business jargon: zero-sum game definition: if one person has more, another has less. example...
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Business Jargon: Zero-sum game
Definition:If one person has more, another has less.
Example Dialogue: A: I hear the new software is almost complete. But does it
work? For Wall Street traders, it is a zero-sum game.
B: I agree. Each time I make money, someone else loses exactly the same amount.
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Business Jargon: Smoke and mirrors
Definition:A form of deception; more style than substance.
Example Dialogue:A: I hear the new software is almost complete. But does it
work?
B: I don’t know, but I hear that the new software is mostly smoke and mirrors. It looks good, but it does not work well.
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Business Jargon: To be on a roll
Definition:To be doing well at something.
Example Dialogue:A: This is the fourth week in a row that I have sold the
most units.
B: You are really on a roll. How do you explain it? Is it luck or hard work?
A: A little bit of both.
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Business Jargon: To jump through hoops
Definition:To do everything that is necessary to achieve a goal.
Example Dialogue:A: He is a demanding boss. He really has me jumping
through hoops.
B: I agree that he is demanding, but he’s fair. I am sure that he appreciates all of the things that you are doing to make the department look good.
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Business Jargon: To occur on his watch
Definition:Something happens (usually bad) while a person is in
charge.
Example Dialogue:A: I hear that we lost our most important customer.
B: Yeah, it occurred on Joe’s watch. He should have paid more attention.
A: That’s really bad for Joe considering it was his responsibility.
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Business Jargon: To hold one's feet to the fire
Definition:To put pressure on someone to perform.
Example Dialogue:A: We’ve got a real problem. Our supplier hasn’t delivered
the product.
B: OK. Call him up, and hold his feet to the fire. I want you to call him every day until the product arrives, and if you have to, tell him that we may have to look elsewhere if he can’t deliver.
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Business Jargon: To bring to the table
Definition:The skills or benefits that something or someone offers.
Example Dialogue:A: Based on talking to him on the phone, I don’t think that
he brings very much to the table.
B: I understand why you have that impression, but he actually brings quite a bit to the table. He is brilliant at developing strategy and marketing plans. It is just hard to tell when you first meet him.
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Business Jargon: To sandbag
Definition:To provide incomplete information to gain an
advantage.
Example Dialogue:A: Why are you so confident that you will meet your sales
quota this year?
B: I sandbagged when I provided upper management the numbers. I gave my boss such low numbers that it will be easy to meet my sales quota.
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Business Jargon: To take a deep dive
Definition:To review something in extensive detail.
Example Dialogue:A: We’ve got a real problem. Our product quality and
customer satisfaction have slipped.
B: Yes, I agree. Please give me a copy of all the information. I’m going to take a deep dive into the data over the weekend so that I can figure out the problem.
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Business Jargon: On the same wavelength
Definition:To think alike; to be in agreement.
Example Dialogue:A: We all need to work together on this project to
complete it on time. Are we on the same wavelength here?
B: Yes, absolutely. We all understand, and we all agree on what needs to be done.
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Business Jargon: Power lunch
Definition:A lunch where an important business deal is discussed.
Example Dialogue:A: I’m headed out to a power lunch with the CEO of our
supplier.
B: Do you think that you will be able to negotiate a deal?
A: That’s the plan. Wish me luck.
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Business Jargon: To be a jungle out there
Definition:A difficult or highly competitive environment.
Example Dialogue:A: We just launched our new product in Europe.
B: How are we doing?
A: It’s a jungle out there. We have so many competitors that I don’t know whether we’ll be successful.
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Business Jargon: To need it yesterday
Definition:To need something urgently.
Example Dialogue:A: Our customer is waiting for the shipment.
B: I didn’t know that. When do they need it?
A: They need it yesterday. They cannot proceed until they receive the shipment.
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Business Jargon: A cakewalk
Definition:Something that is easy to accomplish.
Example Dialogue:A: Will it be difficult to convince the CEO to approve our
project?
B: No, I'm convinced that this is going to be a cakewalk. I know that the CEO already wants to undertake the project.
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Business Jargon: To bootstrap
Definition:To develop by yourself without support from others.
Example Dialogue:A: Are you planning on raising money from outside
investors to launch your business?
B: No, we're planning on bootstrapping our business. We want to achieve success on our own terms.
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Business Jargon: On a going forward basis
Definition:In the future.
Example Dialogue:A: We made some mistakes with this customer.
B: Yes, but on a going forward basis, I am sure that we can do much better.
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Business Jargon: To tank
Definition:To fail; to not proceed.
Example Dialogue:A: What happened to that deal you were working on?
Were you ultimately successful?
B: No, we couldn’t agree on price so the deal tanked.
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Business Jargon: Eat what you kill
Definition: A program in which the individual benefits more than the
team from bringing in new business.
Example Dialogue:A: I implemented a new sales incentive system. Only the
salespeople who close sales will get paid this year.
B: It sounds like you are taking an eat what you kill approach.
A: That’s right.
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Business Jargon: Win-win
Definition: An outcome where both parties benefit from a
transaction.
Example Dialogue:A: We agreed to pay our supplier a larger commission in
exchange for better service.
B: So it was a win-win outcome for both of you.
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Business Jargon: The perfect storm
Definition: A situation when multiple things go wrong all at once.
Example Dialogue:A: Sales are way down this month.
B: I know. It seems to have been the perfect storm. Not only did our factory fail to meet its production quota, but three of our key customers switched to our competitor.
A: And to top it off, we also had to fire our Vice President of Sales because he was caught stealing. I hope that next month is better. This month was certainly a perfect storm.
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Business Jargon: Growth rate
Definition:The increase in something over a period of time.
Example Dialogue:A: We sold 1,000 cars last year.
B: And this year we hope to sell 1,100 cars.
A: Yes, our growth rate will be 10%.
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Business Jargon: M & A
Definition: Quick way to say "mergers and acquisitions," when
two companies combine.
Example Dialogue:A: Last year, we purchased another company.
B: Does your company do a lot of M&A?
A: Yes, on average, we acquire four or five companies per year.
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Business Jargon: Marketing plan
Definition: A plan for promoting, selling, and distributing a
product or service.
Example Dialogue:A: We are trying to decide how best to sell the new bicycle.
B: Oh! You’re working on a marketing plan.
A: Yes, with a good marketing plan, we will sell a lot of bicycles.
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Business Jargon: Strategy
Definition: A plan for achieving advantages over your competitors.
Example Dialogue:A: What is your company’s strategy?
B: We sell the highest quality products. What is your company’s strategy?
A: We have the lowest priced products.
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