The Handbook explains our own, particular approach to change processes, that builds on the idea of looking at social groups and institutions as complex systems. It contains various sections: starting with a brief general outline of how we believe we can deal with complex systems in a change context, it then draws practical conclusions on designing and delivering change events (such as workshops, meetings, conferences, …) – in particular in terms of the architecture of such events; it then creates an overview over methods and tools which allow to select and assemble them into a meaningful order that directs the event towards results.

What initally had triggered off the writing of this Handbook was the need to have some sort of “training script” for our facilitation and change trainings. We since have successfully held our first training events and are very happy about how people received and appreciated this tool. If you’re interested to learn more about possibilities and maybe a tailor-made training for your context/organisation, please touch base!

If this Handbook is useful to you, then we are very pleased. We welcome any comments, ideas, also for improvement! Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Catherine & Marc

To download, click on the cover above or visit our “Resources & Downloads” section, where you find it under “General”

On the whole, the process followed the basic structure of an Real Time Strategic Change (RTSC), with a large Speed Geeking session integrated into the first day and an almost full-day OpenSpace towards the end. The event did not only produce a series of recommendations based on the insights and lessons learnt extracted from the collective knowledge of participants, but it led to about 30 action items that various groups and persons decided to take up and put in practice to make a real difference.

The conference built on many of the methods and approaches that we promote. To get a brief overview over some of the methods used, watch this brief video:

Many of us experience our work, the organisations we are part of, our communities, even our countries and in fact the whole world around us as transforming at ever increasing speed. To deal with the resulting challenges we need an approach that involves all affected and interested parties with their experiences, insights, questions and wisdom.

Open Space Technology is such an approach. It supports organisations and systems of all kinds and sizes to utilize their inherent potential for self-organisation leading to high performance characterized by collaboration, cooperation, participation and broad leadership. It provides a framework of time and space in which everyone works on those issues they feel passionate about and for which they are prepared to take responsibility. Leaders, managers, consultants, students, group workers, community organisers, planners and everyone interested in the future of their organisations and communities will benefit from this workshop.

IngeniousPeoplesKnowledge is proud to host an Open Space Technology Workshop in South Africa in collaboration with the berlin open space cooperative (boscop) .

boscop members have facilitated several hundred Open Space events with groups ranging from 5 to 2108 participants in 30 countries worldwide. Their unique training design uses Open Space itself as the basic training process, which has been developed over the last decade through application in many Open Space Technology Trainings with participants from around the world.

Participants will thoroughly acquaint themselves with Open Space Technology (OST) in the workshop by:

• learning about the prerequisits of Open Space meetings;
• experiencing an Open Space planning session;
• experiencing an Open Space meeting under the title agreed on in the planning session;
• reflecting on the recent experience as a participant in another Open Space session under the title “Open Space on Open Space”;
• transferring their Open Space experience into first application steps in an Open Space action planning process;
• parallel “learning spaces” for self-organised learning providing books and articles as well as audio and visual resources on Open Space, and a “question & answer wall” to reflect on the current experience

The training design follows the Open Space process’ inner logic by placing experiential and self-organised learning at its core. The underlying principle being that “Open Space cannot be taught or studied, but must be experienced first-hand in order to be understood and remembered”.

IngeniousPeoplesKnowledge (I-P-K) is a Cape Town based consultancy firm that specializes in Knowledge and Change Management. I-P-K’s facilitation and coaching methodologies are based on understanding the complexity of living systems and social processes and are aimed at enabling synchronous learning amongst participants. We design transformative organizational processes that are inclusive and able to generate individual commitment towards a collective action plan: Open Space Technology is one of the approaches we use.

Read a short Background Document on Open Space Technology.

You will find all relevant booking details here below (click on “More…”). A more detailed training programme will be available closer to the time.

Details of the Open Space Technology Training 2009:

Host & Event Co-ordination: Catherine Widrig Jenkins and Marc Steinlin, IngeniousPeoplesKnowledge, Cape Town (www.i-p-k.co.za)
Training: Mia Konstantinidou and Michael Pannwitz, boscop eG, Berlin, Germany (www.boscop.org)
Location: Monkey Valley Resort, Noordhoek, Cape Peninsula (www.monkeyvalleyresort.com)
Dates (NEW DATES!): Tuesday (lunch time) 28 to Thursday (lunch time) 30 April 2009

Participation Fee Including Catering until 31 January 2009 only: R 6’750
Please note that this fee includes catering during the formal training sessions only. “After-hours” catering, i.e. dinner, accommodation and breakfast costs are excluded. You will receive your registration confirmation upon receipt of payment of a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance of the participation fee must be paid by 31 March 2009. Cancellations are not eligible for refunds, but a subsitute may be sent.
Participation Fee Including Catering From 1 February 2009: R 7’500
Multi-Booking Discount: 10% for every additional participant from the same company

You can book online or contact catherine.widrigjenkins@i-p-k.ch

To book accommodation at Monkey Valley Resort please contact: Sue-Lesley Norgate on 021 789 8008 or conferencing@monkeyvalleyresort.com and copy in catherine.widrigjenkins@i-p-k.ch. It is important to quote the reference “Open Space Technology Training 2009″ when making your booking in order to qualify for the special conference accommodation rates. Accommodation is available in twin rooms (sharing room and bathroom) at R 445 per person per night; in semi-share rooms (own room, sharing a bathroom) at R 558 per person per night and; in executive en-suite rooms (own room and own bathroom) at R 675 per person per night. All rates include breakfast. Please note that these rates are subject to availability at the time of booking. There is only limited numbers of each type of room (i.e. twin, semi-share, executive en-suite) – it is therefore recommended to book early if you have a certain preference.

For further information on this training event please contact: Catherine Widrig Jenkins
Email: catherine.widrigjenkins@i-p-k.ch
Skype: catherinewidrig
Cell: 073 387 7369

For further information on Open Space Technology visit: www.openspaceworld.org
We highly recommend to read “Open Space Technology: A Users Guide” (Harrison Owen 2008/ ISBN 978-1-57675-476-4) before the training and to stay over at the venue to be able to participate in the informal “after-hours” exchange with the other participants.