Re: Anonymity in meetings LO2648

JOHN N. WARFIELD (jwarfiel@osf1.gmu.edu)
Fri, 1 Sep 1995 06:55:09 -0400 (EDT)

Replying to LO2642 --

Bernie had some things to say about using large screens on which to
project computer information for group visibility, vis-a-vis anonymity.

There has been stated a kind of reciprocal Parkinson's Law which pertains
to using fixed-dimensional visual displays. An older Law that he cited
said something to the effect that work will grow to fill the available
space.

The reciprocal view is that once your span of vision is fixed by whatever
a company sells, as soon as that space is filled up the inquiry will stop.
I don't have a lot of data to support this, but I distinctly remember
being at a meeting where a relatively inexperienced facilitator was
soliciting group ideas about a certain subject and writing the results on
a whiteboard that was about 3 feet by 5 feet. I nudged the fellow next to
me and said: "You watch. As soon as he filled up the board, he will stop
getting ideas." My friend was amazed to see this prediction work out
exactly. (Of course it was true that there were no other boards available
in the room.)

--
JOHN WARFIELD
Jwarfiel@gmu.edu