How does it always work? Prerequisites for Self-Organization and Individual Perception of Effectiveness in Open Space Technology Meetings.

Does it always work…?

Self-Organization is often referred to as one of the most promising responses to the demands of a world that is perceived as constantly changing at steadily increasing speed. Sometimes the power and ability to self-organize is considered to be an old magic, underlying evolution and human development. In other contexts it is presented as one of the newest discoveries in social science and management studies.  One way or the other, it promises to be a highly effective mode of working and Open Space Technology is one of the promising containers to facilitate the emergence of self –organization.

 But, does it always work..?                        

Off course – it always works! Once  people are gathered in a room, facing an empty wall, given the time to do some work, they will for sure, after some minutes of silence, post a few issues and start to do something except just sitting  there, staring at the blank agenda. But how is it possible that some events differ so much from the situation described above. People eager to work, are jumping from their chairs to announce their issues, running to work for hours without taking breaks and are still laughing and telling you that they so much enjoy working in this highly effective way without getting  tired at all?

 

The study I am conducting at the Psychological Department of Humboldt University of Berlin, tries to explore the appearance of these different types of Open Space events by further examining their pre-conditions on an empirical basis. The questions in the main focus of the study are:

• What are the pre-conditions for highly effective self-organized work?

• What are the effects of working-self organized on an individual level?

• What difference does it make, if pre-conditions are fulfilled perfectly or not?

 

The primary aim of the study is to further explore the conditions, which best serve working in a self-organized way. Secondly to find out about the effects that working self-organized has on an individual level, to finally examine any/ the interconnections.

I hope that the results will be of great value for a deeper understanding of Open Space Technology, the improvement of planning and consulting processes, its reputation and the daily practice of simply running effective meetings. Once the work is done I will be happy to share the results.

To answer the questions stated above I will start the study in the beginning of September 2010. Therefore I kindly ask you to participate and thereby seize your opportunity to contribute to the scientific exploration of Open Space. I am looking for facilitators around the world who are willing to be part of this survey, which will include filling out questionnaires and handing out short questionnaires to participants.

 You can  participate, if you can  answer one of the following questions with “YES”

• Are you facilitating an Open Space within the following/next 9 month?

•  Are you expecting to be involved in an Open Space within the following/next 9 month?

•  Do you know a person who could answer one of the questions above with “YES”?

If you managed to qualify as a participant by one “YES”, please send me an email  to frederik.wortmann@boscop.org with the subject "Study on Open Space". Do you already have an event in mind, then you could send me the dates. I will prepare the questionnaires immedeatly.

Through your participation you will…:

…get the opportunity to contribute to the scientific exploration of Open Space Technology!

…get a detailed analysis of the event you facilitated, as soon as your questionnaires returned!

 …get the chance to offer the evaluation of the event to your customer/ sponsor – all for free!

 …get access to the results of the complete study!

 …get greatly energized and in a good mood because you helped me a lot to conduct this study!

 

Thank you for your support!

Frederik Wortmann