Comments on: Dull Presentations and Organizational Change http://www.andrewferrier.com/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/ Economics; Travel; Film; and Technology. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Andrew Ferrier’s Blog » Blog Archive » Leadership for the Future - Bill Clinton http://www.andrewferrier.com/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1633 Andrew Ferrier’s Blog » Blog Archive » Leadership for the Future - Bill Clinton Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:21:25 +0000 http://www.new-destiny.co.uk/andrew/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/#comment-1633 [...] A large majority of the presentation was dedicated to a speech by Clinton, with the remainder being pre-vetted questions. My heart sank when I saw what appeared to be some Powerpoint slides ready and waiting as I entered the hall, but fortunately he didn’t use the projector. He appeared to being using some notes, which was a surprise, but they didn’t intrude too much into the presentation. He was a clear orator, and delivered plenty of soundbite-worthy phrases - his eloquence and fluency wasn’t quite up to the standard of a legend, however. [...] [...] A large majority of the presentation was dedicated to a speech by Clinton, with the remainder being pre-vetted questions. My heart sank when I saw what appeared to be some Powerpoint slides ready and waiting as I entered the hall, but fortunately he didn’t use the projector. He appeared to being using some notes, which was a surprise, but they didn’t intrude too much into the presentation. He was a clear orator, and delivered plenty of soundbite-worthy phrases - his eloquence and fluency wasn’t quite up to the standard of a legend, however. [...]

]]> By: andrewferrier http://www.andrewferrier.com/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-5 andrewferrier Sun, 02 Jul 2006 21:11:42 +0000 http://www.new-destiny.co.uk/andrew/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/#comment-5 Hmm. In my experience, slide decks are typically used for offline communication because a 'presentation' has already been constructed, and sending them round is the easiest method. So I don't think the reason they are used (typically) is because they are good at communicating what needs to be said. We can disagree on whether we do find them effective in practice - in my experience, the main problem is they lack a presenter (if the slides say everything, why was there a presenter in the first place? If they don't, one needs to be supplied with them!) Having said that, the oft-stated alternative is a Word document (or similar) which isn't really designed for on-screen presentation either (it's really a print-centric medium, quick DTP if you like). So maybe there is room for something new here. Nevertheless, I'd encourage anyone to read Tufte's essay - what he says is not so much about using these slide decks offline, but use of Powerpoint online - i.e. for its original design purpose in giving presentations. His comments are strong, and I'm sure there is from for more compromise than he suggests (after all, tools can be abused or used well), but generally his arguments resonate well with me after one too many bad Powerpoint slides! His book 'The Visual Display of Quantitative Information' is also a classic, and well worth reading. It's refreshment when you've had 'graphic designer' overload. Hmm. In my experience, slide decks are typically used for offline communication because a ‘presentation’ has already been constructed, and sending them round is the easiest method. So I don’t think the reason they are used (typically) is because they are good at communicating what needs to be said. We can disagree on whether we do find them effective in practice - in my experience, the main problem is they lack a presenter (if the slides say everything, why was there a presenter in the first place? If they don’t, one needs to be supplied with them!)

Having said that, the oft-stated alternative is a Word document (or similar) which isn’t really designed for on-screen presentation either (it’s really a print-centric medium, quick DTP if you like). So maybe there is room for something new here.

Nevertheless, I’d encourage anyone to read Tufte’s essay - what he says is not so much about using these slide decks offline, but use of Powerpoint online - i.e. for its original design purpose in giving presentations. His comments are strong, and I’m sure there is from for more compromise than he suggests (after all, tools can be abused or used well), but generally his arguments resonate well with me after one too many bad Powerpoint slides!

His book ‘The Visual Display of Quantitative Information’ is also a classic, and well worth reading. It’s refreshment when you’ve had ‘graphic designer’ overload.

]]> By: dps http://www.andrewferrier.com/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-4 dps Sun, 02 Jul 2006 20:56:01 +0000 http://www.new-destiny.co.uk/andrew/blog/2006/06/29/dull-presentations-and-organizational-change/#comment-4 Interesting. Powerpoint presentations were never designed to be a replacement for "proper" documents (reports etc), but I think condemning Powerpoint used in this context out of hand is also rather premature. Sure, the SNR can be low, but I have found that when a technical message needs to be conveyed to a large number of busy individuals, sending round a Powerpoint 'deck' rally can be the best way. A 10-slide presentation is much more likely to be viewed than a 2 page written report is to be read (I'd contend) and the medium can be very effective at informing the reader quickly. Perhaps we need a better dedicated product for this communication than Powerpoint, which is really being beaten into submission for this purpose... Interesting. Powerpoint presentations were never designed to be a replacement for “proper” documents (reports etc), but I think condemning Powerpoint used in this context out of hand is also rather premature. Sure, the SNR can be low, but I have found that when a technical message needs to be conveyed to a large number of busy individuals, sending round a Powerpoint ‘deck’ rally can be the best way. A 10-slide presentation is much more likely to be viewed than a 2 page written report is to be read (I’d contend) and the medium can be very effective at informing the reader quickly. Perhaps we need a better dedicated product for this communication than Powerpoint, which is really being beaten into submission for this purpose…

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