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a method for organizing and running a meeting or multi-day conference, where participants have been invited in order to focus on a specific, important task or purpose.
Open Space Technology offers a new paradigm – regarding theory, practice, terminology and approach – for conflict resolution, organizational development, organizational transformation and facilitation. Emerging in the late 1980s, Open Space manifested the revolutionary shift from organizational development to organizational transformation as a result of the analysis by just a handful of consultants and facilitators.
Based on Chaos Theory, the Theory of the Self-Organizing System and the Concept of Complex Adaptive Systems, Open Space Technology stands out from and surpasses all other approaches in the realm of transformation. It is particularly characterized by the “invisibility” of the facilitator, the absence of a prefixed agenda, its apparent lack of structure and control, its welcoming of both conflict and surprise and its reliance on the individual’s responsibility and participation based on passion. In fact, Open Space Technology meetings turn out to be very structured and controlled – by the people involved. In this way they meet the needs of the participants infinitely better than any pre-planning could ever achieve. Open Space unleashes all the potential of groups and systems
What is Open Space Technology?In conferences, important things happen during the coffee breaks. Participants discuss what really matters to them in small groups. They exchange ideas, make contacts, network and plan projects. This is the phenomenon that Open Space Technology is based on. In other words, Open Space captures the spirit of one big break – with all its characteristics: energetic, self-organized, adapted by participants to their needs, unpredictable, chaotic, spontaneous and very productive."Open Space Technology (OST) is (...) a deceptively simple approach to better, more productive meetings in which groups of from five to one thousand [recent event: 2108 participants people quickly self-organize to deal effectively with complex issues in a very short time. Open Space events last from several hours to several days, depending on the circumstances and the pursued goals. People might gather for a one-day workshop, a three-day conference or a weekly staff meeting. The optimum length and design of an event requires 16 hours spread over a three day period, preceded by a half day preparation meeting and followed by a half day next meeting
Who uses Open Space Technology?
Public and private organizations, small businesses, large corporations, associations, cooperatives, community based groups, communities, governments and families meet in Open Space to enhance the quality of collaboration.
Our Story
In the warm summer of 2016, a spark of inspiration led three passionate advocates of the Open Space Technology—Taras Tymchuk, Maryana Zaviyska, and Oleksandra Tselishcheva—to come together with a visionary goal. They saw the transformative power of this method in driving change and fostering collaboration in Ukraine. With a shared passion and purpose, they formed an informal group, laying the foundation for what would soon become a beacon of innovation and community engagement in Ukraine. This group aimed not only to exchange their rich experiences with Open Space Technology but also to spread the high standards of organizing events in this format across the nation.
Thus, the Open Space Works Cooperative was born, aptly named to reflect the effectiveness of the Open Space Technology it championed. From those early days, the team embarked on a journey filled with over 30 diverse Open Space gatherings, contributing significantly to the vibrant global community of Open Space facilitators by participating in the regular WOSonOS meetings. This initiative not only paved the way for meaningful conversations and collaborations but also set new benchmarks in the realm of collective problem-solving and event facilitation in Ukraine.
By 2023, the cooperative evolved into Open Space Works Ukraine, marking a new chapter in its journey. This transformation from a small group of enthusiasts to a company signifies the enduring impact of our work and the ever-growing promise of Open Space Technology in creating spaces for dialogue, innovation, and collective action. This is not just a story of a group's formation but a testament to the power of shared vision and commitment in creating lasting change and fostering a community of practice that thrives on openness, collaboration, and mutual support.
Maryana Zaviyska
Expertise: organizational development, leadership coaching, stakeholder dialogues and collaborations, mentorships for individuals and organizations, and action research processes.
Taras Tymchuk
Taras has learned OST on Liza Heft Workshops (Krakow 2015) and every year facilitates 5-6 OS meetings for international agencies, national CSO, local communities, and companies.
Taras has been a Member of the Global OS Facilitator Network since 2015.
Oleksandra Tselishcheva
Expertise: developing monitoring and evaluation tools for project, programs and organizations, trainings design and facilitation. Oleksandra is good in development policies, procedures and guidelines, preparation analytical materials
Open Space Reports
Here is the list of Open Space meetings, facilitated by members of OSWC
Myshkove-Pohorilove Community Strategy 2024-2027: What new processes, activities, initiatives and projects will help the community recover from the negative effects of the war and become more cohesive, safe and attractive for living and business development?
Legal Development Network
Participatory Planning Session
Taras Tymchuk
Residents of various settlements that are part of the Mishkovo-Pohorilivska community, Educational managers, representatives of youth initiatives and CBA organisations, local business.
Place
Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Date:
January 18-19, 2024
How to ensure the child's right to a family in current conditions: challenges and opportunities during the war and reconstruction of Ukraine
Everychild
Stakeholders brainstorm session
Maryana Zaviyska, Taras Tymchuk
Experts, specialists, regional project coordinators, representatives of all project partner organisations
Place
Kyiv, Ukraine
Date:
March 23, 2023
How Should the Adult Education System In Community Change to Ensure Sustainable Post-War Recovery Of Mykolaiv?
DVV International in Ukraine, ALC Pivden
Stakeholders brainstorm session
Taras Tymchuk
CSO managers, educators, local authorities, municipal managers, entrepreuners, thinkers;
Place
Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Date:
November 4, 2022
How can I/we improve our daily work right now to help Caritas Brody become a reliable partner for communities in overcoming the negative impact of the war?
