What is the purpose of meeting minutes in project management?

Meeting minutes in project management serve as a vital tool for ensuring that all team members are informed and aligned on decisions, actions, and discussions that take place during meetings. By documenting key points, such as resolutions, assignments, deadlines, and important discussions, meeting minutes create a clear record that can be referenced later. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and ensures accountability as team members can refer back to what was agreed upon, thus fostering effective communication and collaboration within the team.

Having minutes available means that if someone was unable to attend a meeting, they can quickly catch up on what they missed and understand the current status of the project. This transparency helps maintain focus and direction, ensuring that everyone is working toward the same goals with the same understanding of tasks and responsibilities.

While documentation work, tracking expenses, and project evaluation are essential aspects of project management, they do not directly capture the core purpose of meeting minutes, which is focused on maintaining alignment among team members regarding the project's progress and decisions made during meetings.