Offagenda

Offagenda refers to a concept or phenomenon where activities, discussions, or decisions deviate from a pre-established plan, agenda, or intended course of action. This can occur in various contexts, including meetings, projects, policy-making, or even casual conversations.

In a meeting setting, offagenda items are topics or questions raised that were not formally included in the meeting's published agenda. While sometimes these can lead to productive and necessary discussions that arise organically, they can also derail the intended focus and consume valuable time. Effective facilitators often have strategies to manage offagenda items, such as noting them for future discussion, assigning someone to investigate them, or deciding to address them if time permits and relevance is high.

In project management, going offagenda can mean deviating from the planned scope, timeline, or resource allocation. This might be due to unforeseen challenges, new opportunities, or changing requirements. While some deviation is inevitable and can be managed through change control processes, significant offagenda shifts can lead to project failure if not carefully monitored and controlled.

The term can also describe situations where individuals or groups pursue their own interests or priorities without regard for a collective plan or stated objectives. This can be seen as a form of strategic maneuvering or, in a more negative light, as uncooperative or disruptive behavior. Understanding the motivations behind offagenda actions is often key to addressing their impact.