This is an excellent lead into the discussions we had at Coworking Europe around the CoworkingDB. I've been planning on organizing my thoughts and sending something out when my head clears. I just got back to Seattle last night. The basic idea is to expand the scope of the CoworkingDB to include all sorts of data like this and change the focus to all forms of open coworking data. That's also what we've been calling it. More soon.
Jacob --- Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolation http://www.officenomads.com - (206) 323-6500 On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 7:36 AM, Alex Hillman <[email protected]>wrote: > Too often, surveys lead questions in ways that the answers don't really > provide the value they seem to. I really think that this is something that > needs to remain open ended, but with a couple of well-thought-out prompts in > order, to collect the stories necessary. > > To be clear - I'm not looking for "we installed lockers". I'm looking for > things like, "we installed lockers, and within 6 days they were all full" > vs. "we installed lockers and it wasn't until we provided free locks to our > members that they actually got used". > > I don't know that a survey can ask the right questions. I like the idea of > a grad student taking this on. We've got a few that work from Indy Hall now > on their thesis work regarding "Play at Work", and there's another grad > student who's getting ready to do some ethnographic fieldwork for a couple > of years at Indy Hall. So far, these students have been really awesome to > work with, and I've not only been able to help them learn to ask questions > that get them answers other than "the usual", but we've consistently seen > their perspectives on coworking change within a few weeks of working with > us. > > -Alex > > /ah > indyhall.org > coworking in philadelphia > > > On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 8:05 AM, rob obrien <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Alex >> >> Perhaps a survey would help in gathering the answers. Perhaps an >> intern or grad student would pick up this worthy research project for >> our community. (no irony or sarcasm intended.) >> >> Rob OBrien >> >> On Dec 2, 11:55 pm, Alex Hillman <[email protected]> wrote: >> > I'd love to see somebody start a spreadsheet of things like: >> > >> > - the places that people have successfully found and met prospective >> > members (and places that have turned up bupkis) >> > - successful events that enhance the culture of a coworking community >> > (and events that nobody seemed interested in) >> > - values added by and for community members (and stuff you added that >> > nobody used) >> > >> > Figure out how to organize it, and I'd be happy to contribute. >> > >> > -Alex >> > >> > /ah >> > indyhall.org >> > coworking in philadelphiaOn Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 4:08 PM, Angel K < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> > > HI Rob, >> > > I have an 1,100 sqft space in Colorado and with 0 refurbishing, other >> > > than changing one paint color, my start up costs were $20,000. I >> > > thought it would be 10,000 but the old rule of doubling what you think >> > > held true! This space is currently home to 31 members, the majority of >> > > whom use the space 1 or 2 days/week. 5 of the members only use the >> > > space on Weds nights. >> > > Most of my furnishings were custom built by a new designer so they >> > > were dirt cheap, the rest were from Ikea and Target. We also inherited >> > > our conference room furniture from the landlord at no cost. >> > > I do not pay a staff member but I do use 1-3 unpaid interns at any >> > > given time who help me and the members with their projects in addition >> > > to greeting and welcoming people during the day. >> > >> > > Hope that helps :) >> > > Angel >> > >> > > On Nov 28, 8:31 pm, rob obrien <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > I'm launching a space and put together a simple income/expense and >> > > > startup costs spreadsheet in Google Docs. >> > >> > > > I think I have got a handle on it, but would appreciate a few second >> > > > opinions from the experienced hand out there. >> > >> > > > >> https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AgZXryylWlWbdGJjZTJFS2lGV1BD... >> > >> > > > Thanks in advance. >> > >> > > > I would be happy to provide edit permissions. You will need a >> google >> > > > account >> > >> > > > Rob OBrienhttp://cdga-cowork.posterous.com/ >> > >> > > -- >> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups >> > > "Coworking" group. >> > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > > [email protected]<coworking%[email protected]> >> <coworking%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups .com> >> > > . >> > > For more options, visit this group at >> > >http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Coworking" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<coworking%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. >> >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<coworking%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. 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