It only takes a quick glance at the TV listings or a short internet search to see that DIY is having a cultural moment. From home renovations to wedding decorations to Halloween costumes, people love to do it themselves.

Have you ever set aside valuable time in your schedule for an important meeting only to get there and not be able to hear a thing? It’s a frustration and a waste of time, but it’s also not that uncommon. Sometimes something as simple as an echo or ambient noise makes it impossible to understand or even hear other meeting participants.

Once you’ve gone through all the trouble of choosing just the right mics, cameras, and displays for your meeting spaces, you’ve made a significant investment. But what are the real-life results? Stakeholders want to see a return on their technology investments, but it’s important to recognize the soft benefits of improving the work environment and experience for employees. If they are able to actually enjoy their work, they become more engaged and productive.

Recently SmithBucklin, an association management company, released the findings from a study on outsourced services. The research involved 360 senior level executives of U.S. associations and professional groups. 81 percent of the participants outsource at least one service, with multimedia production being the most popular at 52 percent.