MeetingÜbermaß

MeetingÜbermaß is a German compound term combining “Meeting” with “Übermaß,” meaning excess or overabundance. The word describes a perceived overuse or unnecessary proliferation of meetings within an organization, especially when meetings are seen as detracting from productive work rather than facilitating collaboration.

The concept emerged in the early 2010s as a criticism of corporate cultures that rely heavily on scheduled gatherings for coordination, status updates, and decision making. It is often used in business literature, management blogs, and social media to highlight inefficiencies such as redundant agendas, poorly defined objectives, or a heavy emphasis on hierarchal approval processes.

Research into meeting productivity has identified several factors that contribute to MeetingÜbermaß, including unclear goals, lack of pre‑meeting preparation, unchecked roll‑call attendance, and a culture that values presence over results. Studies show that excessive meetings can lead to reduced individual output, lower employee satisfaction, and increased cognitive fatigue, commonly referred to in English as “meeting fatigue.” Many organizations respond by instituting stricter guidelines for agenda setting, time limits, and virtual alternatives.

Related concepts include “stand‑up meetings” aimed at brevity, “asynchronous collaboration tools,” and “sprint planning” in agile methodologies. While the term is most frequently used in German‑speaking business environments, it has gained traction internationally as practitioners share case studies and best practices for meeting optimization.