On an agenda, "old business" refers to discussion points or tasks that were introduced but not fully resolved or completed in a previous meeting. It's a standard agenda item designed to ensure follow-through on prior discussions.
Understanding "Old Business"
According to a quick definition, Old Business refers to things that were not finished in a previous meeting or discussion. This concept is versatile; it can apply to:
- Commercial transactions: Pending deals, unresolved client issues, or follow-ups on sales leads.
- Noncommercial matters: Decisions needing finalization, project updates requiring further discussion, or action items from previous meetings.
- Parliamentary Law: In formal settings, it refers to matters previously introduced before a group for consideration or action that weren't concluded.
Essentially, it's the section of a meeting dedicated to revisiting open items from past meetings.
Why Is "Old Business" Important?
Including "Old Business" on an agenda is crucial for several reasons:
- Ensures Continuity: It links current meetings to past ones, maintaining momentum on ongoing projects and discussions.
- Accountability: It provides a structured time to check on the progress of previously assigned tasks and decisions.
- Efficiency: By allocating specific time, it prevents important unresolved items from being forgotten or pushed aside indefinitely.
- Decision Finalization: Many important decisions or initiatives require discussion over multiple meetings. "Old Business" provides the platform for this.
Examples of "Old Business" Items
What might appear under the "Old Business" heading?
- Project Updates: Reviewing progress on a task assigned last meeting, like "Report on Q3 Marketing Campaign Analysis."
- Unresolved Discussions: Continuing a debate about a budget allocation that wasn't decided.
- Follow-up Actions: Checking if someone completed an action item, such as "Contact Vendor X for Quote."
- Pending Decisions: Reconsidering or finalizing a proposal introduced previously.
Where "Old Business" Fits in an Agenda
A typical agenda structure often follows a logical flow to ensure meetings are productive. "Old Business" usually appears after introductory items like "Call to Order" and "Approval of Minutes," but before "New Business."
Here's a simplified example of where it fits:
| Agenda Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Call to Order | Officially start the meeting. |
| Approval of Minutes | Review and approve notes from the last meeting. |
| Old Business | Discuss unresolved items from previous meetings. |
| New Business | Introduce and discuss new topics. |
| Action Items/Wrap-up | Summarize decisions and assign tasks. |
| Adjournment | End the meeting. |
Addressing "Old Business" ensures that the meeting builds upon previous progress rather than starting from scratch each time or ignoring pending issues.
By clearly defining and allocating time for "Old Business," meeting facilitators help participants stay organized, focused, and productive, ensuring that important matters reach a conclusion.
