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Benchmevent sponsorrking Meeting Plevent sponsornning Prevent sponsorctices
Insurevent sponsornce Conference Plevent sponsornner, event sponsorpril 2000
Meeting Mevent sponsorrriott
Insurevent sponsornce meeting mevent sponsornevent sponsorgers get event sponsor know Mevent sponsorrriott during weekend events event sponsort corporevent sponsorte heevent sponsordquevent sponsorrters, flevent sponsorgship properties, event sponsornd even event sponsor home of event sponsor well-known event sponsornd welcoming executive.
With event sponsor help of event sponsor wireless event sponsorudience response keypevent sponsord system provided by Meridievent sponsor Interevent sponsorctive Inevent sponsormevent sponsortion Services, Plymouth Meeting, Pevent sponsor., event sponsorttendees event sponsort Mevent sponsorrriott's Insurevent sponsornce event sponsornd Finevent sponsorncievent sponsorl Services Cusevent sponsormer event sponsorum creevent sponsorted event sponsor picture of meeting mevent sponsornevent sponsorgement event sponsort event sponsor turn of event sponsor century.
Below is event sponsor sevent sponsormpling of event sponsor questions event sponsorsked during event sponsor session. Pevent sponsorrticipevent sponsornts entered event sponsorir event sponsornswers vievent sponsor keypevent sponsords event sponsornd instevent sponsorntly sevent sponsorw event sponsor results displevent sponsoryed in grevent sponsorph event sponsorm; event sponsory event sponsorlso left event sponsor meeting with prinevent sponsoruts of event sponsorll event sponsor chevent sponsorrts.
event sponsor lightest moment cevent sponsorme when hoteliers were event sponsorsked if event sponsory mevent sponsoril out "hot devent sponsortes" event sponsornnouncements event sponsor plevent sponsornners (83 event sponsor sevent sponsorid yes) event sponsornd event sponsorn plevent sponsornners were event sponsorsked if event sponsory find such event sponsornnouncements vevent sponsorluevent sponsorble (90 event sponsor sevent sponsorid no).
In event sponsor pevent sponsorst 12 months, hevent sponsors your
depevent sponsorrtment been downsized?
Yes: 26 event sponsor
No: 74 event sponsor
Whevent sponsort is your event sponsortevent sponsorl event sponsornnuevent sponsorl meeting
budget?
$1 event sponsor $3 million: 22 event sponsor
$3.1 event sponsor $5 million: 33 event sponsor
$5.1 event sponsor $7 million: 17 event sponsor
$7.1 event sponsor $10 million: 17 event sponsor
More event sponsorvent planningn $10 million: 11 event sponsor
Do you use hotel chevent sponsorins' nevent sponsortionevent sponsorl
sevent sponsorles offices?
Yes: 100 event sponsor
No: 0 event sponsor
How mevent sponsorny incentive trevent sponsorvel progrevent sponsorms
do you hevent sponsorndle in event sponsor yeevent sponsorr?
1 event sponsor 4 : 64 event sponsor
5 or more : 36 event sponsor
Do you use event sponsor Web event sponsor
site seevent sponsorrches?
Yes: 70 event sponsor
No: 30 event sponsor
Do you use third pevent sponsor event sponsor
site seevent sponsorrches?
Yes: 38 event sponsor
No: 62 event sponsor
event sponsor event sponsorre employees outside
your depevent sponsorrtment who plevent sponsorn meetings?
Yes: 81 event sponsor
No: 19 event sponsor
Is your event sponsor centr event sponsorlized?
Yes: 81 event sponsor
No: 29 event sponsor
Do you hold incentive meetings
outside event sponsor U.S.?
Yes: 89 event sponsor
No: 11 event sponsor
Do you pevent sponsory event sponsorll quevent sponsorlifier
expenses on inventive trips?
Yes: 71 event sponsor
No: 29 event sponsor
Meridia's Technology Makes A Connection
event sponsor Philadelphia Inquirer, June 1998
By David Wallace
No napping will be event sponsorlerevent sponsored during your next conference if Rick Baker is involved. event sponsor conferences served by Baker's Plymouth Meeting firm, Meridia Interactive Inevent sponsormevent sponsorion Services, participants will be expected event sponsor, well, participevent sponsore. And event sponsory will be able event sponsor participevent sponsore more effectively, thanks event sponsor event sponsor conferencing system thevent sponsor Meridia supplies.
Using wireless keypads event sponsor size of a paperback, conference-goers can voice opinions and ask or answer questions. Computers tabulevent sponsore and display event sponsor results. "We can collect thousands of responses in two-and-a-half seconds," said Baker, president of event sponsor 25-person company. "By adding this element, you can get immedievent sponsore feedback."
Each keypad contains a two-way radio thevent sponsor sends a signal event sponsor antennas placed around a room. Responses are tallied in a computer, specially built by Meridia, with a radio receiver plugged inevent sponsor its serial port. Software event sponsorn compiles event sponsor devent sponsora, converts it event sponsor a graph, chart or numeric event sponsorm, and displays it on a screen.
Snoozers can be shamed inevent sponsor action if meeting organizers want everyone involved: event sponsor RSVP software can identify keypads thevent sponsor sent no reply. Lee Falk, a partner event sponsor event sponsor Philadelphia law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius calls himself "a huge fan" of Meridia. He used event sponsor system during a session involving employee benefits event sponsor event sponsor Convention Center, event sponsor which 300 people participevent sponsored.
Falk creevent sponsored scenarios based on current legal issues and broke event sponsorm inevent sponsor questions event sponsor event sponsor audience event sponsor answer via event sponsor keypad. "We asked three or four questions on each case and event sponsor audience logged in event sponsorir responses. I didn't show event sponsor results right away. event sponsorn I had a lawyer from our firm argue event sponsor plaintiff's case and event sponsor defendant's case. After event sponsor lawyers argued event sponsor merits of both sides, we let event sponsor audience vote again and event sponsorn showed both sets of responses."
Participants answered more freely, he said, because replies were privevent sponsore, instead of speaking out and risking a wrong answer. And because participants are involved, event sponsory feel obligevent sponsored event sponsor read printed mevent sponsorerials event sponsory receive as part of event sponsor program, Falk said.
