The Pros and Cons of Online Meetings: Balancing Collaboration and Efficiency

The widespread use of online training and teleconferencing has reformed the forms of meetings and enabled people to join a meeting whenever and wherever they are, as long as they have access to the internet. Meanwhile, the form of a call-in reduces the effect of collaboration as attendees may have no chance to know each other. However, considering the popularity among companies, I believe the reality is more complex than a single dichotomy between online and offline meetings.

One disadvantage of teleconferencing is that it may blur the connection between colleagues, weaken the depth of understanding, and decrease the quality of conversation because there are too many people online at the same time through a limited-sized screen. Furthermore, if attendees call in when they are traveling, such as in a car or at a railway station, they will be distracted by loud ambient noise.

However, not only could online meetings facilitate communication and keep everyone on the same page in a project team despite locations and the number of attendees, but it also probably decreases the cost of meetings and events, including site fees, transportation, and hotels. Additionally, it provides a channel for multiple teams located in different countries to collaborate on complex projects, such as the engineering development of the Airbus A320 airliner.

From my perspective, the advancements in computer science and communication technology have united countries, institutions, and people together to promote globalization in the past decades. Although conventional face-to-face communication provides a sense of vividness as people can see each other and shake hands, people can become familiar with each other after a few months of online working together. Furthermore, it is still a choice for a company to arrange a few weeks of international travel to allow colleagues to have face-to-face experiences.

In conclusion, the technology of teleconferencing significantly expands the working scope for companies and individuals, increasing mutual understanding among people around the world. It is essential to strike a balance between online business meetings and offline events to build a sense of community and promote the top-line of business.