Business Jargon

Tim: Hey, can I get a little facetime? Randall: Sure, let's dialogue.

Tim: Great. I tried to ping you earlier, but you weren't in. Randall: Yeah, I had to handle some pushback on my proposal.

Tim: Really, why was that? Randall: Well, I've come up with a number of synergies in the value chain. My value proposition was to seamlessly integrate our customer service reps.

Tim: Sounds like a win-win. How long is the ramp-up? Randall: That's the problem. I projected a roll-out in two months. C-level people want to dial-in the project in two weeks.

Tim: ...but you're proposing an end-to-end solution! Randall: Yeah, I know. I had the time-frame mapped out for all the deliverables, too.

Tim: Sometimes you have to wonder about high-level management's capabilities to leverage people like you! Randall: You're much too kind! Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Tim: Nothing much, I just wanted to give you a heads-up on some performance management issues I've been having with Pete. Randall: No room to breathe?

Tim: You've got it ....

Translation into easy (well, easier) English:

Tim: Hey, do you have some time for me? Randall: Sure, let's talk.

Tim: Great. I tried to contact you earlier, but you weren't in. Randall: Yeah, I had to manage some complaints about my idea for the company.

Tim: Really, why was that? Randall: Well, I thought of a number of tasks that can complement each other in how we provide our service. My improvement idea was to include our customer service representatives our processes.

Tim: That sounds like a good idea for everybody. How long will it take to put your plan into action? Randall: That's the problem. I think it will take two months to put into place. The directors want to put the project into action in two weeks.

Tim: ...but you've suggested a complete solution to the problem! Randall: Yes, I know. I had developed a schedule for all of the improvements, too.

Tim: Sometimes it's difficult to understand why upper management can't take advantage of people like you! Randall: You're much too kind! Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Tim: Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you ahead of time about some problems I'm having with Pete trying to control everything I do. Randall: No room for your own efforts?

Tim: That's right.

Key Vocabulary

facetime (noun)- time together to dialogue (verb) - to speak to ping (verb) - to contact someone pushback (noun) - to object to, complain about synergies (noun) - combinations in efforts that improve something value chain (noun) - the group of processes that provide something positive value proposition (noun) - the improvement idea seamlessly (adverb) - flowing smoothly to integrate (verb) - to include in a process win-win (noun, also used as an adjective) - successful outcome for everyone involved ramp-up (noun, also used as a verb) - time it takes to do something roll-out (noun, also used as a verb) - time it takes to do something C-level (adjective) - upper management, directors to dial-in (verb) - time it takes to do something end-to-end (adjective) - complete time-frame (noun) - amount of time needed to map out (verb) - to plan deliverables (noun) - specific improvements or products to be made to leverage (verb) - to take advantage of something heads-up (noun) - notice of something performance management (noun) - way of managing someone

Test your knowledge

QUESTIONS: Fill in the blank with the correct response:

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1. We __________________________ up with a new structure. = We developed/created a new structure.    came    brought    gave 2. We have to __________________________ out ( = develop) a better way to communicate with our customers.    figure    come    give 3. They cut __________________________ ( = eliminated) the middleman and started providing this service themselves.    off    up    out 4. Tom found a way to __________________________ ( = bypass/eliminate) this problem.    get down    get around    get up 5. Please __________________________ on. = Please continue.    give    get    go 6. We need to __________________________ ( = examine/review) these reports before 3:00 PM.    go through    get around    give off 7. We need to _________________ ( = schedule/arrange) an interview for Friday.    set up    take off    save up 8. The meeting has been __________________________ off ( = cancelled).    made    talked    called 9. The president has called __________________________ ( = requested) sweeping changes in the way we do business.    up    for    around 10. I knew they'd __________________________ to our way of thinking. = I knew that they would eventually accept our way of thinking.    get up    come around    feel out

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QUESTIONS: Fill in the blank with the correct response: Начало формы

