[OSList] Ang.: Saving Paper versus Printing Reports

[Diane Gibeault]

Hi Evan,

I send out both a Text (Word) version and a PDF version so people can take extracts of the Book of reports to work on in the follow-ups after the event. It makes it more of a living document. The PDF may contain extras such as photos and ensures that format is maintained for those who want to circulate an official document or just print the whole thing.

As for flip chart reports, they can be faster but they do have downsides.


Some
handwriting may be hard to read and result in participants overlooking the
report, which in turn can lead some participants feeling their issue was not
given fair consideration. This
can be particularly serious when the stakes are high because of the issues or
the participants. In those circumstances, having the outcome of the whole event
put into question at the end is not worth the apparent simplicity of this
method of reporting. This has happened to me.

 The
content of the report is often of less quality since it is neither synthesized
nor reformulated for clarity, both of which occur when people have to write a
report.  It
takes away from the initiator, the opportunity to offer more thought out
report. It also limits an opportunity for the development of responsibility,
passion and leadership, which is an intended outcome of initiators preparing the report on their topic. Initiators have often said that they discovered how lucky they were to have this opportunity to clarify their issue even more for themselves and for the readers.

If
the flip chart pages have to be redone at the end of the discussions because in the heat of the action scribbles would have too little meaning, doing it
by hand takes as much time if not more than doing it on the computer. From experience,
recorders are less frustrated using the computer because erasing and adding is
much easier than doing so on hard paper.

But depending on circumstances, reports on flip chart is certainly an option to keep up our sleeves. 

Diane


>________________________________
> From: "eiwor at gatewayc.com" <eiwor at gatewayc.com>
>To: World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>; World wide Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 12:18:47 AM
>Subject: [OSList] Ang.:  Saving Paper versus Printing Reports
> 
>
>
>Hi Evan, I never print reports because I use flipcharts for the reports in the meeting, then take pictures and put them into a document that is sent out by email. The flipcharts are big enough for people to read on the wall, even with a big crowd of people. Another thing with flipcharts, they take less time to write because they are created during the session while computer reports are done after, which means a need for longer sessions. 
>Eiwor
>
>Genuine Contact Professional
>A holistic approach to organizational success
>Gateway Creation Tools
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>----- Reply message -----
>Från: chris.corrigan at gmail.com
>Till: "World wide Open Space Technology email list" <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
>Rubrik: [OSList] Saving Paper versus Printing Reports
>Datum: tis, okt 1, 2013 01:19
>
>
>I have recently been asking people to sign up for either printed copies or a pdf which they can read on their various digital devices.
>
>
>Alternatively in places with low technology take up, we do a gallery walk of summaries, printed or written on large pieces of paper, so people can peruse what was discussed.  
>
>
>Obviously many approaches abound, and context is important.  I would advise this as a great planning question to consider for the team you are working with in the design sessions...
>
>
>Chris
>
>
>
>
>On 2013-09-30, at 2:26 PM, Evan Walsh <evanwalsh at ewb.ca> wrote:
>
>Hi all,
>>
>>
>>A straightforward question with what I anticipate may not be a straightforward response.
>>
>>
>>How do each of you approach printing reports at the end of open space meetings from the perspective of being friendly to the environment?
>>
>>
>>Do we place everything online and hope people will check it out? Do we print everything, despite the immense use of paper, because we value people having something tangible and real in their hands?
>>
>>
>>What is your approach? What things should we consider?
>>
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>
>>-- 
>>
>>Evan Walsh
>>Network Development Coordinator | Coordonnateur du Développement du Réseau
>>Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Canada  |  Ingénieurs Sans Frontières (ISF) Canada
>>302-312 Adelaïde St, Toronto, ON | www.ewb.ca
>>Phone: 416-642-9146
>>Skype: evan_walsh
>>Twitter: @evanPwalsh
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