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Thanks!  Very generally, the Exploratorium's institutional need is for large dollar amount contracts which can provide large sums of money.  Typically, large sums come from large contracts.  Large contracts involve large amounts of work over extended periods.  

The large institutional needs are for stability of revenue,  both in size and consistency.  It's possible to fill in small variations with small companies of people, but given the expense of institutional needs plotted against organizational size, the sweet spots of successful business models shift as organizations grow.

In biology, the extremes of economy and size are most apparent.  Elephants are big, hearty animals that are able to survive eating large quantities of very low energy food sources and by being very large. Hummingbirds are and do almost exactly the opposite.  There are many transitions that separate the two despite their underlying similarities.

Form and function need to match, change is hard.
C

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On Aug 18, 2013, at 10:08 AM, Paul Orselli <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi Charlie,
> 
> So sorry to hear about all the dramatic changes going on at the Exploratorium.
> 
> I'm wondering if you might be willing to expand on what you meant by:
> 
> 
> The market for museum design and development has changed.  The most lucrative contracts require design, development, and installation, and a much different operational structure than that required to nourish and operate a museum. Making the transition has not been smooth.
> 
> 
> Either via private email or via the ASTC listserv,  as you wish.
> 
> Thanks --- and best of luck in the next steps!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> Paul Orselli, President and Chief Instigator
> 
> Paul Orselli Workshop (POW!)
> World Headquarters
> 1684 Victoria Street
> Baldwin, NY  11510
> 
> (516) 223-1043
> 
> POW! website
> <http://www.orselli.net>
> 
> Exhibit tips + tricks at the ExhibiTricks blog:
> <http://blog.orselli.net/>

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