The OpenSpace Agility Handbook by Daniel J. Mezick

by Daniel Mezick

OpenSpace Agility is a repeatable technique for getting a rapid, genuine and lasting Agile adoption. OpenSpace Agility can be used to effectively introduce any kind of change into any kind of organization. It works with what you are currently doing, and can be added at any time.OpenSpace Agility encourages very high levels of human engagement. It incorporates the power of invitation, iteration, Open Space, game mechanics, passage rites, storytelling and more…so that real and authentic change in your organization can actually take root.The Open Space meeting format is a primary tool of OpenSpace Agility. The OpenSpace Agility method leverages the amazing power of iteration and the Open Space meeting format to help you get genuine and lasting success with your Agile adoption program.With this handbook, you will learn how implement the OpenSpace Agility method. You’ll learn about how invitation, iteration, Open Space, game mechanics, passage rites, executive storytelling (and more) can be used to achieve a rapid and lasting Agile adoption. Inside this book, you’ll find specific, actionable step-by-step guidance on implementing the method. You will -- Why people power the Agile practices, not the other way around-- Why engagement is an essential ingredient in any successful Agile adoption-- How invitation increases engagement, passion and responsibility-- How to immediately put the OpenSpace Agility method to work … in your organizationLearn more www.OpenSpaceAgility.comAbout the AuthorsDaniel Mezick, Deb Pontes, Harold Shinsato, Louise Kold Taylor and Mark Sheffield are all professional Agile coaches. Together these authors have developed and refined the OpenSpace Agility method, by implementing it inside organizations in the USA and Canada. You can learn more about each author and watch testimonial videos from actual clients, by visiting OpenSpace Agility web www.OpenSpaceAgility.com

Paperback

Published January 1, 1800

Reviews

[Jan Höglund · Rating 3 out of 5]

The OpenSpace Agility Handbook by Daniel Mezick, Deborah Pontes, Harold Shinsato, Louise Kold-Taylor, and Mark Sheffield contains several components, each of which are described in the handbook. The purpose of the handbook is to serve as a reference and guide for those interested in Agile adoptions. A “Big Picture” is available on the OpenSpace Agility web site,[1] together with several resources.[2]

The handbook contains a brief guide to Open Space Technology,[3] and discusses the values and supporting principles in the Agile Manifesto. OpenSpace Agility is specifically inspired by Harrison Owen’s SPIRIT: Development and Transformation in Organizations.[4] OpenSpace Agility starts and ends in Open Space. And Agile is implemented in an Agile way in between the Open Spaces. It’s possible to use any Agile practices or frameworks together with OpenSpace Agility.

Each Open Space must have a Theme, and is introduced by an Invitation. Proper preparation is critical. The Invitation provides little more information about the Theme, but omits most of the details. The whole point is to inspire people to opt in and write their own story. Storytelling is essential in OpenSpace Agility. People navigate the world via signs and signals. Stories are signals and signs in a culture.

Interestingly, OpenSpace Agility is based on ideas from cultural anthropology and game psychology. Requirements for happiness at work are a sense of control, progress, belonging & membership, and purpose & meaning. And the basic properties of good games are clear goals, rules, feedback, and self-chosen participation. Invitation is, as already mentioned, used in OpenSpace Agility. No one is forced to attend. Experiments with Agile practices engage people in direct learning experiences.

OpenSpace Agility assumes (1) that the introduction of Agile creates liminality,[5] (2) that there is potential for a rapid and lasting Agile adoption if liminality is handled, and (3) that the best way to handle liminality is with a passage rite. Each passage ritual begins and ends with an Open Space. The Open Spaces are cultural ceremonies that serve as containers for the learning and the liminality that comes with it. OpenSpace Agility assumes furthermore (4) that Agile adoptions thrive on strong feelings of communitas – the very spirit of community, and (5) that passage rites can help generate communitas. In short, passage rites handle liminality and bring communitas.

OpenSpace Agility combines Agile adoption with Open Space in an interesting way!

Notes:
1. The OpenSpace Agility “Big Picture” (accessed 2016-10-14).
2. Resources for readers of The OpenSpace Agility Handbook (accessed 2016-10-14).
3. Open Space Technology – Wikipedia (accessed 2016-10-14).
4. SPIRIT: Development and Transformation in Organizations by Harrison Owen is available online as a free PDF download at openspaceworld.com (accessed 2016-10-14).
5. Bringing change into your organization creates a liminal, “in-between”, transitional state. See Prime/OSTM and Liminality — OpenSpace Agility (accessed 2016-10-14).

[Gamze Tunali · Rating 3 out of 5]

The framework is laid out with all the components and the roles and timeboxes explained well, but it is very abstract. It would be useful if it had some real-life examples from some companies that went through the transformation with open space agility successfully. Also, in the end it was a lot of repetition while explaining the social aspect of the transformation which was not very clear and down-to-earth.

[Edmond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty awful book, I have read and studied agile and this book didn’t do a good job of explaining the mechanics. It spent quite a bit of time explaining the Open Space meeting and the mechanism which seemed very strange.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always biased with Dan's amazing content. This is another classic on how one can approach an agile transformation from an invite perspective over inflicting it on others.

There's many pearls of wisdom where I'm sure many others could benefit from the anti-patterns many of us have fallen guilty of over time.