planning

Definition

The act of strategizing, designing, or creating a roadmap for future action—the thing organizations claim to do but rarely do well. Good planning prevents chaos; bad planning guarantees it; no planning guarantees chaos with overtime.

Example Usage

The military's planning phase lasted six months and involved hundreds of contingencies for the invasion.

Source: General business/military terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

linkage

A fancy corporate term for 'connection' that makes simple relationships sound more impressive in strategy presentations and consultant reports. It refers to how different things—processes, systems, incentives, or metrics—are mechanically or conceptually connected to produce outcomes, usually in ways that require extensive PowerPoint diagrams to explain. In executive meetings, establishing linkage between your project and revenue somehow makes budget requests more persuasive.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

wholesale

The art of selling massive quantities of stuff to retailers who then jack up the price and sell it to you, the sucker at the end of the chain. It's the business model that keeps Costco in business and makes you feel smart for buying 47 rolls of paper towels at once. Essentially, it's bulk selling before things get marked up for "presentation" and "convenience."

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

Bake in

To incorporate something into a plan or system from the beginning, as if you're making a cake and not just making excuses for poor planning. Usually said about features that will definitely be forgotten.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

initiative

A fresh approach or new project launched to solve a problem or drive change—the corporate buzzword for 'we're trying something different.' Often accompanied by a full rebrand and enthusiasm that lasts three quarters.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

FYI

Acronym for "For Your Information," the corporate world's favorite passive-aggressive prefix when sharing facts someone definitely should have already known. It's simultaneously helpful and condescending, depending entirely on tone and context. In emails, it's the professional way to say "you're welcome for doing your job for you."

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

plan

A documented strategy or architectural drawing; what every project manager pretends to follow before reality sets in. The written record of intentions that gets abandoned by week two.

💼 Corporate / Business

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