Patterns & Metaphors
Amorphous conferencing
Template:
Meetings that are comparatively unstructured, undirected and involve free movement of participants. The most common forms are: exhibitions -allowing exposure to a wide variety of different experiences and information on exhibition stands according to their special interests, social occasions, receptions and parties involving self selected interaction between participants. Open meetings with a relatively free access to the public address system and minimal direction.
[Advantages] These include considerable opportunity for participants to make contact with one another on the basis of their special interests and to choose the manner in which those interests should be developed (whether by holding a small meeting immediately, or planning some collaborative enterprise for some later date).
[Disadvantages] These include a considerable restriction on general coordination and consensus formation verging in some cases on a general state of disorder.
