550 plus

[Harrison Owen]

At 12:07 AM 10/16/01 +0100, you wrote:
>I'm in the process of preparing for a two day OS meeting for an
>anticipated 500 to 600 people. This is stretching my experience which has
>yet to reach the 200 mark. So I'd appreciate the list's collective advice
>and experience in facilitating such a number. Client is an educational
>institution who wish to include the surrounding community.
>
>Specific concerns centre around the melee of the marketplace;
>convergence/action planning; and endings.

Actually, I find large groups much easier than small ones, for some reason.
I guess there is more space, and also it is much easier to be invisible --
or something. And truth to tell 600 is sort of a middle sized group. No
Problem. I have friends who think that when you work with a large group it
is necessary to do a lot more in terms of space management -- ie like
having guides to get them to the break out rooms etc. Personally, I have
found that to be quite un-necessary. Folks can make their own way, enjoy
getting there, and best of all -- help each other along the way. My one
caveat is to make sure you have plenty of wall space. I estimate 4 inches
per person -- so for a group of 600 that would be about 200 feet of Wall.
You can actually get by with less -- but more is better. Given enough room
everything sorts out just like it always does. However, if the wall is too
short the folks will bunch and the process slows. It always works, but not
optimally. Another thing to keep in mind with a large group is to remind
them that after they go to the wall to post their issue, they return to
their seat in the circle. If you say that at the moment of invitation and
several times more (nicely) as people are posting their issues -- it should
work well. Reason is that folks really need to hear what other folks are
saying and they can't do that if they are hanging out at the wall and
talking... I always put it in terms of respect for fellow participants. And
if that doesn't get their attention, just note that folks talking at the
wall are missing the really good gossip.

Other than that -- just have fun.

Harrison


Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-469-9269
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh

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