advice on os for 600

Larry Peterson larry at spiritedorg.com
Wed Dec 10 13:48:09 PST 2008


Martin:

 

Lisa has some great ideas. Here are a couple more:   

 

a.  Do you have any 'top tips' on special needs for a group of this size?

As Lisa says, the wall is really important and I leave it chaotic with
post-its on one side and room for the folks at the wall on the other.

 

 

b.  Any special suggestions for how to create the circle/s?  (I am
considering three concentric circles:  one of cushions, one of benches, and
then one of chairs.  But we could also possibly build risers.  How much
space will we need for this circle/these circles?  Do you suggest three
concentric circles or more?  

 

With 600 I go with more concentric circles.  I find that when the centre
circle is at or over 150 people, then the connection with the sponsor and
the opening is less.  I prefer a centre circle of between 100 and 150.  A
small platform, one step up at the most,  in the centre of the circle might
help but it must be easily gotten on and off of.  I would not build fixed
seating in risers.  

 

c.  How much extra time will be needed for the agenda setting, given the
size of the group?

 

I have not experienced that a lot of extra time is needed - say .5hr.  

 

d.  How many sessions should I expect from 600 people?  (In a highly
motivated group of 100 people, I would usually provide breakout spaces for
about 50 sessions.  But my guess is that this ratio should go down as the
numbers increase.  Also, we expect a lot of people who are too shy,
reserved, or not sufficiently motivated -- this time -- to post a session.
So I am guessing that I'll need about 150 breakout slots.

 

I plan for .7 times the number, say about 42 per round and then have extras
available, so that is similar to your number for 100.  I've never had need
for 150 breakout slots in a given round of OST discussions with 600.  You
know your people better than I and the theme for this event.  The amount of
passion evoked by the theme question shapes the number at any given round.
You are talking between 3-4 rounds of discussion.

 

d.  Any advice on the schedule?  The day is limited to 8.30 - 16.30.  Some
people might be able to stay later, but we can't plan on this.  I normally
don't schedule tea breaks, but in this case, it might be necessary to give
people time to find their way around the venue.  Here are three versions:

I would go with the simplest agenda and 1.5 hour session.  With this number,
there will be more time for folks to move between sessions so allowing 1.5
hours for each will give them the freedom to self-manage that time - which
for me is the genius of OST.  Building in breaks makes it seem like any
other conference and reduces the "whenever its over, its over" injunction.

 

 

Larry

 

 

Larry Peterson & Associates in Transformation

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 <mailto:larry at spiritedorg.com> larry at spiritedorg.com   416.653.4829
<http://www.spiritedorg.com/> http://www.spiritedorg.com

 

 


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