All meetings do not need to have SMART outcomes - Rashida, Trish, D'Ann

Submitted by Rashida, Trish and D'Ann

D'Ann reaad the following quote on a website “To truly measure and sustain success, leaders must focus on outcomes that are meaningful to the customer, not on activities that merely occupy an organization. It is important, therefore, to set appropriate performance goals.” The writer goes on to list and define SMART outcomes.

Although we may agree with the first part of the above statement, we do not believe it is necessary for a successful meeting. We chose “Open Space Technology” as a type of meeting where SMART outcomes aren’t necessary to the success of the meeting.

SMART outcome also relies on specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely goals. Meeting formats which use Open Space Technology will not necessarily rely on SMART outcomes and can still be successful meetings. There isn’t a set time or agenda where participants have to discuss specific ideas, but instead they share ideas. Participants and team members are able to discuss subjects which interest them and can be helpful to them. In this type of meeting people will be able to get tips and tricks from each other that may not be measurable quantitatively, but qualitatively or not at all. For example, if we plan a meeting for teachers without worrying about, a specific agenda or goal, time allotment for each session, but just concentrated on inviting teachers to share and discuss their teaching experiences with each other, we will still have a successful meeting and no one will feel obligated to discuss anything specific. Although the open space technology meeting may not rely on SMART outcomes, the meeting is still meaningful to the participant and that is what really matters