Helpful Questions to get you started
The questions outlined below are designed to help you think through what your needs. The list is not exhaustive and there may be other issues you feel need to be addressed.
Purpose
§ Why do you want to have an event?
§ Why do you believe an event is the right way of achieving your outcomes?
§ What output is required from the event?
§ What is it you would like people to be doing after the event that they were not doing before?
§ What is it you would like people to know after the event that they didn't know before?
§ How would you like them to feel at the end of the event?
§ What is it you would like them to be saying about the event to their friends and colleagues?
§ How would you measure success?
§ Is the event the start of a process of development, the middle or the end point?
o If the start, what follows?
o If the middle, what preceded this event and what will come after?
o If the end point, what is it that has been achieved?
o If a stand alone event why now, and why this event?
Scope and duration
§ What scope is there to vary:
§ The duration of the event?
§ The scope of the event?
§ The content of the event?
§ The style of the event?
Delegates
§ Who are the delegates? For example:
§ Together only when needed – crisis management, executive board
§ Together all the time
§ Together for a project
§ Virtual team
§ Team in name alone
§ Customers
Logistics
§ Where do you plan to hold this event? (Offsite / Onsite)
§ When do you plan to hold this event?
§ Is there any flexibility in either of the above?
§ What is your budget for the event?
§ Who is organising the travel, food and accommodation and facilities?
Preparation
§ What preparation are you going to require people to undertake prior to the event?
§ How likely is it that they will complete this preparation?
§ What contingencies do you have if they don't?
Involvement
§ How much of this event do you wish to run yourself?
§ What areas specifically do you wish help with?
o Design
o Delivery
o Facilitation
o Provision of tasks and activities
o Organising either or all of the travel, accommodation, food and venue
