Introductory Course on Organising Meetings: Tutorial Structure

Introductory Course on Organising Meetings: Tutorial Structure Primary content development by Victor Paa Kwesi Mensah, view other contributors here

Target Group

This course may target:
 * Entry level Hospitality Management Learners
 * Business Communication Students
 * Meeting Associates
 * Those Planning to be meeting professionals
 * Any one with an interest and commitment to learn

Apart from the target groups listed above, sometimes, its becomes necessary to organise a short tutorial for staff members and other stakeholders on meetings. The following structure may be helpful:

Step-by-Step Structure

Types of Meetings
There are several categories of meetings. These may include
 * Information Sharing/Gathering meetings,
 * Decision-Making--Action meetings,
 * Public and private meetings, etc.

Other types of meetings may include Conferences, conclaves, class, lectures, assemblyincentives, trade shows, symposia, forum,congress, panel, convention, clinics, retreat, workshops, seminars, etc.

Meeting Formats
Additionaly, meetings may also be descibed as:
 * One-Time Meeting or Recurring Meetings
 * People-Based meeting or Technology-Based Setting
 * Informal meeting or Formal meeting

Planning and Designing Meetings
A major concentration of content, time and effort should be devoted to this section.

Conducting the Meeting
At this stage, all the plans developed above will be put into operation.

After the meeting, the facilitator should guide the leaners to assess thier performance in playing the various roles in conducting the meeting. A special assesment should be made of the role of the chair and how this may be improved.

Evaluating Meeting Effectiveness
This section, although ignored by many, is essential in ensuring that the meeting indeed was effective, met objectives, and is justified.