Based on various studies and surveys, it is estimated that the number of wasted meeting hours in the United States is significant. One study found that the average employee spends over 30 hours a month in unproductive meetings, while another study found that executives view over 67% of meetings as failures. Additionally, a survey of 2,000 employees conducted by the software company Atlassian found that the average employee attends 62 meetings per month, half of which they consider to be unnecessary. Assuming an average of 20 employees per meeting, if each employee spends just one hour per week in unproductive meetings, this would result in over 1.04 billion wasted hours per year in the US alone. This represents a significant loss in productivity and resources for organizations across the country. To combat this issue, companies can implement practices such as setting clear agendas, limiting the number of attendees, and using technology to streamline meetings. Product managers can play a crucial role in identifying these best practices and working with stakeholders to implement them effectively. By doing so, they can help reduce wasted meeting hours and increase overall productivity within their organizations.
Estimation