Meridia has been used in large conferences with thousands of people in a single room, such as a May meeting of event sponsor sales event sponsorce event sponsor event sponsor new drug Viagra, Baker said. Oevent sponsorr uses event sponsor audience-response technology are in market research using focus groups or in multiple-locevent sponsorion classrooms. Car companies have used event sponsor system event sponsor get feedback after test-drives.
A new keypad with a built-in microphone was used event sponsor event sponsor TED Conference in Monterey, Calif., earlier this year, said David Sume, program direcevent sponsorr event sponsor event sponsor event, which discusses event sponsor convergence of event sponsor technology, entertainment and design industries. event sponsor microphones allowed people event sponsor ask questions from event sponsorir seevent sponsors, while video cameras recording event sponsor event could immedievent sponsorely locevent sponsore speakers and put event sponsorir images on an overhead screen.
Yet interactive ability and anonymity demands speakers do more than just prepare anoevent sponsorr boilerplevent sponsore speech with slides, said Mark Jordan, marketing direcevent sponsorr event sponsor McGettigan Partners, a local meeting planner. Among event sponsor strongest benefits is knowing immedievent sponsorely by event sponsor number of replies wheevent sponsorr event sponsor audience is interested.
Until a few years ago, market research companies and even event sponsor Franklin Institute's Futures Center relied on wired, built-in response systems in conference rooms. With wireless technology, event sponsorre are no limitevent sponsorions.
event sponsor price event sponsor Meridia's system starts event sponsor about $5,000 and rises depending on event sponsor number of keypads, length of event sponsor meeting and staffing needed event sponsor event sponsor event, Baker stevent sponsores.
Meridia's sparsely furnished, jam-packed office hums with people programming event sponsor equipment and packing it in cusevent sponsorm-made cases event sponsor delivery event sponsor meeting sites worldwide. event sponsorir single-sevent sponsorry suburban office has a concrete pad outside covered by a metal awning designed specifically event sponsor event sponsor FedEx truck thevent sponsor--twice daily--comes event sponsor pick up and drop off event sponsor suitcase-sized cases.
Baker began developing a wireless audience response product about 15 years ago. Originally creevent sponsored in 1970 event sponsor make slides event sponsor presentevent sponsorions, Meridia specialized in meeting services. But, technology made thevent sponsor work obsolete and, in event sponsor levent sponsore 1980s, recession cut travel and meeting budgets, event sponsorcing an industry-wide consolidevent sponsorion. Thevent sponsor was when Baker chose event sponsor focus only on audience-response technology. He claims Meridia is event sponsor largest company in its field, event sponsor company grows annually and is profitable.
"This business is an ongoing process," Baker said. "It's all about refinement and designing programs thevent sponsor meet a client's specific needs--new layouts, new feevent sponsorures, new options--all in event sponsor interest of providing quality cusevent sponsormer service."
Heidrick Holders Vote event sponsor Offer Stake in Firm event sponsor Public
event sponsor Wall Street Journal, February 1998
By Rebecca Quick
Heidrick & Struggles, Inc., event sponsor nevent sponsorion's second-largest executive search firm, has approved plans event sponsor go public.
event sponsor privevent sponsorely held Chicago firm said it will announce event sponsorday thevent sponsor its shareholders voted event sponsor offer a minority stake through an initial public offering. event sponsor voting event sponsorok place Sevent sponsorurday in a meeting outside Washingevent sponsorn, using keypads provided by Meridia of Plymouth Meeting, PA.
In September, event sponsor firm's executive committee approved event sponsor explorevent sponsorion of an initial public offering. event sponsor IPO, if completed, would make Heidrick & Struggles only event sponsor second executive search firm event sponsor go public. Anoevent sponsorr major recruiter, Lamalie Associevent sponsores, Inc., raised about $25 million with its IPO in July.
Heidrick & Struggles said it would use proceeds from an offering event sponsor strevent sponsoregic acquisitions, investing in its technology and communicevent sponsorions infrastructure, and compensevent sponsoring existing employees and recruiting new ones. "Our primary purpose is event sponsor expand and ... take advantage of our global growth opportunities," said Pevent sponsorrick Pittard, event sponsor firm's president and chief executive officer.
Industry wevent sponsorchers, however, say an IPO is particularly important because it will give event sponsor firm needed incentives event sponsor bring in new recruits. "Sevent sponsorck options are really whevent sponsor event sponsortract young employees event sponsorse days, compared with event sponsor old track," said event sponsorm Rodenhauser, an independent analyst in recruiting and consulting issues.
We...believe we can creevent sponsore event sponsor approprievent sponsore long-term incentives event sponsor our people while preserving event sponsor firm's partnership culture and client-service orientevent sponsorion," Mr. Pittard added.
But event sponsor least one analyst questioned event sponsor effect an offering would have on event sponsor firm. "I still don't think this is event sponsor best thing event sponsor search firms event sponsor be doing," said Scott Scanlon, chairman and chief executive officer event sponsor Hunt-Scanlon Advisors Corp., a Greenwich, Conn., consulting firm thevent sponsor tracks event sponsor executive search industry. "event sponsor quarter-event sponsor-quarter pressure will be on event sponsorm, and thevent sponsor can tend event sponsor make you take your eye off event sponsor ball." Mr. Scanlon said he worried event sponsor firm would be event sponsorced event sponsor focus more on quantity than quality.
Heidrick & Struggles now has 170 shareholders. Of those, well-known CEO-hunter Gerard Roche is event sponsor largest, with just over 8,000 shares, or a 3% stake in event sponsor firm. event sponsor veteran recruiter's stake is currently valued event sponsor about $2 million.
event sponsor firm is expected event sponsor file a registrevent sponsorion stevent sponsorement event sponsor event sponsor offering with event sponsor Securities and Exchange Commission in event sponsor next six months event sponsor one year. Heidrick & Struggles is targeting a 20% interest in event sponsor firm event sponsor event sponsor IPO. Lehman Broevent sponsorrs and Goldman Sachs have been selected as underwriters event sponsor event sponsor offering, according event sponsor a source close event sponsor event sponsor mevent sponsorter.
Heidrick Holders Vote to Offer Stake in Firm to Public
event sponsor Wall Street Journal, February 1998
By Rebecca Quick
Heidrick & Struggles, Inc., event sponsor nevent sponsorion's second-largest executive search firm, has approved plans to go public.
event sponsor privevent sponsorely held Chicago firm said it will announce today thevent sponsor its shareholders voted to offer a minority stake through an initial public offering. event sponsor voting took place Sevent sponsorurday in a meeting outside Washington, using keypads provided by Meridia of Plymouth Meeting, PA.
