After each DrupalSouth conference the committee sends out an online survey to gain feedback on the event.
We use this information to help shape (and hopefully improve) the next event.
About the data
The feedback form received 29 submissions within the timeframe of 15-29 November 2024. Rounded up, this is 22% of attendees who took the time to contribute back to their community.
The feedback form was sent out via email to registrants of the event.
Qualitative data has been processed and summarised using AI, with specific names or other identifying data being redacted post AI processing. This information was originally made available by committee meeting minutes in December 2024.
Quantitative data hasn't been included in this article, but can be made available if anyone is interested.
The summarised version of feedback:
- Event highlight key takeaways -
- A vibrant community spirit and valuable networking opportunities were central to the event.
- The mix of session types and engaging speakers left attendees inspired and excited for future initiatives like Starshot.
- The event struck a balance between informative and enjoyable, fostering meaningful connections and collaboration.
- Key suggestions and areas for improvement -
- Session Structure:
- Having three concurrent streams made it challenging to attend desired sessions. Suggestions included reducing to two streams, balancing technical and non-technical topics, and staggering start times.
- A few gaps in the program were noted, with shorter or fewer sessions causing timing mismatches.
- Some attendees felt there weren’t enough sessions or speakers, leading to an early finish.
- Venue and Technology:
- Small screens in some rooms made slides and QR codes hard to read.
- Occasional technical issues affected presentations.
- Insufficient seating in some sessions.
- Food and Amenities:
- The food was generally appreciated, but some requested more hot food options.
- A lack of an espresso cart was noted by a few attendees.
- Event Integration:
- Some attendees felt the GovCMS-related content was repetitive given the GovCMS event held the day prior.
- Session Structure:
- Overall Sentiment -
- Most attendees were happy with the venue, catering, and facilities, describing the event as “perfect” or “good overall.”
- Suggestions focused on fine-tuning seating arrangements, food options, and AV support to further enhance the experience.
Committee feedback:
Thank you for the overwhelmingly positive feedback! We genuinely appreciate the time everyone took to respond, and we’re pleased the community found so much value in the day.
Session Structure
- Next time, we’ll be running two concurrent streams instead of three. In 2024, the number of technical submissions was lower than expected, and if repeated next time may make scheduling harder.
- We also heard you on session timings not aligning well. Our thinking was that some talks would run long or spark extended Q&A. Next time, we’ll set firmer session lengths and work to align them better across the program.
- The finish time was based on feedback from DSCD2023. That said, next time we will extend the presentations for another hour or so, with networking to follow.
Venue and Technology
- AV hiccups are the bane of every event, and we know a few issues affected some talks. If we return to the same venue, we’ll be far better equipped to manage those challenges now that we know the setup.
- The lack of seating was definitely an issue we weren't prepared for, but will try to mitigate next time.
Food and Amenities
- Regarding food - this was the least bad feedback we've had about catering! We'll see what is available next time regarding hot food.
- A coffee cart would be great, we hear you. Unfortunately, adding one significantly increases catering costs on top of the morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea package which is included for these types of events. We’ll see what’s feasible within the budget.
Event Integration
- We understand that some attendees felt the GovCMS content overlapped too closely with the previous day’s event. However, these sessions give Drupal agencies the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience/potential clients in the room. This opportunity isn't available at the other event, as they only allow presentations from government agencies.