Soldier, engineer, and author Henry Martyn Robert wrote his first Rules of order (RO) for the 1876 meetings and revised in 1915 (new abbreviation ROR). In 2011, the eleventh edition of the book Recently revised rules of order (Purr) based on Mr. Robert’s rules was released. This book has been the structural guide to small committee meetings and large conventions for more than a century. RONR is a very formal process with its own language and terms to control meetings. With the implementation of teams in many types of organizations, is RONR still relevant?
In 2003, the Meeting Assistant copyrighted the RARA process after years of training people in meeting mechanics. RARA is an acronym for components of successful meetings that include Roles, agenda, records and actions. This easy-to-remember process was first published as the book RARE: the approach of a meeting attendee in 2007. RARA is a cooperative process to achieve the purpose of each meeting, who are the participants of the meeting. The RARA process provides an easy to follow and implement structure for companies and other organizations to have more effective and efficient team meetings at all levels. Should the RARA concept replace RONR in meetings?
Below are some key points in each meeting process to compare RONR and RARA. Each process contains some similarities to the other, as well as some notable distinctions. To answer the two questions above, review each process to decide which one is best suited for regular meetings.
Purr includes: detailed management of the agenda, meeting minutes guidelines, definition of main roles, follow-up of actions / motions and ability to refer / classify actions. RONR provides a strict structure for discussion time and rules for voting on motions / decisions, meetings led by the president, members can participate, as well as the authority and process to discipline interruptions and problems during meeting time. RONR defines meeting types as: regular, special (also known as as needed), postponed / ongoing, annual, convention, executive, public, or electronic.
STRANGE Includes: suggested agenda format, template for meeting records / minutes, multiple defined possible roles, assignment of action items, and follow-up on future topics. RARA offers flexible ideas for discussion period and decision making; leader / facilitator led meetings; members must participate; and a list of typical meeting interruptions and the best methods for handling them. RARA defines the types of meetings as: decision making, list generation, problem solving, project planning, strategic planning or information sessions. RARA also defines the meeting methods as: face-to-face, teleconference, videoconference, and network (also known as virtual).
The answer to both questions is: it depends on the purpose of the meeting, the type of meeting, the participants in the meeting, and how much structure the organization requires. Whether the organization is a for-profit company, a government office, or a non-profit organization, the items in Robert’s Rules of Order (RONR) and the Meeting Assistant RARA approach should be reviewed to determine which one is appropriate. better suited to the type of meetings to be held. the organization. Once it’s known, communicate the desired process across the organization so everyone knows what to do. And then plan to provide reference books or training so everyone knows how to run the meetings in the preferred way.