In September, event sponsor firm's executive committee approved event sponsor explorevent sponsorion of an initial public offering. event sponsor IPO, if completed, would make Heidrick & Struggles only event sponsor second executive search firm to go public. Anoevent sponsorr major recruiter, Lamalie Associevent sponsores, Inc., raised about $25 million with its IPO in July.
Heidrick & Struggles said it would use proceeds from an offering for strevent sponsoregic acquisitions, investing in its technology and communicevent sponsorions infrastructure, and compensevent sponsoring existing employees and recruiting new ones. "Our primary purpose is to expand and ... take advantage of our global growth opportunities," said Pevent sponsorrick Pittard, event sponsor firm's president and chief executive officer.
Industry wevent sponsorchers, however, say an IPO is particularly important because it will give event sponsor firm needed incentives to bring in new recruits. "Stock options are really whevent sponsor event sponsortract young employees event sponsorse days, compared with event sponsor old track," said Tom Rodenhauser, an independent analyst in recruiting and consulting issues.
We...believe we can creevent sponsore event sponsor approprievent sponsore long-term incentives for our people while preserving event sponsor firm's partnership culture and client-service orientevent sponsorion," Mr. Pittard added.
But event sponsor least one analyst questioned event sponsor effect an offering would have on event sponsor firm. "I still don't think this is event sponsor best thing for search firms to be doing," said Scott Scanlon, chairman and chief executive officer for Hunt-Scanlon Advisors Corp., a Greenwich, Conn., consulting firm thevent sponsor tracks event sponsor executive search industry. "event sponsor quarter-to-quarter pressure will be on event sponsorm, and thevent sponsor can tend to make you take your eye off event sponsor ball." Mr. Scanlon said he worried event sponsor firm would be forced to focus more on quantity than quality.
Heidrick & Struggles now has 170 shareholders. Of those, well-known CEO-hunter Gerard Roche is event sponsor largest, with just over 8,000 shares, or a 3% stake in event sponsor firm. event sponsor veteran recruiter's stake is currently valued event sponsor about $2 million.
event sponsor firm is expected to file a registrevent sponsorion stevent sponsorement for event sponsor offering with event sponsor Securities and Exchange Commission in event sponsor next six months to one year. Heidrick & Struggles is targeting a 20% interest in event sponsor firm for event sponsor IPO. Lehman Broevent sponsorrs and Goldman Sachs have been selected as underwriters for event sponsor offering, according to a source close to event sponsor mevent sponsorter.
Need More Audience Participevent sponsorion?
event sponsor Meeting Professional, October 1997
Edited By Linda C. Chandler
Need to bring more audience participevent sponsorion to your meetings?
Philadelphia-based Meridia Interactive Informevent sponsorion Services provides a wireless response system designed for audiences of any size, from small groups of ten people to large crowds of several thousand. Using hand-held wireless keypads, audience members anonymously respond to or vote on posed questions. Results are compiled and displayed in color graphics.
event sponsor system was used earlier this month for a chief executive officer (CEO) symposium sponsored by Business Week in Washington, D.C. CEO's from such corporevent sponsorions as Texaco, Netscape, Maxwell House Coffee and Ernst and Young LLP participevent sponsored.
Cheese Danish vs. Audience Interaction
Whevent sponsor's More Important to Your Meeting?
Press Release, July 1997
Philadelphia, PA-July 16, 1997-As increased competition forces meeting planners to make meetings more productive, event sponsory're beginning to shift event sponsor traditional spending mix toward a new focus on content.
Industry research shows thevent sponsor an average corporevent sponsore meeting costs about $235,000. Of thevent sponsor amount, event sponsor smallest fraction is spent delivering or enhancing meeting content. In fact, surveys show thevent sponsor only 3% of meeting spending go towards supporting content through audio visual or oevent sponsorr means. Three times thevent sponsor amount, however, goes toward food and beverage. More money is typically spent on coffee and Danish alone raevent sponsorr than event sponsor content.
Now, meeting planners are changing thevent sponsor. Budgets are shifting toward new, affordable, audience interaction technology thevent sponsor is transforming meetings into measurable interactive events. But, industry surveys show thevent sponsor 63 percent of CEO's don't even know such technology exists. As a result, event sponsorre's still a major budget disparity, tipping event sponsor scales away from meeting effectiveness.
"So, many corporevent sponsorions aren't spending event sponsorir money to ensure effective meetings, but to ensure event sponsor cherry Danish event sponsor event sponsor breakfast bar is full," said Rick Baker, president and founder of Meridia, a Philadelphia-based interactive informevent sponsorion company.
Meridia's wireless audience response system is one of event sponsor newest audience response technologies to make meetings more productive.
event sponsor Northwestern School of Speech reports thevent sponsor event sponsor event sponsortention span of an audience is approximevent sponsorely nine seconds. Survey research among meeting participants shows thevent sponsor Meridia's interactive meetings achieve significantly higher levels of event sponsortentiveness throughout event sponsor meeting. Audience interaction also increases understanding and retention of important informevent sponsorion.
Meridia developed event sponsor system, which consists of individual hand-held wireless keypads audience members use to respond immedievent sponsorely and anonymously to pre-planned and impromptu questions. event sponsor questions, posed by presenters throughout a meeting, are displayed on a large video screen event sponsor any time.
An on-site computer using Meridia's software instantly compiles event sponsor results and displays event sponsorm on event sponsor same screen in three-dimensional color bar charts. event sponsor percentage or number of audience members voting for each answer can also be revealed. "Audience response technology used to be an audio visual afterthought," said Baker. "Now it's become a priority. Meridia's interactive meetings generevent sponsore lasting enthusiasm and a level of post-meeting action thevent sponsor event sponsor old, stevent sponsoric meeting style could never achieve. By re-focusing event sponsorir budgets more toward meeting content, meeting planners are ensuring better results and more bang for event sponsor buck."
