Despite the introduction of teleconferencing and webinars, many of us still spend a lot of time in meetings held around conference tables.  There is a whole hierarchy involved in the way we are seated around a  conference table,  with the  most powerful people usually seated at the head pf the table - unless they want to disturb the status quo.  The best way to stop these power politics could be to get a round table - but on the other hand, look at what happened to King Arthur and his knights.