Open Space - useful facilitation method also for Scouting/Guiding

Scouting/Guiding is open for new challenges in our society. I would like to present method which could be used very much in Scouting/Guiding to:

• find real issues of concern,
• in creating mission ,
• in visioning process,
• to prepare strategies,
• … always when we would like to include diverse group of people to find the best solution.

What is Open Space?

Do you know how sometimes when you go to a conference, the best ideas, networking, brainstorming and deal making happen during the coffee breaks?

Open Space is designed to simulate that natural way people find each other and share ideas in all different cultures and countries.

Sometimes we call Open Space as “energy of good coffee break”. Open Space is a large group process invented in 1985 by Harrison Owen. It is a bottom-up process during which participants organize their own agenda around issue of concern to them. Other people volunteer to work in breakout groups on the issues raised. Conversations from each group are then presented to everyone who then vote on priorities, creating an agreed list of priority actions to put them into practice.

Read more about Open Space.

Aleš Čerin