ABSTRACT

Discussions with our work colleagues form an essential part of our working day; they help us to establish information and help to provide the context for making informed decisions. Discussions are also used to help build and reinforce relationships within the workplace, test ideas, negotiate and reinforce mutual trust and respect. Many of the informal discussions are relatively short-lived, lasting a few seconds or minutes, and are soon forgotten; they are simply a means to an end. By comparison, more formal discussions in meetings tend to last for longer and can have far-reaching consequences for the performance of the organisation and project alike.