Browse Definitions :
Definition

action item

An action item is a discrete task that must be accomplished, usually by a single individual or a small team or group.

Action items typically arise from meetings and should always be clearly documented. Most people overestimate how well they are likely to remember things. As a result, they may commit themselves to an action item, write a sketchy shorthand note about it and later wonder what it means. One way to prevent that scenario is ensuring that action items are expressed as full sentences. For example, “Create a draft of the request for proposal (RFP) for XYZ inc.” conveys a lot more information than simply “XYZ inc.”

It’s also important to ensure that all crucial details are included, such as task deadlines, the responsible party (if the action item is assigned to a team) and any consequent action items that are expected to arise from the original one. Action items arising from another are sometimes referred to as relay items.

See also: actionable, actionable intelligence

This was last updated in January 2014
Networking
  • CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit)

    A CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit) is a hardware device about the size of a modem. It converts a digital data ...

  • data streaming

    Data streaming is the continuous transfer of data from one or more sources at a steady, high speed for processing into specific ...

  • secure access service edge (SASE)

    Secure access service edge, also known as SASE and pronounced sassy, is a cloud architecture model that bundles network and ...

Security
CIO
HRSoftware
  • recruitment process outsourcing (RPO)

    Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is when an employer turns the responsibility of finding potential job candidates over to a ...

  • human resources (HR) generalist

    A human resources generalist is an HR professional who handles the daily responsibilities of talent management, employee ...

  • employee lifecycle

    The employee lifecycle is a human resources model that identifies the different stages a worker advances through in an ...

Customer Experience
  • Adobe Experience Platform

    Adobe Experience Platform is a suite of customer experience management (CXM) solutions from Adobe.

  • virtual assistant (AI assistant)

    A virtual assistant, also called an AI assistant or digital assistant, is an application program that understands natural ...

  • inbound marketing

    Inbound marketing is a strategy that focuses on attracting customers, or leads, via company-created internet content, thereby ...

Close