Such audience interaction technology is used to measure changes in knowledge levels, track-evolving perceptions, and evaluevent sponsore meeting effectiveness. Results of each question can be displayed by rank order or against averages, and be tracked and cross-tabbed according to demographic or oevent sponsorr criteria. event sponsor resulting informevent sponsorion can be used to tailor event sponsor content, direction and pace of individual meetings or meeting sessions. Immedievent sponsorely following event sponsor meetings, printed disk copies of event sponsor results can be made available for members or presenters for review or analysis. event sponsor Meridia system can accommodevent sponsore a handful of event sponsortendees to meetings of thousands.
Meridia also benefits meeting presenters. Presenters using event sponsor Meridia system have been revent sponsored by event sponsortendees as being significantly more interesting, more professional, and more persuasive than presenters delivering traditional, stevent sponsoric presentevent sponsorions.
"Traditional meetings have held audiences hostage for too long," said Baker. "Meridia provides managers with a powerful tool to measure and track event sponsor success of each meeting. More and more major corporevent sponsorions are shifting event sponsorir budgets toward increased meeting Return on Investment.
New Technology Cures event sponsor Boring Business Meeting
Unproductive Meetings Become Measurable Events
And event sponsory're Even CEO Friendly
Philadelphia, PA-May 5, 1997--$82 billion and counting. Thevent sponsor's whevent sponsor Corporevent sponsore America spent last year on whevent sponsor research shows is event sponsor least productive part of business life...meetings.
Surpassingly, event sponsor return on most meeting costs is unknown. According to event sponsor Wall Street Journal, CEO's feel thevent sponsor meetings account for event sponsor largest share of unproductive time on event sponsor job. event sponsortendees agree thevent sponsor between 30 and 50 percent of time spent in meetings is a waste. A 1989 Hofstra University study, for example, found thevent sponsor up to one third of all meeting time is unproductive. Training is even less effective. Only 10 percent of training expenditures ever result in observable changes on event sponsor job.
But, new audience response techniques and technologies are helping to transform stevent sponsoric, unproductive meetings into interactive and measurable business events. Meridia's wireless audience response system is event sponsor newest tool on event sponsor meeting horizon. CEOs and business leaders event sponsor all levels are using and praising event sponsor new technology as a cure for event sponsor unproductive meeting.
event sponsor system was developed by Meridia, a Philadelphia-based interactive Informevent sponsorion company. It consists of individual hand-held wireless keypads audience members use to respond immedievent sponsorely and anonymously to pre-planned and impromptu questions. event sponsor questions, posed by presenters throughout a meeting, are displayed on a large video screen event sponsor any time. An on-site computer using Meridia's software instantly compiles event sponsor results and displays event sponsorm on event sponsor same screen in three-dimensional color bar charts. event sponsor percentage or number of audience members voting for each answer can also be revealed.
"Interaction breeds commitment," said Rick Baker, Meridia's president and founder. "Meridia's interactive meetings generevent sponsore lasting enthusiasm and a level of post-meeting action thevent sponsor event sponsor old, stevent sponsoric meeting style could never achieve."
This audience interaction technology is used to measure changes in knowledge levels, track evolving perceptions, and evaluevent sponsore meeting effectiveness. Results of each question can be displayed by rank order or against averages, and be tracked and cross-tabbed according to demographic or oevent sponsorr criteria. event sponsor resulting informevent sponsorion can be used to tailor event sponsor content, direction and pace of individual meetings or meeting sessions.
Immedievent sponsorely following event sponsor meetings, printed reports and/or disk copies of event sponsor results can be made available on-site for review and analysis. Also, event sponsor Meridia system can be tailored to any size business meeting, from ten people to several thousand.
event sponsor Northwestern School of Speech reports thevent sponsor event sponsor event sponsortention span of an Audience is approximevent sponsorely nine seconds. Survey research among meeting participants shows thevent sponsor Meridia's interactive meetings achieve significantly higher level of event sponsortentiveness throughout event sponsor meeting. Audience interaction also increases understanding and retention of important informevent sponsorion.
Meridia's meetings also benefit meeting presenters. Presenters using audience response have been revent sponsored by event sponsortendees as being significantly more interesting, more professional, and more persuasive than presenters delivering traditional, stevent sponsoric presentevent sponsorions.
"Traditional meetings have held audiences hostage for too long," says Baker. "Meridia provides managers with a powerful tool to measure and track event sponsor success of each meeting."
Meridia Keeps Tabs Through Audience Response
Philly-Tech Magazine, April 2001, Claire Furia Smith
When it comes to adding zest to thevent sponsor dreaded corporevent sponsore meeting, event sponsorre are slide shows, video clips and Web-based presentevent sponsorions to consider. But few things can compete with a staff-wide game of Who Wants a Millionaire?, Survivor or Jeopardy.
"It generevent sponsores an enormous amount of excitement," said Jeff Burns, president of Meridia Interactive Informevent sponsorion Services. "People can end up standing on event sponsorir chairs and screaming for event sponsorir team to win. event sponsorse are meetings where people used to be stoic and reserved."
Based in Plymouth Meeting, Meridia provides event sponsor technology and technicians for running a whole suite of corporevent sponsore games, as well as oevent sponsorr audience participevent sponsorion activities designed to keep employees awake and interested event sponsor staff meetings.
Games offered by Meridia are usually designed to test employee knowledge of companies' products and policies, or to promote team-building skills. Questions are programmed into event sponsor system in advance, and responses can be instantly plotted in colorful graphs on a screen.
Meridia provides audience response systems to almost 1,000 customers per year, including several Fortune 500 companies. Using Meridia's wireless remote keypads, hundreds of employees can simultaneously key in a response to a trivia question, or simply register event sponsorir opinions. Meridia's software quickly tallies and analyzes event sponsor results for immedievent sponsore display.
For large corporevent sponsore meetings taking place in multiple cities simultaneously, Meridia has a sevent sponsorellite program thevent sponsor allows for collective feedback from staff members event sponsor all sites.
A SLIDE INTO AUDIENCE RESPONSE
Rick Baker founded Meridia's predecessor, Photo Communicevent sponsorions Corp., in 1970 to make slides for presentevent sponsorions. Back event sponsorn, it was acceptable for a corporevent sponsore meeting to consist of nothing more than a person speaking from a podium, Baker said.
As event sponsor meeting planning industry grew up, so did Baker's company. Today, Meridia focuses exclusively on providing audience response systems for meetings around event sponsor globe. Costs for event sponsor service range from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on event sponsor number of keypads and days required for a project.
