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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: grampster on June 15, 2010, 11:37:34 PM

Title: sustainability
Post by: grampster on June 15, 2010, 11:37:34 PM
Is anyone else sick and tired of the overuse of this word?  What is it about buzzwords?  If I was a writer or a news person or someone with views that might be promulgated in the media, I'd avoid the trite, boring use of buzzwords.  I think using buzzwords diminishes one's ability to be taken seriously.
There is no sustainability in using buzzwords.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: sanglant on June 15, 2010, 11:42:40 PM
it's code for the little blue pills. :angel:
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Monkeyleg on June 15, 2010, 11:55:02 PM
We need to think outside the box about the use of the word, and establish a new paradigm.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Fly320s on June 16, 2010, 12:09:34 AM
Moving forward, that is a good take-away.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: MillCreek on June 16, 2010, 12:10:50 AM
We need to get input from the stakeholders and decide on our metrics.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Sergeant Bob on June 16, 2010, 12:25:34 AM
At the end of the day, the sun goes down...
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: AJ Dual on June 16, 2010, 01:11:47 AM
If the issue is Global Warming, doing away with daylight savings time, and the extra hour of sunlight would have a huge savings.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: drewtam on June 16, 2010, 01:18:49 AM
If the issue is Global Warming, doing away with daylight savings time, and the extra hour of sunlight would have a huge savings.

But thats just it... sustainability can mean anything, depending on the context.

Large gov't deficits are not sustainable.
Ponzi schemes are not sustainable.
Wasteful living is not sustainable.
Dumping toxic waste into rivers is not sustainable.
Gutting a corporation to raise profits is not sustainable.
Socialist economies are not sustainable.
Global warming, fossil fuels, wild fishing, etc...

Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: seeker_two on June 16, 2010, 06:21:20 AM
Maybe we need to brainstorm on Sustainability-Gate.......
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Hutch on June 16, 2010, 10:26:16 AM
Maybe the funniest corporate buzzword cartoon, ever:
http://professionalsuperhero.com/ (http://professionalsuperhero.com/)
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: MillCreek on June 16, 2010, 11:41:38 AM
^^^ Now this was pretty darn funny.  And sadly common, in my experience.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Nick1911 on June 16, 2010, 11:48:51 AM
Maybe the funniest corporate buzzword cartoon, ever:
http://professionalsuperhero.com/ (http://professionalsuperhero.com/)

OMG, instant win.

Love it.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: BrokenPaw on June 16, 2010, 12:37:48 PM
Maybe the funniest corporate buzzword cartoon, ever:
http://professionalsuperhero.com/ (http://professionalsuperhero.com/)

One of the PMs here has that posted outside her office door.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: AJ Dual on June 16, 2010, 01:16:29 PM
Maybe the funniest corporate buzzword cartoon, ever:
http://professionalsuperhero.com/ (http://professionalsuperhero.com/)

Hell, I work for him.

OTOH, I can always keep him off my back by generating some metrics or some emails, even if nothings actually getting done.  :laugh:
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: BrokenPaw on June 16, 2010, 01:47:10 PM
OTOH, I can always keep him off my back by generating some metrics or some emails, even if nothings actually getting done.  :laugh:

Create a small program that draws buzzwords from a data file and sends automatic periodic e-mails containing them.  Probably you'll want to work some time jitter in so that it's not sending them too predictably.  Then work on other stuff.

I know someone who did this.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: grampster on June 16, 2010, 02:42:46 PM
All of your interfaces have enhanced this thread paradigm.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: BrokenPaw on June 16, 2010, 02:47:28 PM
All of your interfaces have enhanced this thread paradigm.

That's because we utilized synergy.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: SADShooter on June 16, 2010, 02:56:21 PM
The paradigm seems to have shifted so far I lost it...
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: charby on June 16, 2010, 04:06:47 PM
Wordsmith, I need a wordsmith.

Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: BrokenPaw on June 16, 2010, 04:40:13 PM
Wordsmith, I need a wordsmith.

