The whole system in one room

[Chris Corrigan]

Jimbo:

For me it's the preferred way of working.  I love the buzz that's created by
having everyone in the same room, and it really encourages people to move
around.

Logistically the following rules apply:

Choose a room that is rated for twice the number of people you are expecting.
Most rooms are rated based on how many they can hold "Theater style."  To
translate to a circle, divide by two.  Using this rule of thumb will give you
a room big enough to hold everyone without a lot of cross talk.  Cross talk
tends to take care of itself however, with people moving in tighter, or
statring to speak in hushed tones or whatever.

If I can fit everyone in, then I won't book breakouts.  Otherwise I'll have
breakouts or other meeting places.  If the weather is nice (ie NOT November to
March in Vancouver) then I'll try to find places that have some outdoor
opportunities too.  I'm doing an Open Space at the end of the month here in
Vancouver at the University Botanical Garden which has a room with windows on
three sides, atop a cliff overlooking the ocean.  There is a deck around the
outside and a pagoda connected by a little bridge and surrounded by blooming
magnolia trees.  That's my idea of a good time.

When working in one room, I put numbers up around the room which are meeting
points.  People gather at the numbers at specific times to discuss their
issues.  People simply drag their chairs from the circle into the little
groups.  I don't set up circles of chairs around the numbers, because I prefer
people in the groups to do that.  Every group has its own optimal geometry,
and I like to give that a chance to grow.

The only thing that might be tight is the wall space.  Of course, you need a
blank wall for the agenda and another area for the laptops (if you're using
them) and another spot for the food.  Fitting all these things together is
usually the most challenging aspect of the Open Space.  Especially if you
arrive and see that the catering staff has taken advantage of that great empty
place which is shortly to become your agenda to set up breakfast.  Maybe we
should have a law for facilitators: The Law Of Thinking On Your Two Feet.
(That law says that if you're not confronted with logistical complexities at
every step, go somewhere else...you're obviously not doing Open Space...!)

I try to avoid breakouts for the simple reason you have articulated...it's
nice to have the whole system in the room.  I'm waiting for the day when I can
do one outside, in a field somewhere...

CJC

Jimbo Ale wrote:

> Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
>
> What I like best is to have a space large enough so that all the
>       breakout spaces can be in one room (the whole system in one room)
>       with possibility of more spaces outside that main place.
>
> I'm curious about other people's experience with opening space in a single
>       space.
>
> 1.  Do other people find this to be a preference?
>
> 2.  What are the logistical details of doing OS in one big OS.
>
> 3.  Are there problems with noise/people not being heard?
>
> Regards,
>
> Jimbo

--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
108-1035 Pacific Street
Vancouver BC
V6E 4G7

Phone: 604.683.3080
Fax: 604.683-3036

>From  Tue Apr 11 17:24:47 2000
Message-Id: <TUE.11.APR.2000.172447.1000.>
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 17:24:47 +1000
Reply-To: julianne at bit.net.au
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Julianne Bell <julianne at bit.net.au>
Subject: Re: The whole system in one room
In-Reply-To: <OFAA531EA1.7EFA3A31-ON482568BE.000FC70B at wfc.com.tw>
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The last OS I was involved with (which was also officially my first!),
started off in a huge Pavilion with 4 breakout spaces in that room and 5
others scattered in and around the adjoining buildings.  By the second day
the participants were tired of going to the adjoining buildings (and the
groups were small enough) so we moved all of the breakout groups into the
Pavilion... there was plenty of space between each of the smaller groups and
the bigger group used the main circle.

There were almost 140 participants on the first day which reduced to about
100 on the second, so we needed a big space in the first place.

Noise wasn't a problem (because the ceilings almost reached the sky!!), so I
guess if you were to do this you would need to take into account the
acoustics of the room.  We didn't have any feedback about people not being
able to hear each other.

I felt that it worked better when everyone was in the one room instead of
scattered around... the energy was contained in the one area, which
certainly worked well for the butterflies and bumblebees!!

As for preference, I wouldn't have one at this stage... I think it's reliant
on each individual event.

Warm regards
Julianne

Julianne Bell
Exceptional Events
Ph:  (07) 3891 0742
Fax:  (07) 3891 6244
Mobile:  0419 645 514

Exceptional events... dynamic spaces in which people connect and communicate
openly.


-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Jimbo
Ale
Sent: Tuesday, 11 April 2000 12:54
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: The whole system in one room


Michael M Pannwitz wrote:

What I like best is to have a space large enough so that all the
      breakout spaces can be in one room (the whole system in one room)
      with possibility of more spaces outside that main place.



I'm curious about other people's experience with opening space in a single
      space.

1.  Do other people find this to be a preference?

2.  What are the logistical details of doing OS in one big OS.

3.  Are there problems with noise/people not being heard?



Regards,



Jimbo