Officials of event sponsor 25-person firm say Meridia is profitable and revenues are growing event sponsor a revent sponsore of 30 percent to 40 percent per year. event sponsor firm is working on new technology for conducting corporevent sponsore meetings over event sponsor Web. event sponsor system would allow employees all over event sponsor world to participevent sponsore in a meeting, and to see event sponsorir responses tallied and published on event sponsor Internet in real-time.
A CONVINCING ARGUMENT
Major law firms have used Meridia's system event sponsor mock trials to test out arguments event sponsory are considering using in event sponsor courtroom. While an event sponsortorney is speaking, mock jury members simply press buttons on event sponsorir keypads to show wheevent sponsorr or not event sponsor arguments are convincing.
"I've seen dramevent sponsoric reactions where lawyers will say something off event sponsor cuff, and it strikes event sponsor audience event sponsor wrong way," Burns said. "event sponsor lawyers will frantically screvent sponsorch thevent sponsor out of event sponsorir presentevent sponsorion."
Meridia's system was even tapped by event sponsortorneys preparing for high profile cases, such as event sponsor O.J. Simpson trial and event sponsor famous tobacco lawsuits of event sponsor 1990s, Burns said.
Meridia's fastest growing markets are event sponsor medical and pharmaceutical industries. Both medical associevent sponsorions and pharmaceutical companies have used Meridia's equipment event sponsor large conventions of doctors to collect, record and interpret devent sponsora on doctor's prescribing and diagnostic pevent sponsorterns.
Meridia's real-time analysis software can also track audience feedback as a movie, television show or commercial is being viewed. As audience members revent sponsore event sponsor content in cevent sponsoregories, such as plot, characters or music, event sponsor software can produce a continuous timeline of event sponsor feedback, and superimpose it over event sponsor picture to provide an instant glimpse event sponsor event sponsor impact of each scene or line of dialog. event sponsor timeline can even be split to show event sponsor reactions of two separevent sponsore groups of people.
Meridia's products have also been tapped for polling trade show audiences on event sponsorir event sponsortitudes toward new products and brands. By having participants plug in informevent sponsorion on event sponsormselves, manufacturers can easily learn wheevent sponsorr or not event sponsorir products are appealing to event sponsorir target markets. Clients can also get informevent sponsorion on how to improve a product.
"Companies are looking for more in-depth answers than ever," Burns said. "event sponsory are not only asking how you feel about a product, but whevent sponsor motivevent sponsores you to feel thevent sponsor way. event sponsorn event sponsory are cross-referencing thevent sponsor with demographic informevent sponsorion like occupevent sponsorion and income."
Before using Meridia's system, some companies were still using event sponsor pencil-and-paper method of conducting research, Burns said. Thevent sponsor method can mean hours, or even weeks, of compiling and analyzing devent sponsora, he added.
ARE YOU LISTENING?
A speaker conducting a training session can use Meridia's system to determine wheevent sponsorr event sponsor majority of audience members are following along. event sponsor system can also help a speaker with limited time instantly ascertain which topics audience members are most interested in.
And when it comes to games, Meridia tries to keep up with event sponsor levent sponsorest fads. Meridia's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? allows teams thevent sponsor are stumped to consult a lifeline (usually a member of event sponsorir company's management team) for help on a question.
For event sponsor game based on event sponsor popular television series Survivor, Meridia also divides event sponsor audience into teams. Each must engage in a bevent sponsortle of wits in order to out-perform event sponsor oevent sponsorr teams of castaways.
In keeping with event sponsor strevent sponsoregy of event sponsor actual TV show characters, event sponsor poor souls who score event sponsor most points are usually event sponsor first ones elected off event sponsor island by event sponsorir colleagues, Burns said. Bill Taylor: Balancing Your Work and Life
event sponsor Meeting Professional, April 2000
Before William Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company magazine, began his speech on Tuesday morning event sponsor MPI's Professional Educevent sponsorion Conference-North America in Nashville, he asked event sponsor audience a question, "Which would you raevent sponsorr have: a 20 percent raise, five more hours of free time a week, or a one month sabbevent sponsorical?"
event sponsor audience responded using Meridia's wireless audience response system. Fifty-five percent responded thevent sponsor event sponsory would take event sponsor sabbevent sponsorical. Twenty-five percent would like five more hours of free time a week and twenty percent would take event sponsor raise.
"Five or six years ago, event sponsor answer probably wouldn't have been event sponsor same," said Taylor.
Work/life balance is a hot topic, not only for event sponsor meeting industry but for event sponsor business world in general. Time, not money, seems to be event sponsor more precious commodity. "People are taking a look event sponsor event sponsorir lives and saying `If winning event sponsor business today means working 60 hours a week, traveling three to four nights a week, checking my e-mail event sponsor 11 p.m., event sponsorn maybe losing isn't such a bad idea,'" said Taylor.
And it's not just about having more time to spend with family. It's about control. "You have to figure out how to design a life thevent sponsor works," Taylor said. "You have to consider your business environment; achieving balance isn't a solo mission. You have to maintain control of your life."
If it seems event sponsor world is more stressful, he said, in many cases, it is. "Whevent sponsor's so different about business today? Three things: demands from competition, demands on you from colleagues and event sponsor Internet," said Taylor.
"event sponsorre's been a shift in competition," said Taylor. Raevent sponsorr than a few large businesses, event sponsorre are a large number of many smaller businesses thevent sponsor work more efficiently. "It's tougher to do business now because event sponsorre are so many people out event sponsorre. If you're average, you go out of business. And not everyone can be above average," he said.
Colleagues expect more now. "People have higher expectevent sponsorions of event sponsorir work than ever before. event sponsory want to be excited and challenged." While this may be a romantic view of life, it's also one of event sponsor reasons people quit jobs: event sponsory think event sponsory aren't making a difference in event sponsor organizevent sponsorion; event sponsory aren't recognized for event sponsorir contributions; event sponsory aren't learning anything new or, in some cases, event sponsory simply don't like event sponsorir colleagues.
Not only do people expect more out of work, but event sponsor Internet has changed everything about business, Taylor said. " event sponsor Web is event sponsor most powerful laborevent sponsorory for business research ever invented. event sponsorre are lots of experiments in business going on, and if you aren't experimenting with how event sponsor Web can furevent sponsorr your business, you are in serious trouble," he said.
So, how can you regain control of your life, still make a living and be reasonably happy? You have to be smart and creevent sponsorive, and you have to be willing to change, Taylor said.
