CONFERENCE: ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

To ‘confer’ means to converse, to consult, to discuss. ‘Conference’ means ‘a meeting for the exchange of views and opinions’. Conference can be defined as a meeting of a formal nature of people to solve particular problems, take specific decisions or discuss specific matters’.

ADVANTAGES:

1)   Exchange of Ideas: Conference encourages exchange of ideas and opinions. Delegates bring together their points of view which help to solve problems.

2)  Solves Problems: In a conference, participants provide all the angles in analysing problems and various solutions are suggested from which a comprehensive one can be accepted.

3)   Improves Internal Communication: By involving a large number of participants from various levels within an organisation or from different organisations, it facilitates communication and networking.

4)   Motivates Participants: The motivational value of a conference can never be underestimated. The participants acquire valuable information and come to know other people’s points of view. This broadens the horizon of delegates regarding organisational needs and problems.

5)   Promotes Goodwill: Conference helps to create goodwill among the participating organisations. It also helps to enhance the reputation of the organisation convening the conference.

DISADVANTAGES:

1)    Lack of Seriousness: Often conferences are not taken seriously. The participants do not take interest in the proceeding but consider it a pleasure trip.

2)    Ineffective Leadership: If the convener of the conference is not competent or if the conference is not properly organised, or if the delegates are non-cooperative, it creates confusion and the whole exercise will turn into an unsuccessful activity.

3)     Poor Opinion about Management: In an internal conference held with subordinates, the employees might start feeling that the management is incapable of arriving at decisions on its own. They might think that the authorities are weak in decision-making process.

4)  Domination by a few Participants: Often a few participants dominate the entire proceedings defeating the very purpose of calling the conference.

5)    Lack of Concrete Action: Since a conference can make only recommendations, it often becomes an exercise in futility. It is rarely that any concrete action is taken on these recommendations.

6)   Expenditure: Extravagant planning may often prove to be irrelevant yet expensive and a source of distraction in a conference. The main focus of the conference is lost in this process.