February 2012
30 posts
1 tag
RSS
Really Simple Syndication. Also called feeds, web feeds, or news feeds. Many websites have an RSS widget or button to encourage readers to “follow.”
Usage: RSS makes it easier for Internet users to collect content in a central location instead of repeatedly visiting individual websites.
1 tag
Valuation
The economic value of a business beyond its revenues and profits. Might be an estimate of what the business would be worth if sold.
Usage: Although revenues were $30M per year, the investment bankers determined that the business valuation was $60M.
1 tag
Product Life Cycle
The predictable stages, from development through decline, that every product or industry experiences.
Usage: Product prices are generally highest in the introductory or early adopter stage of the product life cycle.
1 tag
MMP
Massively Multi Player. A type of online game where the players are connected by a computer network.
Usage: MMP games use high-speed data networks linked to the Internet.
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Organizational Development
The process of working on how an organization functions. Frequently abbreviated as OD.
Usage: Organizational development includes both the people and behavioral aspects of a business and its structural aspects.
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Suboptimal
A thing or a strategy that is less than the best — less than optimum.
Usage: They agreed to a suboptimal solution because they did not have enough money to do everything they wanted.
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Runway
The amount of time and resources it takes for a new company to start selling products or services.
Usage: The CEO believed he had eough runway to get the new product launched.
1 tag
Variable Cost
A cost that changes based on usage.
Usage: An employee paid by the hour is a variable cost.
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Rolling Budget
A budget that is updated every period so that it always covers the same length of time, usually one year. Sometimes called a continuous budget.
Usage: The budget committee meets monthly to update the rolling budget
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Generative
A set of circumstances that allows people to find new uses.
Usage: Apple set up a generative scenario by encouraging iPhone and iPad apps.
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1 tag
Customer Requirements
Features, functions, qualities, and price that have been determined to be important to potential purchasers of a product or service.
Usage: The marketing department was responsible for identifying the customer requirements so the engineers could design a service that would sell.
1 tag
Up to Par
Reaching an expected standard of quality. Often used in the negative (“not up to par”). From the Latin “par” meaning “equal.”
Usage: The client was disappointed that the work was not up to par.
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1 tag
DIY
Do It Yourself. Used to describe the market of people who are willing to do tasks and chores instead of hiring someone else to do them.
Usage: The DIY market consists of both hobbyists and people trying to save money.
1 tag
Fumble the Ball
Cause things to not go well. From an American football reference to the ball slipping out of the hands of the player holding it.
Usage: Don Draper fumbled the ball when talking to the press but managed to recover in a later interview.
1 tag
Capital Intensive
A business, product, or service that is highly dependent on equipment or capital investment. Compares to labor intensive.
Usage: The telecommunications business is highly capital intensive because of the amount of money required to purchase and install switches, transmission media, and monitoring equipment.
1 tag
Photo Op
Photograph Opportunity. An occasion or event designed to provide photographers with access to the key participants for publicity purposes.
Usage: The media group set up the photo op to show company staff doing charity work.
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SOX Compliance
Adhering to or complying with the rules and requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).
Usage: SOX compliance was supposed to increase confidence in the data found in annual reports of companies traded on the stock exchanges.
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LOI
Letter of Intent. A generally non-binding outline of an agreement. Similar to an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).
Usage: If the two parties cannot agree to the wording in an LOI then it’s likely they won’t be able to agree to wording in an actual contract.
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Early Adopter
A person who is the first to try, purchase, and use new technologies or new products.
Usage: Marketers of new products need to appeal to early adopters.
Pro Forma Financial Statements
Financial statement prepared using budgeted or forecasted numbers.
Usage: After completing the budget, we can create pro forma financial statements to see what the net income might be.
1 tag
Labor Intensive
A business, product, or service that is highly dependent on the work efforts of people. Compares to capital intensive.
Usage: A housecleaning business is labor intensive because people are needed to dust, mop, and vacuum.
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Revenue Center
A logical subdivision of a company that is responsible only for sales. Opposite of a cost center.
Usage: The telemarketing division is a revenue center.
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Term of Art
A word or phrase that has a specific meaning in a specific company or industry and may have legal standing or a technical specification. Informally, jargon.
Usage: In the electric utility business, the word “reliability” might be a term of art that refers to a measure of unexpected power outages and whether or not the outage exceeds three seconds.
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1 tag
Digital Immigrant
A person who did not grow up in the digital world but had to learn new technology as it became pervasive.
Usage: University faculty are digital immigrants teaching 20-year-old digital natives.
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CMS
Content Management System. A service that manage web content. WordPress and Tumblr are examples of CMS systems designed for bloggers.
Usage: CMS services make it easier for non-programmers to manage and update their websites.
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Forecast
A financial projection based on information from the recent past, future plans, and expectations.
Usage: A forecast in the last quarter showed that if no changes were made, budget numbers would not be met.
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OPM
Other People’s Money. Bank or personal loans, venture capital, investment, or grants that might be made available to a business.
Usage: The business owner was looking for OPM instead of putting his own money at risk.