Chunking Information
There have been various studies relating to how people learn and process information (e.g. Miller 1956, Simon 1974) that have considered the notion of 'chunking' of information. It is suggested that humans process information as chunks rather than discrete entities and that there is an absolute limit (7 plus or minus 2) to the amount of information people can understand and remember. This concept is useful to think about when designing presentation materials and it can be equally useful in dialogue.
You will find that different types of people operate at different comfort levels when it comes to the amount of detail they require. Senior managers may want to see 'the bigger picture' or 'ballpark estimates' whereas technical people are more comfortable with detailed specifications and may see a broader outline as 'pie in the sky'.
You need to give people the chunk level they require in order to digest and process the information appropriately. This may be more difficult than it sounds. Some people, the 'I've-started-so-I'll-finish' variety, find it hard not to give the detail even though it is apparent from listeners' body language that they have lost interest. You may feel that preparatory work has been wasted if you don't get to present all your data whereas it is much more effective to give only the essential detail. Finding out some background information about your target audience will help you gauge the level that is appropriate.
The concept of chunking can also be useful in avoiding confrontation. The old saying 'the devil is in the detail' applies here. If you find yourself arguing about the detail of a proposal 'chunk up' until you reach a level where there is agreement. For instance imagine you find yourself arguing with your partner about what new car you should buy. Do you simply agree that you both want a new car? Do you both want a Renault car? Do you both want a green Renault car? Is the argument simply about whether or not you want a sunroof? The further you go into detail the more possibility there is for disagreement. Chunk up so you can reach the level of agreement necessary to move the project forward at this point.
