6 ms·

I like this idea on the surface. The flipside though is that if everyone's reading the doc for the first time right before discussion, it doesn't allow for much

I like this idea on the surface. The flipside though is that if everyone's reading the doc for the first time right before discussion, it doesn't allow for much depth of analysis. Do you also send the materials out beforehand?

vkou 7y ago
It's much better then the traditional design review, where 80% of the participants spend less than 5 minutes reading the doc before discussion.
r00fus 7y ago
Perhaps in a competitive/demanding culture, this is the best you can get. Besides, very few people in decision making positions have time to study all the prep material beforehand. I sure as hell don't do that when I have back-back-back meeting schedules.
samirm 7y ago
I don't see how this would prevent depth of analysis?
- wool_gather 7y ago
  Generally people need some time to ponder new input in order to grasp edge cases, work through implications, identify unspoken assumptions, and so on. Some extraverted folks are happy to "think out loud" in a group, but even then it's too easy for a conversation to move quickly past a particular point that deserves more time.
  - samirm 7y ago
    I agree that needing time for analysis is important, but what's preventing you from working through all of this during the meeting?
- sokoloff 7y ago
  How could I do any off-line research into the topic or a specific point in your paper if I've only seen it for the first time in the meeting?
  - samirm 7y ago
    You do it with your laptop in the meeting...
    - sokoloff 7y ago
      That imposes two problems: that I am limited to about 15 minutes of research time (limiting depth and basically eliminating "phone a friend" consultations) and it requires that one permits laptops into the meeting. Nevertheless, I'm a supporter of the approach and have introduced it into the most important review meetings that we hold in my group. (We do bar laptops and other electronics, other than video conferencing equipment.) Results after 18 months seem quite positive on balance.
Kiro 7y ago
Sending it out beforehand defeats the purpose.
- wool_gather 7y ago
  How so? Couldn't you do both?
alok-g 7y ago
You'll be amazed how good people at Amazon become at reading with experience. The discussion comments that come out are often fabulous. On the other hand, I am indeed able to add a lot more value as a reviewer if I can read the document ahead of the time. So whenever I am the prime reviewer, I request the document to be sent one day ahead of meeting even if it is incomplete at that time.

vkou 7y ago

It's much better then the traditional design review, where 80% of the participants spend less than 5 minutes reading the doc before discussion.

r00fus 7y ago

Perhaps in a competitive/demanding culture, this is the best you can get. Besides, very few people in decision making positions have time to study all the prep material beforehand. I sure as hell don't do that when I have back-back-back meeting schedules.

samirm 7y ago

I don't see how this would prevent depth of analysis?

wool_gather 7y ago
Generally people need some time to ponder new input in order to grasp edge cases, work through implications, identify unspoken assumptions, and so on. Some extraverted folks are happy to "think out loud" in a group, but even then it's too easy for a conversation to move quickly past a particular point that deserves more time.
- samirm 7y ago
  I agree that needing time for analysis is important, but what's preventing you from working through all of this during the meeting?
sokoloff 7y ago
How could I do any off-line research into the topic or a specific point in your paper if I've only seen it for the first time in the meeting?
- samirm 7y ago
  You do it with your laptop in the meeting...
  - sokoloff 7y ago
    That imposes two problems: that I am limited to about 15 minutes of research time (limiting depth and basically eliminating "phone a friend" consultations) and it requires that one permits laptops into the meeting. Nevertheless, I'm a supporter of the approach and have introduced it into the most important review meetings that we hold in my group. (We do bar laptops and other electronics, other than video conferencing equipment.) Results after 18 months seem quite positive on balance.

Kiro 7y ago

Sending it out beforehand defeats the purpose.

wool_gather 7y ago
How so? Couldn't you do both?

alok-g 7y ago

You'll be amazed how good people at Amazon become at reading with experience. The discussion comments that come out are often fabulous. On the other hand, I am indeed able to add a lot more value as a reviewer if I can read the document ahead of the time. So whenever I am the prime reviewer, I request the document to be sent one day ahead of meeting even if it is incomplete at that time.