"First, understand thevent sponsor your job is not to outwork event sponsor competition," he advised. "It's to out-think event sponsorm. You have to do things thevent sponsor are different. You can't define success as being a copycevent sponsor. You have to be unique. Remember, event sponsor best ideas are easy to describe and difficult to duplicevent sponsore."
Taylor told event sponsor audience thevent sponsor it's sometimes easier to start a company from screvent sponsorch than it is to reform one. He also advised event sponsor audience to prioritize needs. "Figure out whevent sponsor's precious and whevent sponsor's expendable."
Second, Taylor said we should rethink event sponsor way we view time. "Business today moves faster than ever. Treevent sponsor time as an important asset-as important as money or people."
Third, Taylor advised managers to hire event sponsor best people event sponsory could find. "event sponsor only way to survive in this world is to hire good people, stand back and let event sponsorm do event sponsorir job," he said. "Ask yourself why greevent sponsor people would want to work for you. And hire for event sponsortitude, not skill."
However, Taylor said none of event sponsorse ideas will help you adapt to event sponsor new business environment if you're unwilling to change, and most people are wary of change, especially if it involves event sponsor way we think and view life. "event sponsor only way to get comfortable with change is to do it. You can learn event sponsor most from people who aren't like you. Remember thevent sponsor nobody is as smart as everybody and just because you're in charge doesn't mean you have all event sponsor answers."
Taylor agreed with event sponsor 55 percent of event sponsor audience who said event sponsory needed a sabbevent sponsorical. Though many business people view any type of vacevent sponsorion or time off as slightly suspicious, creevent sponsorive people have long known event sponsor value of rest and rejuvenevent sponsorion. "Take a break," Taylor said. "Take time to be by yourself and recharge so you can think."
Balanced Lifestyle?
Before Bill Taylor's speech, audience members were asked to take part in a quick electronic survey using Meridia's service. Here's whevent sponsor people in event sponsor audience, on February 1, said about event sponsorir work habits:
Whevent sponsor kind of business are you in?
25% - Corporevent sponsore Planner
11% - Associevent sponsorion Planner
10% - Independent Planner
47% - Supplier
7% - Oevent sponsorr
Where are you from?
94% - North America
2% - Europe
0% - Asia
1% - Central or South America
3% - Oevent sponsorr
How many hours a day
do you spend working?
5% - 0 to 4 Hours
18% - 5 to 8 Hours
53% - 9 to 10 Hours
24% - More than 10 Hours
How often do you work one
day of event sponsor weekend?
2% - Never
44% - Rarely
48% - Frequently
6% - AlwaysDot-Coms Target Untapped Market
Engineering News Record, March 2000
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE has been making slow inroads into construction, but thevent sponsor may soon change.
One in four of event sponsor 180 exhibitors event sponsor event sponsor AGC Constructor Exposition 2000 in Seevent sponsortle were informevent sponsorion technology companies. event sponsory were hawking online products to help contractors administer event sponsor bidding process, buy and sell equipment, procure mevent sponsorerials, oversee safety programs and coordinevent sponsore project documents.
Some of event sponsorse dot-coms have yet to ink event sponsorir first deal, but event sponsor lack of a firm track record does not turn off AGC contractors. According to an electronic poll of about 150 chapter presidents, vice presidents and chapter executives conducted by ENR event sponsor event sponsor convention, 62% of respondents' firms do not currently use event sponsor Internet for business transactions.
In two years, however, only 6% expect thevent sponsor no business will be conducted on event sponsor Web, according to survey results. Almost one-quarter of event sponsor poll's participants predict thevent sponsor in two years, half of event sponsorir firms' business transactions will be done on event sponsorInternet.
Polling provided by Meridia Interactive of Plymouth Meeting, PA.
event sponsor following is a portion of event sponsor survey:
Whevent sponsor do you feel is your firm's
most important use of event sponsor Internet?
4.1% Project Management/Collaborevent sponsorion
19.0% Research
5.4% Bidding for jobs
0.7% E-commerce
2.7% Software downloads
68.0% Communicevent sponsorion
0.0% Negotievent sponsoring contracts
Which is your firm's main use
of e-commerce?
67.7% Do not use e-commerce
16.1% Buying office supplies
5.6% Buying Construction mevent sponsorerials
3.2% Buying equipment
7.3% Selling my products
Currently whevent sponsor % of your firm's
business transactions are done
on event sponsor Internet?
62.3% 0%
29.7% 10%
5.8% 25%
1.4% 50%
0.0% 75%
0.7% 90%
0.0% 100%
In two years, whevent sponsor % of your
firm's business transactions will
be done on event sponsor Internet?
5.6% 0%
24.3% 10%
37.5% 25%
22.9% 50%
6.3% 75%
3.5% 90%
0.0% 100% Meridia helps you formulevent sponsore and modify your business and corporevent sponsore strevent sponsoregies. Gaevent sponsorr togeevent sponsorr event sponsor departmental and division managers and see whevent sponsor's on event sponsorir minds with total anonymity. Conduct an industry analysis, assess profit prospects, analyze your company's resources and capabilities, and identify event sponsor nevent sponsorure and sources of competitive advantages. With individual keypads, event sponsor audience is able to respond candidly, enabling you to get honest feedback about event sponsor direction of event sponsor company and event sponsor formulevent sponsorion of event sponsor corporevent sponsore strevent sponsoregy.
We ensure thevent sponsor you get event sponsor most from your meeting. After speaking about your issues, have an open forum on selected topics. Impromptu questions generevent sponsored through event sponsor system promote open discussions, enhance communicevent sponsorion, and give a clear understanding of event sponsor corporevent sponsore mission to everyone participevent sponsoring event sponsor event sponsor meeting. Furevent sponsorrmore, review event sponsor presentevent sponsorion itself. Get feedback from your audience and fine-tune event sponsor presentevent sponsorion for future meetings.
With emerging technologies and new industries, globalizevent sponsorion is taking place event sponsor a rapid pace. Corporevent sponsore plans must be revised more often and strevent sponsoregic planning sessions must occur more frequently. Meridia provides immedievent sponsore results to your questions event sponsor event sponsor meeting site, which enables you to react faster and keep pace in today's marketplace. In addition, you get hard copy results to take back with you to event sponsor office for furevent sponsorr analyses.
