Brown Bag Meeting

Definition

A brown bag meeting refers to an informal meeting or training session typically held during lunchtime at the workplace. It is called a brown bag meeting or brown bag seminar because participants usually bring their own lunch, which is often packed in a brown paper bag. These meetings do not necessarily have to be held during lunch and can occur at any time during the workday or even outside of work hours.

Origin

The concept of brown bag meetings originated in the mid-20th century in the United States, when companies began encouraging employees to learn and communicate in informal settings. The name comes from the practice of employees attending these meetings during lunch and bringing their own meals in brown paper bags.

Categories and Features

Brown bag meetings can be categorized into training, discussion, and sharing types. Training meetings are usually led by experts or internal staff to impart skills or knowledge; discussion meetings focus on interaction and exchange of ideas among team members; sharing meetings encourage employees to share personal experiences or project updates. They are characterized by high flexibility, low cost, and high participation.

Case Studies

For example, Google frequently uses brown bag meetings to foster knowledge sharing and innovation among employees. Employees can discuss new technologies or project progress in a relaxed environment. Another example is Microsoft, which uses brown bag meetings for cross-departmental skills training, helping employees enhance their professional capabilities.

Common Issues

Common issues include how to ensure participant engagement and how to choose appropriate topics. Solutions can involve soliciting employee feedback in advance to select topics of interest and ensuring the meetings are interactive and practical.