Space was his way of making the whole conference one big coffee break, albeit with a central theme (purpose, story, question, or “myth”) that would guide the group’s self-organization.
Owen’s academic background centered on the nature and function of myth, ritual, and culture; in the middle 1960s, he left academia to work with organizations including small West African villages, large corporations, NGOs, and community organizations, discovering that his study of myth, ritual, and culture had direct application to these social systems. One early event, convened in India around the theme “The Business of Business is Learning,” attracted local media attention that was noticed by The New York Times, which published stories on Open Space in 1988 and 1994. The term “Open Space Technology” emerged when the organizer of the Goa conference was interviewed by local media and embellished Owen’s original “open space” term, which was then picked up by The New York Times around 1985.
Owen wrote a brief user guide to support further experimentation and practice, and eventually an expanded guide was published by Berrett-Koehler. Harrison Owen passed away on March 16, 2024.
How It’s Practiced
The agenda of an OST meeting is generated by the attendees, usually meeting in a circle with a brief introduction to the purpose of the meeting; attendees are invited to take responsibility for what they care about by writing something they are willing to convene a session about, then announcing and posting that session page on a bulletin board that communicates the time and place. Participants typically find two large concentric circles of chairs with nothing in the middle and a blank wall behind; each person who cares to is invited to identify any issue related to the central task for which they have real passion, write it on newsprint, and post it on the wall, accepting responsibility for convening a session and making a written report.
When the event begins, the organizer-sponsor focuses on the theme, ground rules, values, and energies of the conference, often including short introductions for each speaker present, then explains the self-organizing process and any rules for changing times, talks, and schedules. The ideal event facilitator is “fully present and invisible,” holding a space for participants to self-organize rather than micro-managing activity and conversations.
The Law of Two Feet states that every individual must be prepared to use their two feet; if participants find themselves in a situation where they are neither learning nor contributing, they must take responsibility to move to a new place where they can make a difference. Open Space meetings usually run from a few hours to a few days; at the end of longer meetings, a proceedings document is compiled from breakout session notes, distributed to all participants, and used as the basis for prioritizing issues, identifying next steps, and continuing work beyond the meeting.
Open Space Technology Today
OST has been used in thousands of organizations in 134 countries and continues to grow in popularity as an effective, economical, fast, and easily repeatable strategy for organizing meetings. Organizations use Open Space for strategic planning, community building, conflict resolution, innovation sessions, and addressing complex adaptive challenges. The methodology has influenced related formats including unconferences, BarCamps, and FooCamps, which share the participant-driven ethos.
Practitioners encounter Open Space through corporate transformation initiatives, nonprofit community gatherings, international conferences, and multi-stakeholder dialogues. According to Owen’s writings, Open Space Technology works best when four conditions are present: high levels of complexity, diversity (in terms of skills and people required), conflict or potential conflict, and urgency. Open Space is particularly effective when no one knows the answer and when a diverse group of people with different perspectives is required to find a solution; it should not be used in situations where somebody in authority already has a solution or needs tight control of the process.
The global Open Space community maintains networks, resources, and training opportunities through organizations like the Open Space Institute and OpenSpaceWorld.org, which document thousands of applications across sectors from business to education to social change.
Common Misconceptions
Open Space Technology is not simply an unstructured gathering or “do whatever you want” session. The methodology requires careful preparation: identifying a compelling central theme, securing appropriate physical space, and cultivating facilitator presence that holds the container without controlling content. In the 1980s, Owen was considered by many large corporations to be one of several new-age consultants whose methods might encourage employee participation. This association can obscure OST’s rigor and discipline.
Some assume Open Space works for any situation, but Owen was explicit about when not to use it. When authority figures need predetermined outcomes, when there is insufficient diversity of perspective, or when participants lack genuine passion for the theme, traditional formats serve better. The Law of Two Feet is not permission for disengagement—it is a call to personal responsibility for one’s learning and contribution.
Open Space is also distinct from facilitated dialogue processes that rely on trained facilitators guiding each breakout session. In OST, session conveners need not be experts or skilled facilitators—they need only passion and willingness to take responsibility. The methodology trusts emergent order rather than imposed structure.
How to Begin
For those seeking to understand or practice Open Space Technology, the canonical text is Harrison Owen’s Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide, published by Berrett-Koehler. This step-by-step manual covers the rationale, procedures, and practical considerations for before, during, and after an Open Space event. Owen’s other books, including Expanding Our Now: The Story of Open Space Technology and The Practice of Peace, explore the philosophy and broader applications.
Experiencing Open Space as a participant offers the most direct learning. Many organizations and communities regularly host Open Space events—search for “Open Space” or “unconference” gatherings in your field of interest. For facilitators, training opportunities exist through the Open Space Institute and experienced practitioners worldwide. Online resources at OpenSpaceWorld.org include papers, case studies, and a global directory of practitioners.
Beginners can experiment with small-scale applications: team meetings of 5-20 people, half-day sessions on focused questions, or department retreats. The threshold for entry is lower than most imagine—the methodology’s elegant simplicity means that reading Owen’s brief user guide and holding one’s first Open Space can happen within weeks. The lifetime of mastery comes through repeated practice and deepening trust in self-organization.