【正文】 means.On the other hand, if the present state, and future position are crystal clear, along with all the intervening steps, Open Space Technology is not only a waste of time, it will be very frustrating. Using a very mundane example, if the task at hand is the implementation of a known technology, such as a word processing program, or an established office procedure, inviting people to be creative and inventive is quite beside the point. They simply have to learn the skills and methods required. There is no mystery. Just do it.CREATING OPEN SPACE Introducing The EventWith the preamble out of the way, it is time to get on with the event. What follows is a walkthough of the format we have used. But please do not treat it as an unchangeable script. The needs of your group and your own style will ultimately determine the best way.If this is a first time for you as a leader, we strongly suggest that you take a practice run through. Start by being pletely familiar with the walkthough material provided below. Imagine that you are actually leading a group, and read through the script. Do this until you don39。t let the people start to discuss any of the items at this point. There will be plenty of time for that.When it seems that all the items have been posted on the wall, ask if there are any more, and direct the group39。t, stand up and get the group39。t hurt.Some of you may be finding a few conflicts, but it should be easy to work out. It is called negotiation. If you want to go to two groups meeting at the same time, find the group leaders and see if you can get them to merge their sessions or change their times. Of course, if they won39。clock in conference room C, or maybe out by the swimming pool. Space is on a first e, first served basis.Prior to this part of the program, the leader should post a list of available meeting places. Of course if you are the only group meeting in a conference center, the space problem is simplified, and the groups can meet anywhere they feel fortable.Don39。s words and use your own. At that point, you are probably ready for a real group, but don39。s Guide has proven effective in getting most new leaders and groups off and running. While there are many additional things that can be learned about operating in Open Space, this will get you started. Some material has been included here which also appears in the book in order to present a relatively plete picture.THE THEME Creation of a powerful theme statement is critical, for it will be the central mechanism for focusing discussion and inspiring participation. The theme statement, however, cannot be a lengthy, dry, recitation of goals and objectives. It must have the capacity to inspire participation by being specific enough to indicate the direction, while possessing sufficient openness to allow for the imagination of the group to take over.There is no pat formulation for doing this, for what inspires one group will totally turn off another. One way of thinking about the theme statement is as the opening paragraph of a truly exciting story. The reader should have enough detail to know where the tale is headed and what some of the possible adventures are likely to be. But telling all in the beginning will make it quite unlikely that the reader will proceed. After all, who would read a story they already know?THE GROUP The group must be interested and mitted. Failing that, Open Space Technology will not work. The key ingredients for deep creative learning are real freedom and real responsibility. Freedom allows for exploration and experimentation, while responsibility insures that both will be pursued with rigor. Interest and mitment are the prerequisites for the responsible use of freedom. There is no way that we know of to force people to be interested and mitted. That must be a precondition.One way of insuring both mitment and interest is to make participation in the Open Space event pletely voluntary. The people who e should be there because they want to be there. It is also imperative that all participants know what they are getting into before they arrive. Obviously they can39。t plan it in advance. It may be worthwhile to have some taped music if your people are inclined to dance, but other than that you will undoubtedly find that the talent you need is already available in the folks you have. Use it. Skits, songs, humorous reviews of what has happened, will amply fill the evening, and add to the learning experience.CLOSING We try to keep the closing simple and serious. Simple in that there are no formal presentations and speeches. But serious, for this is the time for announcing mitments, next steps, and observations about what the event has meant. The closing event is best conducted in a circle with no head table. Start anywhere, and go around the circle allowing each participant, who wants to, the opportunity to say what was of significance and what they propose to do. But do make it clear that nobody has to say anything. In very large groups, hearing from everybody is obviously impossible, but two or three folks may be asked to volunteer.FORMAL REPORTS The formal reportout session has apparently bee a fixture of conference life. However, we find it to be boring and generally nonproductive. There is never enough time for each group to say all they wanted to, and if sufficient time is allocated, the majority of conference participants are uninterested at any given time. As an alternative, we remend using a simple word processing system, a puter conferencing system, or both.In a recent conference 200 participants created 65 task force reports (a total of 200 pages) which were available as the participants left the conference. Mechanically, all that is required is a bank of puters (lowpowered laptops will do) and a request to each group organizer to enter the results of their deliberations into the system. They can either type it in themselves, or for the