advice on os for 600

Chris Corrigan chris at chriscorrigan.com
Thu Dec 11 01:23:49 PST 2008


Nothing to add to Lisa and Larry's excellent advice...only to emphasize the
1.5 hour part.   600 is a lot of people.  Don't rush them.

Oh...one thing I did in my 600 person OS that really helped was to have
someone writing up the agenda for the first session as it was being produced
and once the agenda setting session was over we projected it on large
screens.  THat just saved traffic piling up at the wall and 600 people all
trying to read one person's handwriting.  Subsequent sessions were projected
as the day went on.

Chris

On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 1:48 PM, Larry Peterson <larry at spiritedorg.com>wrote:

>  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
>
> larry at spiritedorg.com   416.653.4829 http://www.spiritedorg.com
>
>
>
>
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-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Facilitation - Training - Process Design
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com

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