The objectives or reasons for inviting people into an Open Space may differ - some, such as a conference held in Open Space, may be to provide participants with an opportunity to network and gather together to share differing and common experiences, resources, viewpoints and research on different issues. Other Open Space events, such as an organizational retreat, may be to do all of the above but also it may be helpful to highlight next steps, action items and / or give participants (or management, or another advisory or decision-making group) a 'snapshot' of what are the top several issues that emerged. In this latter situation, some form of convergence is designed into the event.

Is convergence in the style of voting and prioritizing limiting what can follow the Open Space, or is it instead a synthesis of where we are and where we should go next? Does prioritizing erase the importance of action on an issue that received a minority of the votes or which may have its own passionate 'champion' to carry it forward? When you design conversion into your Open Space event - what question will you ask participants to decide on as they review the topics they have been discussing? Will they identify next steps, or all items that can be done with no added budgetary expense, or do you want them to make a personal commitment to what they as individuals will do?

See the paper "Convergence Approaches" for methods used for identifying top issues or action planning and next steps. Whether you do or do not include convergence, and how you select which approach to use, may indeed be informed by the conversation which follows.

Divergence, Emergence, Convergence

On the subject of divergence/convergence -- I believe that BOTH occur through out the time in Open space, although the one (divergence is most in evidence at the beginning and the other (convergence) at the end. This is true whether or not you do something formally to converge issues at the conclusion. At the beginning -- there is a broad divergence as issues are identified, but then there is a very marked convergence around specific issues in each of the groups -- then outward again at evening news etc. Point is that both convergence and divergence take place normally and naturally during the open space process, even as they do in life. Sometimes more of one, and sometimes more of the other, but both are present. Sort of like breathing. in and out.

Harrison Owen, H.H. Owen & Company
and originator of Open Space Technology
Potomac, Maryland, USA
http://www.openspaceworld.com