From the CIP Learning Inquiry, in participants' own words...
+ I found the looser spaces of the Cafe and Open Space to be more alive and generative. For me, the more open, fluid structure there permitted greater creativity and connectedness. And, not surprisingly, what made it difficult there was also the openness and fluidity -- which made it harder to focus on task, process, outcome. - I found the Open Space to be too large and spacious. The topics were superficially attractive but the conversations were too involved and convoluted for me to stay connected. - The lack of intentionality in the large areas, Cafe and Open Space, makes these areas difficult to focus on. This is in part the environment -- they are essentially identical in structure and their functions were, it seems to me, terribly confused. Open Space topics should have been highly focused and chatting should have been reserved for the Cafe. + I have found the Open Space/Cafe to be the most interest, highest energy, most enjoyable spaces in the CIP (and still do...). Yet, as we have grown I am finding it more and more difficult to navigate these spaces and stay engaged. - I find the outline structure of the Cafe and Open Space fragments the conversation. Responses which are directed at the subject of the discussion are displayed far apart, driven away from each other by the deeply nested digressions, which stay together.