Which of the following would be MOST beneficial to do before a call to ensure all meeting items are addressed and the correct participants attend?

An agenda is the foundational document for an effective meeting. Distributing it in advance clearly outlines the topics to be discussed, which ensures all necessary items are planned for and addressed. It also provides context for invitees, enabling them to understand the meeting's purpose and determine if their participation is required. This process helps guarantee that the correct stakeholders are present and prepared, making the agenda the most beneficial tool for achieving both stated goals.

A. Assign action items to attendees.

Action items are tasks resulting from a meeting's discussion and decisions; they are typically assigned during or after the meeting, not before.

C. Email the minutes from the previous meeting.

Previous minutes provide a historical record but do not define the scope or topics for the new meeting, which is the agenda's function.

D. Schedule a convenient time.

A convenient time increases the likelihood of attendance but does not ensure the correct people attend or that all specific topics are covered.

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3. References

1. CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 Exam Objectives. (2022). CompTIA.

Section 1.5: "Explain the importance of communication management." This objective covers essential communication activities, including the proper planning and execution of meetings, for which an agenda is a critical artifact for setting expectations and topics.

2. Baskerville, R. L., & Stage, P. A. (1995). Meeting Management (Technical Note CMU/SEI-95-TN-002). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University.

Page 4, "The Agenda": "The agenda is the single most important tool for managing a meeting... It tells the participants what the meeting is about, what they are expected to contribute, and what will be the result." This directly supports that an agenda ensures topics are addressed and the right people attend.

3. Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition.

Section 4.2.5, "Artifacts": The PMBOK® Guide lists "Agendas" as a common project artifact. It implicitly defines its purpose as outlining the items for discussion and the objectives for meetings, which is fundamental to project communication and stakeholder engagement.