SSC has utilized the ideas of OST for its meetings as well as in its organizational development. We find many of the values of OST complementary and reinforcing of the values we hold with respect to sustainability.

In Open Space meetings and events, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme or question of strategic importance.

With groups of 5 to 1000 -- working in conferences ranging from one to seven days, or in regular weekly meetings -- the result is a powerful, effective connecting and strengthening of what is happening in the organization: planning and action, learning and doing, passion and responsibility, participation and performance.

There are several features to an Open Space meeting. Chairs are arranged in a circle to facilitate communication and there are no tables. The role of the facilitator is to open the space and to hold safe space open. The process acknowledges the potential for leadership in every person. The agenda is created by the people in the room. Passion and responsibility are the two keys to a successful meeting. Without passion, enthusiasm for an idea will soon wane, and without responsibility, there is risk that the ideas will never move forward.

There are four principles and one law for conducting an open space meeting, which enable participants to stay focused on the event at hand and acknowledges that the wisdom to resolve the issue is present in the room.

The four principles are:

1. Whoever comes are the right people.
2. Whenever it starts is the right time.
3. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
4. When it's over, it's over.

The Law of Two Feet states that if people find themselves in situations where they are neither learning nor contributing anything, they are responsible for using their two feet and moving to another place, for example to another group meeting. The principles and law enable people to participate in ways that are most meaningful to them.

Having explained the process, the facilitator opens the meeting to let the group create the agenda and sign up for the topics of discussion that interest them - and then gets out of the way. The group self-manages the discussions and produces reports of the proceedings for all to read. The ideas can be prioritized and action plans created if it serves the needs of the organization.

Open Space was developed in the early 1980's by Harrison Owen. In the last ten years it has been used by many different kinds of organizations throughout the world. There is an international e-mail network of practitioners who share stories and reflections on a daily basis and many gather yearly for an "Open Space on Open Space" conference.

For more information, check out Open Space Technology and Worldwide Open Space.