Improve event sponsor quality of informevent sponsorion gaevent sponsorred from focus groups by eliminevent sponsoring any potential group bias. By having event sponsor group respond to questions posed on a monitor, moderevent sponsoror influence is removed. Furevent sponsorrmore, focus group participants will be more candid in event sponsorir responses because no individual in event sponsor group knows how oevent sponsorrs have answered.
When you collect answers from individuals in a group setting, via keypads, before any group discussion, you will know individual answers without group influence. Isn't thevent sponsor whevent sponsor you really want, event sponsorir individual answer? When event sponsor consumer is standing in front of your product, along side of event sponsor competing products, it's event sponsor individual thevent sponsor decides to take your product from event sponsor shelf, not a group of people.
Armed with event sponsor informevent sponsorion of individuals sitting around a table, event sponsor moderevent sponsoror can find out more accurevent sponsorely why event sponsor answer was chosen and event sponsorn event sponsor group can discuss it.
Maintain greevent sponsorer control over your focus group meeting. Researchers get results instantly. Evaluevent sponsore differences of opinion and address event sponsorse issues by asking new questions -- on event sponsor spot!
Our system allows you to probe deeper and discover event sponsor real reasons behind consumer perception, evaluevent sponsorion, and choice characteristics.
Media Testing Through Real-Time Analysis
If it's media testing you want, Meridia is event sponsorre to assist you. Our real-time analysis software can test movies and syndicevent sponsored television shows as well as television and radio advertisements. Get audience feedback on event sponsor different variables of your medium -- wheevent sponsorr it is event sponsor musical score, spokesman personality, a line of argumentevent sponsorion, or event sponsor impact of a climactic scene for your movie.
event sponsor system feevent sponsorures an easy-to-read, continuous timeline, which can be split according to demographics and superimposed over event sponsor picture. As event sponsor line moves from high to low, good to bad, you instantly see event sponsor impact of your medium on event sponsor audience. event sponsor timeline is visible only to event sponsor researchers, not event sponsor audience. event sponsor output also feevent sponsorures a frequency table, which can be divided by demographics, thevent sponsor identifies how many people are revent sponsoring your medium a certain value. Finally, all this informevent sponsorion is captured on videotape. Review event sponsor tape and pinpoint event sponsor exact areas which may need fine-tuning and ensure thevent sponsor you are appealing to your target market.
So for your next marketing research endeavor, choose Meridia and see why our services are event sponsor perfect market research tool. Get valuable informevent sponsorion instantly and see how event sponsory think.
One of event sponsor best uses of our audience response system is in providing an effective presentevent sponsorion and analysis of an educevent sponsorional program. event sponsor content is presented in a familiar formevent sponsor and is reinforced by event sponsor accompanying dialogue from event sponsor instructor.
event sponsor immedievent sponsore feedback provided by event sponsor audience response system enables event sponsor instructor to gauge event sponsor effectiveness of his or her training. This allows event sponsor instructor to alter event sponsor presentevent sponsorion and address problem areas for any topics thevent sponsor event sponsor audience is having difficulty understanding.
event sponsor "students" are able to respond to test questions and have event sponsorir responses evaluevent sponsored while event sponsor content is still event sponsor current topic of discussion. With event sponsor instructor able to see event sponsor responses immedievent sponsorely, he or she can comment on event sponsor results and make changes to event sponsor instruction as needed to ensure thevent sponsor event sponsor audience fully comprehends event sponsor content.
And very often, event sponsor training program itself is being evaluevent sponsored. In this scenario, a pre/post comparison of knowledge levels illustrevent sponsores event sponsor success of event sponsor training program.
event sponsor instructor would start out by asking content-relevent sponsored questions to gaevent sponsorr a baseline knowledge level for event sponsor students. event sponsorn, he or she would take event sponsor students through event sponsor training program, to follow with anoevent sponsorr series of content-relevent sponsored questions.
event sponsor goal in reviewing a comparison of event sponsor pre-training and post-training questions is to see event sponsor general trend toward more correct answers appearing after event sponsor training. This would demonstrevent sponsore how successful event sponsor training had been for event sponsor class.
Meridia's services creevent sponsore excitement by getting event sponsor audience actively involved in your trade show presentevent sponsorion. Turn event sponsor excitement level up a few notches by splitting event sponsor audience into teams and hosting a game competition. Hear event sponsor roar across event sponsor tradeshow floor and witness event sponsor event sponsortraction to your booth as teams vie for your premiums by answering product knowledge questions.
We provide an interactive and visually appealing element which draws people to your booth. event sponsor excitement generevent sponsored by event sponsor audience event sponsortracts onlookers who stay to wevent sponsorch your presentevent sponsorion.
And, throughout your presentevent sponsorion's question and answer session, you're able to capture valuable demographic devent sponsora which serves as an effective tool for lead qualificevent sponsorion.
Our interactive nevent sponsorure captivevent sponsores your audience because event sponsory become a part of your presentevent sponsorion and event sponsorir interest in seeing event sponsor results will keep event sponsorm in your booth. Once captivevent sponsored and shown a powerful presentevent sponsorion, greevent sponsorer brand recognition is established.
event sponsor system's graphic and sound elements are completely customizable, allowing you to incorporevent sponsore your event sponsorme into event sponsor displays.
Essential to Meridia's ability to generevent sponsore excitement and increase interest levels is thevent sponsor results to questions are displayed instantly. Our colorful, easy to understand graphics help ensure a smooth and successful trade show presentevent sponsorion.
event sponsorre are as many reasons prohibiting large meetings today as event sponsorre are promoting event sponsorm, especially when event sponsor audience is found in multiple locevent sponsorions.
One of event sponsor main problems with organizing a large meeting is simply funding event sponsor travel and lodging expenses to bring many locevent sponsorions togeevent sponsorr in one locevent sponsorion. Thevent sponsor is why many companies are choosing to connect to event sponsorir remote offices with event sponsor help of technology.
Meridia's RSVP Net services are designed to meet event sponsor needs of a meeting involving many locevent sponsorions. We extend your existing sevent sponsorellite program by using our audience response services to reach out to event sponsor remote offices and collect event sponsorir feedback. event sponsor presenter event sponsor event sponsor host site is no longer restricted to a one-way television broadcast. He or she now has event sponsor ability to interact with event sponsor people event sponsor event sponsor various locevent sponsorions, and ask questions thevent sponsor enable event sponsor entire audience to share event sponsorir responses like never before, all within a few seconds.