1. We have to keep __________________________ with our competitors. = We have to be as successful as our competitors.    up    on    at 2. That factory __________________________ ( = produces) 10,000 milk cartons every day.    brings in    turns out    out 3. That branch __________________________ ( = makes, earns) a lot of money.    brings in    factors in    takes up 4. You forgot to __________________________ in employee benefits. = You forgot to include employee benefits in your calculation.    bring    factor    lead 5. I'll look __________________________ it. = I'll investigate it.    around    in    into 6. We'll have to do __________________________ with ( = eliminate) some of these provisions.    up    over    away

7. Robert _________________ as CEO ( = replaced the previous CEO) back in 2008.    took over    looked up    went around 8. I'd like to point _________________ ( = mention/remind everyone) that this has always worked in the past.    up    out    in 9. Robert brought __________________________ ( = raised) a very interesting point.    around    in    up 10. We can't just __________________________. ( = admit defeat and stop trying)    give up    get up    get around

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QUESTIONS: Fill in the blank with the correct response:

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1. Barack Obama has a plan to __________________________ out ( = save, financially speaking) the automotive industry.    give    bail    make 2. It will take a long time for the board to __________________________ ( = clear up, fix) this mess.    turn around    put in    sort out 3. We can't __________________________ this option. = We have to consider this option.    write up    rule out    sign off 4. The research was __________________________ ( = done/conducted) by a team of French scientists.    carried out    led into    placed under 5. I'm sure we can __________________________ something out. = I'm sure we can arrange something.    work    lead    do 6. The committee members have already __________________________ on this project. ( = formally approved this project)    worked off    carried out    signed off 7. We have decided _________________ pursuing ( = decided not to pursue) this course of action.    against    out    off 8. I would like to _________________ my partner in on this discussion. = I would like my partner to take part in this discussion.    bring    take    carry 9. The new functionality will speed __________________________ the checkout process. ( = will make the checkout process faster)    in    up    on 10. I'm going to ask John sit __________________________ on this meeting. = I'm going to ask John to attend this meeting (although he won't participate).    up    off    in

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QUESTIONS: Fill in the blank with the correct response: Начало формы

1. We brought him __________________________ ( = we hired him) to help us with the new website.    on    up    in 2. Matel had to __________________________ on their advertising budget. ( = to reduce their advertising budget)    come off    cut back    let down 3. We __________________________ ( = rejected) the offer because we weren't happy with several of the stipulations.    let off    brought out    turned down 4. That issue never __________________________ up ( = was never raised) during the meeting.    came    drew    measured 5. This product doesn't __________________________ up to its predecessors. = This product is not as good/effective as its predecessors.    work    bring    measure 6. We've run __________________________ paper. = We have no more paper left.    off    out of    out

7. Noone likes to sit through drawn _________________ negotiations. ( = negotiations that take much longer than they should).    out    off    up 8. Make sure you _________________ ( = complete) all the necessary paperwork.    write off    fill out    off 9. I'm sure they'll recover. Let's not write them __________________________ just yet. ( = Let's not assume that they're finished.)    out    off    up 10. We usually __________________________ aside ( = reserve) 15% of our budget for marketing.    sit    place    set

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QUESTIONS: Fill in the blank with the correct response: Начало формы

1. In the weeks __________________________ up to ( = before) the meeting, we'll all have to work very hard.    bringing    leading    taking 2. They __________________________ ( = created, developed) a brilliant marketing strategy.    turned around    brought in    drew up 3. We always contract that work __________________________. ( = we get someone else to do it)    up    out    around 4. I want Mary to __________________________ ( = assume the lead in) the new Latin American unit.    head up    factor in    lead off 5. Let me __________________________ ( = start) by saying how proud I am of your contribution to this company.    lead off    write off    start on 6. You two should work together on this project. = You two should __________________________ on this project.    work off    put in    team up 7. The new cellphones will _________________ ( = will be launched) in November.    roll out    come off    go through 8. I'm not sure what you're getting _________________. = I'm not sure what you mean.    at    out    off 9. Ford plans to __________________________ off 1,000 workers. = 1,000 Ford workers will lose their jobs.    lift    lay    go 10. Our business is really taking __________________________! = Our business is really becoming successful!    up    in    off

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