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Chapter VThe Open Space Experiment

Open Space Technology was first developed and utilized in 1985. At the point of genesis there was no thought to run any sort of an experiment. In fact, the precipitating condition was a very practical need. Open Space Technology emerged as an intuitive response. It took five years before it became apparent that a grand natural experiment was in progress. But that is to get considerably ahead of the story.

The story begins on a warm afternoon in April 1985——the first real day of spring in Washington, DC. In celebration of the season, I went to my patio with my first “outdoors” martini in hand. As I savored the drink, a disturbing thought passed through my mind. I had agreed to convene a symposium set for ...

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