Caritas Brody
Workshop to share practical experience and generate new ideas
Taras Tymchuk
Caritas team
Place
Brody, Ukraine
Date:
July, 9-11, 2022
Impact-investments in accelerative post-war Ukraine recovery: who, in what, how and why?
World of Communities LLC
Stakeholders brainstorm session
Taras Tymchuk
Urban planners, CSO managers, educators, impact-inverstors, engineers, psychologists, military specialists, creators, media, local authorities, municipal managers, entrepreuners, scientists, thinkers;
Place
Lutsk, Ukraine
Date:
2 April 2022
Youth cluster in my community: how we can use the gamification and game-based approach and SYAP results to engage young people on a large scale in community development?
UNDP, IPID
Learning exchange
Oleksandra Tselishcheva
SYAP fellows, youth, activists
Place
Berdiansk, Ukraine
Date:
September 2021
What should be a comprehensive city program for civic and professional adult education so that everyone can participate in the community life of Melitopol: content, professionals, money, stakeholders?
UNDP, Adult Education Centre "The first" (Melitopol)
Learning exchange
Taras Tymchuk
Adult educators, CSO, activists
Place
Melitopol, Ukraine
Date:
September 17-18, 2020
What kind of projects and services could help to transform the library and house of culture into the vibrant public space of our community?
GIZ
Participative Community Meeting
Taras Tymchuk, Maryana Zaviyska
Community members, educators, media, local authorities, municipal managers, entrepreneurs, youth, NGO
Place
Petropavlivka, Ukraine
Date:
17 April 2019
Congress of Culture: key achievements and challenges in the field of culture for the last 5 years: what and how to store and develop?
UCU
Learning & networking exchange meeting
Taras Tymchuk, Maryana Zaviyska
Culture managers, thinkers, creators, educators, municipal managers
Place
Lviv, Ukraine
Date:
13 October 2019
Lost illusions of the public budget.
How can we transform and support the public budget process?
PROMISE Project, Irpin city council, Solidarity Fund PL, GIZ, Foundations for Freedom
Learning & networking exchange
Oleksandra Tselishcheva, Pavlo Kozeletskyi
NGO managers, municipal servants, donors
Place
Irpin, Ukraine
Date:
26-27 October 2018
What kind of projects and services could help to transform the library
and house of culture into the vibrant public space of our community?
GIZ
Participative Community Meeting
Taras Tymchuk, Maryana Zaviyska
Community members, educators, media, local authorities,
municipal managers, entrepreneurs, youth, NGO
Place
Dnipro, Ukraine
Date:
11-12 April 2019
How do make the cooperation between the government institutions and the public In the decision-making process more effective?
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, OCSE
Public Consultations and Learning Exchange
Taras Tymchuk, Maryana Zaviyska
Public servants, communication GOV professionals, NGO representatives
Place
Kyiv, Ukraine
Date:
15 September 2018
Community Innovations: Administrative services, inter-municipal cooperation, sustainability
GIZ
Learning Exchange
Jo Toepfer, Maryana Zaviyska, Taras Tymchuk, Oleksandra Tselishcheva
Public servants, NGO representatives, donors
Place
Kyiv, Ukraine
Date:
3-5 June 2018
Open Business Space: From co-opetition to network development: why should Ukrainian businesses unite?
Owners for Owners business community
Learning Exchange
Taras Tymchuk, Lada Kanevska
Entrepreneurs, CEO, founders
Place
Bukovel, Ukraine
Date:
March 29 - April 2, 2018
In what kind of community we would prefer to invest?
Institute for political and information research
Product Development
Taras Tymchuk
Public servants, NGO representatives, donors, community managers, IT professionals
Place
Lutsk, Ukraine
Date:
8-10 April 2016
How can we strengthen the prevention of human trafficking in our region using creative technologies? International learning exchange conference
Hanns Seidel Stiftung
Learning Exchange
Maryana Zaviyska, Taras Tymchuk
NGO representatives, donors, media, IDPs
Place
Irpin, Ukraine
Date:
20-22 June 2017
How can we together keep the media's attention to the protection and representation of IDP’s rights? Final conference of the project
Thomson Foundation
Learning Exchange
Taras Tymchuk
Public servants, NGO representatives, media, IDP
Place
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Date:
5 September 2017
Civil Peace Building: What Initiatives Will Strengthen Our Impact to Overcome the Consequences of the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine
German Embassy
Learning Exchange
Taras Tymchuk
NGO representatives, donors, media, psychologists
Place
Kyiv, Ukraine
Date:
16 December 2017
Leadership in Transforming Communities:
Challenges And Opportunities for Community Development
Ukrainian Social Investment Fund
Learning Exchange
Maryana Zaviyska, Taras Tymchuk
Public servants, NGO representatives, community managers
Place
Dnipro, Ukraine
Date:
22-23 March 2018
Coopetition In Ukrainian: How to Build Business Effective Partnerships in Instability? Annual Meeting of Open Business Space Owners and CEOs community
Open Business Space Community
Learning Exchange
Taras Tymchuk, Lada Kanevska
Entrepreneurs, CEO, founders
Place
Bukovel, Ukraine
Date:
30 March - 2 April 2017
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