In the 21st century, energy transition has become a critical focus due to the pressing need to address climate change. This study investigates a nation-wide energy masterplan aimed at transitioning to green energy by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2040. The research explores the impact of including participants from outside the energy sector and fostering broad diversity in open strategy. The study specifically analyzes continuous (self-)selection and engagement processes in open strategy making, offering unique insights into why some invited participants, so-called ‘no-shows’, chose not to engage actively in the process, compared to actors with ongoing participation, so-called ‘show-ups’ and actors who do so only for a limited time period, so-called ‘drop-outs’. Our findings highlight that successful energy transitions require not only the inclusion of diverse participants but also careful attention to engagement strategies to mitigate the downsides of diversity. To address these concerns, it is imperative to implement robust engagement initiatives that foster collaboration and commitment among participants. The study contributes to the literature on open strategy discussing the conditions and representations of the design and orchestration on how participants motivate and self-select themselves or are selected to be continuously engaged in large-scale open strategy making processes.
