• Operationalizing the Development Challenges at CIAT
• About Open Space

Operationalizing the Development Challenges at CIAT

Following a brief presentation on the Development Challenges by the DG Joachim Voss, KS Week participants convened to set the day's agenda. We used a different format based on a methodology called Open Space. All issues and ideas were open for discussion and participants could choose to join topics of interest to them personally. On Tuesday morning, key elements from the discussions were made available to all participants so that together, we could identify priorities and develop action plans for operationalizing the Development Challenges.

The different Open Space sessions included the following steps:

Identifying issues and opportunities

Participants were asked to identify aspects, ideas, opportunities, and challenges that they wanted to explore regarding the theme "Operationalizing the Development Challenges at CIAT". All issues of concern were explored and those interested in sharing ideas or discussing problems were given the time to do so.

Discussing the issues and opportunities

Throughout the day, small break-out groups met to address challenges and brainstorm for new ideas. Solutions and action plans started to unfold. By the end of the day, participants created a set of reports which document the ideas and solutions set forth.

Prioritizing Topics

Participants reviewed reports and prioritized discussion topics.

Developing Action Plans

In break-out groups, participants prepared action plans based on the identified priorities.

Reporting Back

Action Planning teams reported back on the development of their plan, outlining what should be done, who needs to be involved, how and when to implement the plans, and the resources that are necessary.

About Open Space

"In these times of swirling change, conversation qualifies as real work and is essential for powerful, profitable action. As specialization and customization increase, complex webs of relationships and information emerge, pressure for frontline decision-making and on-time delivery rises, and individual control seems to be slipping away, it's never been more important to be deeply connected with our partners at work. Open Space is a simple, powerful way to catalyze effective working conversations and truly inviting organizations to thrive in times of swirling change.

Open Space is one way to enable all kinds of people, in
any kind of organization, to create inspired meetings and events. Over the last 15 years, it has also become clear that opening space, as an intentional leadership practice, can create inspired organizations, where ordinary people work together to create extraordinary results with regularity."

For more information on Open Space see WorkingInOpenSpace.