Consultancy
Open Space Technology
Our clients
- Bank Negara Malaysia
- British Council
- Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
- Defence Science & Technology Agency
- Housing & Development Board
- Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
- Institute of Technical Education
- Jardine Group (Hong Kong)
- Maxis (Malaysia)
- Ministry of Law
- Ministry of Manpower
- National Library Board
- Public Service Division
- Singapore Customs
- Singapore Sports Council
- SUT Sakra Pte Ltd
- Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd
Open Space Technology (OST) is an approach developed by Harrison Owen in the United States, and is a way of holding meetings on complex or intractable issues, or where the future is uncertain. It is designed with minimal structure, and has had notable success in gaining high levels of commitment, communication and clarity of direction from participants.
Straits Knowledge was one of a pioneering group who brought Open Space Technology to Singapore in August 2002 through a facilitator training workshop held by Chicago based Open Space pracitioner Michael Hermann. Open Space has been used in strategic re-visioning, peace mediation in the Middle East, addressing community development challenges, opening up corporate communication and innovation channels, and more.
Possible uses for OST:
- Creating mission, vision, values
- Resolving change management problems
- Strategic re-visioning in uncertain environments
- Opening up company-wide channels of communication and commitment
- Innovation development programmes
- Harnessing collective energy in support of strategic goals
- Corporate turnarounds and transformations
- Repairing commitment and trust after retrenchment exercises
- Setting a difficult course of action for the company