INTRODUCTIONWorkplace meetings may be considered essential, but one of the most ineffective elements of a business environment. Project managers can significantly influence project performance by proactively influencing and controlling the dynamics of project meetings. This can ultimately generate very valuable results for achieving team integration and consensus. Meetings can tend to be long and futile. Unfortunately, most meetings are hampered by vague agendas and directionless discussions. An attitude of low engagement sets in and leads to decreasing participation. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS The detrimental effects of unproductive meetings on a project are usually overlooked. In this essay, I will attempt to examine the dynamics of meetings, including the five Ps (purpose, product, participants, process, and likely problems) and develop a reference cookbook for organizing and running meetings. INITIATION PHASEStrategic meeting: the purpose is to analyze whether a suggested business need fits with the strategic framework and vision of the organization (Tammy Adams, 2008). The outputs of this meeting include the development of a first draft of the business case, aligning it with the overall strategies of the organization. Participants should be small in number and include senior management, sponsors, and business process experts who will analyze the direction of the project. The process should focus on breaking the meeting into short segments and focusing on individual points at a time. Possible problems could arise from not presenting complete company data...... middle of document ......p://www.the-program-manager.com/project-management/ how-to-organize-an-effective-meeting/PMI. (2004). Quickbooks. (December 16, 2009). Project Closing Meeting Agenda – DOC. Retrieved April 12, 2014 from docstoc: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19614443/Project-Closeout-Meeting-Agenda Schwalbe, K. (2012). IT project management. Boston MA: Cengage Leaning. Tammy Adams, J.M. (2008). Project Meeting Facilitator: Facilitation skills to get the most out of project meetings. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.UGM Consulting. (July 23, 2009). Strategy design and facilitation: the UGM consulting approach. Retrieved April 12, 2014 from UMGConsulting: http://www.ugmconsulting.com/Effective%20strategy%20design.pdf Vick, J. (January 12, 2012). Project management: how to organize team meetings. Retrieved April 12, 2014 from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW0CjH95K3Q