Meeting
The terms “conference” and “meeting” are often used interchangeably, but they can have different connotations depending on the context.
A meeting is a scheduled gathering of individuals — typically within an academic, clinical, or institutional setting — intended to share information, make decisions, or coordinate actions.
While meetings are theoretically tools for collaboration and progress, they are often repurposed for signaling, hierarchy reinforcement, or procedural compliance.
📋 Types of Meetings
- Administrative – To manage schedules, budgets, personnel.
- Clinical – Case reviews, treatment planning, morbidity & mortality.
- Research – Study design, data discussion, authorship decisions.
- Academic – Curriculum planning, journal clubs, grant reviews.
- Symbolic – Held primarily to show that meetings are being held.
🧠 In Practice
A 90-minute meeting with 12 participants that could have been a 3-line email — a classic case of performative coordination.
🚨 Common Pathologies
- Meeting inflation – Increasing number of meetings without increasing value.
- Agenda drift – Discussions veer into unrelated or unresolved topics.
- Hierarchy signaling – Meetings used to showcase power rather than solve problems.
- Documentation theater – Minutes are taken to prove something happened, not to enable follow-up.
📎 Related Terms
Bottom line: *A meeting should be a tool — not a ritual. When it exists for its own sake, it becomes part of the problem.*
General distinctions
Scale and Formality:
Conference: Typically implies a larger event with a more formal structure. Conferences often involve multiple sessions, workshops, and presentations, and they may attract attendees from a broader geographic area.
Meeting: This generally refers to a smaller and more informal gathering. Meetings can be regular or ad hoc and may involve discussions, decision-making, or information sharing.
Purpose:
Conference: Often organized around a specific theme or industry. Conferences may include keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Meetings can have various purposes, including decision-making, problem-solving, project updates, or information sharing. They may be routine, such as team meetings, or specific, such as sales meetings.
Duration:
Conference: Typically spans multiple days and may involve various activities and sessions.
Meeting: Usually shorter, ranging from a brief discussion to a few hours.
Participants:
Conference: Involves a diverse group of participants, including experts, professionals, and stakeholders in a particular field.
Meeting: Often includes a more focused group of participants, such as team members, department heads, or project collaborators.
Format:
Conference: Structured with planned sessions, presentations, and sometimes exhibitions or vendor displays.
Meeting: Can be more flexible in format, with discussions, updates, and collaborative work. In practice, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and the distinction between a conference and a meeting can vary based on the specific context or industry norms.
see Scientific meeting.
see Video meeting.