Ask the AI: Series 1: Is Prolonged Meeting Duration a Symptom of System Deficiency?

The ubiquitous nature of meetings in modern organizational life often prompts a critical question: does the tendency for meetings to extend beyond their scheduled duration signify an underlying deficiency within the system? This literature review explores various perspectives on meeting length, drawing upon research published in leading journals such as the Academy of Management Review , Journal of Applied Psychology , Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes , Small Group Research , and Harvard Business Review . While acknowledging that some complex topics necessitate extended deliberation, a significant body of literature across these publications suggests that consistently lengthy meetings frequently point towards fundamental flaws in organizational structure, communication practices, and meeting management efficacy. One prominent area of concern, frequently discussed in the Academy of Management Review and Journal of Applied Psychology , revolves around poor meeting pl...