Wherefore?
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: MillCreek on June 16, 2010, 04:42:10 PM
Wordsmith, I need a wordsmith.



Please specify your time frame and deliverables for a wordsmith, or do we need to put this in the parking lot?
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: SADShooter on June 16, 2010, 04:56:05 PM
Do your decision parameters really necessitate a wordsmith, or could a wordapprentice actually satisfy the task bracket? I think you're just trying to pad your span of control.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Nick1911 on June 16, 2010, 05:34:46 PM
I think until we can collaborate and get functional requirements for the wordsmith, we should shelve the project.  I'll touch base with the client to set expectations.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Monkeyleg on June 16, 2010, 05:51:19 PM
Does anyone actually have to deal with this gibberish?
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Marnoot on June 16, 2010, 05:55:55 PM
Quite regularly. The buzzwords favored by my current general manager include "stickiness", "traction," and plenty of the usuals mentioned.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: SADShooter on June 16, 2010, 06:33:47 PM
Tongue is firmly in cheek, but I'm a three-striker, insofar as I work in a x-state x-medical/research x-university. Jargon and novel management theories are heavy on the ground...
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Monkeyleg on June 16, 2010, 06:40:34 PM
Geeziz, I'd go insane.

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dilbert.com%2Fdyn%2Fstr_strip%2F000000000%2F00000000%2F0000000%2F000000%2F90000%2F1000%2F700%2F91765%2F91765.strip.gif&hash=30b3473ff68c268ddf341fe5c61cb37b93a5df94)
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: zahc on June 16, 2010, 07:01:31 PM
"leverage" used as a verb is a personal favorite. "We need to leverage our sustainability to increase awareness".
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: grampster on June 16, 2010, 07:58:40 PM
"leverage" used as a verb is a personal favorite. "We need to leverage our sustainability to increase   enhance awareness".

Fixed it.  Now it's complete gibberish. =D
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: SADShooter on June 16, 2010, 08:02:49 PM
"We need to leverage our sustainability to enhance awareness of our core values and holistic mission focus." Take that, gramps.

The irony is that I can somewhat turn it to my advantage. My experience and vocabulary are such that I can phrase my approach as following or against the prevailing bureaucratic wind, and get people to do, or not do, something they might not otherwise consider. It is tedious, but can be fun on occasion.

My boss is doing cutting-edge medical research. He values me because I manage and deflect the byzantine minutiae that would otherwise distract him from his real job. Kinda cool.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: seeker_two on June 16, 2010, 08:39:59 PM
But what is the mission statement for this thread?....we'll never have unit cohesiveness without a mission statement....  =|
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas on June 16, 2010, 08:51:03 PM
But what is the mission statement for this thread?....we'll never have unit cohesiveness without a mission statement....  =|
Quite right. But at least we have synergy.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: MillCreek on June 16, 2010, 08:52:35 PM
Wait, wait, wait.  You are jumping the gun.  Before we develop a mission statement, we need a vision statement.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: grampster on June 16, 2010, 10:14:57 PM
A synergistic, holistic, vision moving forward toward a paradigm mission that enhances our core values which binds a cutting edge to an encompassing sustainability.

Your witness.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: sanglant on June 16, 2010, 10:15:41 PM
Does anyone actually have to deal with this gibberish?
sadly every concerned(cognizant?) voter, each election.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: charby on June 17, 2010, 05:34:05 PM
Does anyone actually have to deal with this gibberish?

Yes, anytime something is written here at work it needs to be wordsmithed to included all the latest greenie catch phrases.

If I can go a week with out hearing "wordsmith" spoken from anyone, it is a good week indeed.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Racehorse on June 17, 2010, 05:40:26 PM
One that drives me nuts is "incent." As in, "How do we incent our employees to collaborate and maximize the synergistic outcomes?" [barf]

I guess "incentivize" or "motivate" just aren't fresh enough.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Iain on June 17, 2010, 05:52:11 PM
One that drives me nuts is "incent." As in, "How do we incent our employees to collaborate and maximize the synergistic outcomes?" [barf]

I guess "incentivize" or "motivate" just aren't fresh enough.