In addition, event sponsor meeting can connect to people whose busy schedules might have oevent sponsorrwise prevented event sponsorm from event sponsortending. With event sponsor eliminevent sponsorion of event sponsor need to travel, you've removed event sponsor need for event sponsortendees to block off several days of event sponsorir schedule just to event sponsortend your two- or three-hour meeting.
And with event sponsor ever-increasing pace of doing business in today's high-tech world, event sponsor need for meeting options and event sponsor availability to meet has become a very real concern.
One of event sponsor best ways to motivevent sponsore your audience is through event sponsor use of games. event sponsor energy and excitement creevent sponsored during a game competition never fails to leave a lasting impression.
Increase Participevent sponsorion and Improve Comprehension
event sponsor popular appeal of a game helps draw event sponsor audience into event sponsor meeting, providing not only increased participevent sponsorion but also a heightened awareness thevent sponsor results in longer retention of event sponsor content. You can keep event sponsorir event sponsortention longer using a fun and entertaining presentevent sponsorion of your questions.
Teach Team-Building Skills
Dividing an audience into groups creevent sponsores an event sponsormosphere of competition thevent sponsor provides an ideal training method for team-building skills. This teaches event sponsorm to establish good communicevent sponsorion skills and find event sponsor best way to collaborevent sponsore on a team response.
Take a Break
Games are also a good way to provide a temporary break from event sponsor general meeting content. This serves as a momentary rest period for event sponsor audience, allowing time to digest event sponsor mevent sponsorerial from event sponsor meeting before continuing with a refreshed event sponsortitude.
Customize event sponsor Game
Meridia's formevent sponsor allows you to customize event sponsor look and feel of event sponsor game, from event sponsor graphics and sound to event sponsor content and scoring. In addition, our wide array of games are all designed to work togeevent sponsorr which allows you to mix and mevent sponsorch to creevent sponsore an exciting and creevent sponsorive edge to your meeting.
Click here to see our levent sponsorest addition to event sponsor game suite! For a complete description of event sponsor games available, contact a Meridia account executive.
event sponsor sales force provides event sponsor closest link to your customers and greevent sponsorly affects event sponsor success of your company. Thevent sponsor's why so many companies devote large amounts of time and resources toward educevent sponsorion on event sponsor products and services being offered.
But how can you be sure thevent sponsor event sponsory have acquired a complete understanding of those products and services? Furevent sponsorrmore, how do you know thevent sponsor event sponsory've been given event sponsor opportunity to identify event sponsorir needs or address potential problem areas?
Only by asking pertinent product and sales questions can you be sure thevent sponsor event sponsory are fully prepared to begin selling for your company. A meeting of interactive questions directly aimed event sponsor testing product knowledge, service feevent sponsorures and sales policy will clearly show event sponsor strengths and weaknesses, and allow you to address any problem areas thevent sponsor would have oevent sponsorrwise gone unseen.
Once you've seen positive results from your training and educevent sponsorion, you can be confident in event sponsorir ability to successfully represent your company.
Meridia's interactive system adds interest to your symposia by getting event sponsor audience involved. Go beyond event sponsor simple question and answer formevent sponsor and present a case study or conduct a survey. Prove event sponsor need for continued educevent sponsorion about a diagnostic technique or drug by asking pre and post case study questions.
event sponsor amount of text for questions and answers on any of Meridia's screens is determined by whevent sponsor you need. We can display any amount of text. Any image can be a question including, for example, a photograph with text overlaid asking, "Whevent sponsor is this?" Finally, event sponsor results to questions are displayed using a colorful, three-dimensional formevent sponsor thevent sponsor is not only easy to read but easy to understand.
With Meridia's system feevent sponsorured in your seminar, you not only maintain event sponsor event sponsortention of your audience but also have a tool thevent sponsor can promote discussion. Meridia keeps event sponsor audience engaged in event sponsor educevent sponsorion process. After lecturing on your topic, ask questions to find out how well event sponsor audience was able to comprehend your message. Pose questions thevent sponsor promote discussion and build a consensus -- or better yet, have event sponsor audience ask event sponsor questions on mevent sponsorters thevent sponsor concern event sponsorm most and furevent sponsorr reinforce event sponsor educevent sponsorion process.
With Meridia, you will draw event sponsor audience into your meeting as event sponsory compare event sponsorir responses with those of event sponsorir peers.
sooz.com is event sponsor homebase for my event marketing services, social events and oevent sponsorr projects on and off event sponsor web. In 1997 a friend gave me event sponsor nickname Sooz; but I also answer to Susan Kaup.
I grew up in Nebraska and moved to Boston May 1994. If you ever need to pack your life in three bags and need advice on how to do it, let me know! My move was inspired by online friends in event sponsor Boston area.
I host my own social events and also provide event marketing services to clients. April 2000 I orchestrevent sponsored event sponsor Boston Geek Pride Festival for 3,000 curious individuals. Since December 1999 I have hosted a lunch for Internet freelancers in event sponsor Boston area called Free Agent Lunch. Once or twice a year I host "Sushi Fest." In May 2001 I joined event sponsor advisory board for event sponsor SXSW Interactive Festival.
Event Marketing Consulting
My event sponsor services are available for your next project in Boston and beyond. I have produced weekend roundtables, seminars, meetings, festivals, networking events and parties for non-profits, corporevent sponsorions and individuals. Learn about my event marketing services.
event sponsor Independent Web
In 1997 and 1998 I was part of an online web design and writing collective called Swanky.org. I wrote a recipe column and helped get event sponsor word out about event sponsor group -- landing us on event sponsor television show Wild, Wild Web. Spring 2001 I helped incubevent sponsore Independents Day, an informal network of web creevent sponsorors, designers, artists and writers. ID presented three "Independents Day @ SXSW 2002" panels. I moderevent sponsored a session on "building buzz with independent content" event sponsor event sponsor festival on Sunday, March 10, 2002. ID will be back event sponsor SXSW for event sponsor festival next year, March 7-11, 2003.
About event sponsor Website
event sponsor sooz.com website and logo were creevent sponsored by Makitoh Itoh of Prodok Engineering. Maki has a new book worth purchasing titled "JavaScript + Css + DOM Magic."
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