Incent an employee huh?

Next time you feel like it, smack someone and claim you misheard.

Or get one of these:

(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblestudysite.com%2Fmary.h3.jpg&hash=e049895930a5d326b381c3f0c5527fac288ffe0b)
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Cromlech on June 18, 2010, 05:28:06 AM
We all got pulled into an emergency meeting (had to go to work early myself, I start at 14:00 normally on late shifts) to discuss changes to management. They managed to squeeze that old favourite 'Synergy' into the brief.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: grampster on June 18, 2010, 07:31:24 AM
Back in my workin' days, enhance was a buzzword.  Whenever something was enhanced that meant we were going to have to do more with less for less.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Hutch on June 18, 2010, 09:57:51 AM
Quote
Does anyone actually have to deal with this gibberish?
Don't get me started.  We have to leverage and redeploy existing assets, building synergy among the stakeholders, as we invent our go-forward strategy.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: charby on June 18, 2010, 10:08:50 AM
I was a breakfast meeting this morning and I started chuckling when the speaker went into a spiel about sustainability. Folks looked at me like I was the devil.  >:D
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Scout26 on June 18, 2010, 07:46:06 PM
Mrs Scout's entire job is attending meetings and creating jibberish filled presentations to keep the higher echelons busy so her worker bees can get the actual work done.  (When they are not complaining about how hard they have to work).  While some of what she does is HIPAA restricted I frequently chuckle, gaffaw and laugh out loud when she uses me to as a sounding board.

The sad part is that when she gives her presentations to those above her, using those words is like giving crack or meth to addict...... 
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Monkeyleg on June 18, 2010, 07:54:20 PM
But what do the words mean?
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Scout26 on June 18, 2010, 07:59:01 PM
Back when I was working (several jobs back infact) we all cringed when the VP of Operations would decide to implement the latest and greatest ideas from the then best selling "management" book he had just read.  He didn't think it was funny when at one meeting my counter-proposal was to burn his Barnes & Noble frequent buyer card....... =D =D =D   

 
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Hutch on June 20, 2010, 11:10:17 AM
Quote
But what do the words mean?
Let me see if I can help on some of them....

Stakeholders:  Those whose ass is on the line if this idea fails.

Leadership: (a group, not a quality):  Those who will be rewarded if this idea works.

Paradigm: actually, ~ $.20.  More often used to mean "how we do things".

Leverage:  to mercilessly exploit something that's waaaay past its "sell-by" date.  For example, one can "leverage" your Dodge Aries to pull a 35' travel trailer.  Once.  For a little while

Incent (v.), often bastardized to be "Incentivize".  To threaten.

Proactive:  A most sought after trait, often leading to foolish behavior.  One may proactively have one's appendix removed, for example.  You know, just in case it might need it.

Align:  To beat, cane, and cudgel a group or organization into behavior that is self-evidently foolish or suicidal.

Re-invent:  See "Align".  Usually applied to a larger organization.

Agility:  Flexibility fostered by lack of clear goals.

Pivot:  The ability to react to the fact that agility has landed your career on the wrong side of the Live/Die divide.

Tipping point:  (rustic) The position at which beer begins to flow past the rim of its container. (Business) The moment in time it which Leadership realizes that the current paradigm requires re-alignment to allow the stakeholders to pivot, thereby freeing up resources to seek opportunities outside the current employment model.

Strategy:  That list of wishes upon which all members of Leadership can agree might not require them to be held accountable for the stakeholders success.


More later, when I've sobered up.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Chuck Dye on June 20, 2010, 11:27:59 AM
ABSOLUTELY!

Sorry, neither buzzword nor answer to any of the above questions, just my nominee for a usage that should allow an immediate violent response.
Title: Re: sustainability
Post by: Monkeyleg on June 20, 2010, 11:43:31 AM
Thanks, Hutch! :D :D :D

I think I knew some of the people who would be using those words today. They were the ones who bumped into lockers in high school.