Definition

To increase or accelerate something, whether it's production, hiring, or the pace of bad decisions. Implies a smooth upward trajectory that rarely manifests in reality.

Example Usage

We need to ramp up hiring in Q3, which means HR will panic-hire whoever has a pulse.

Origin

Manufacturing and military logistics terminology from WWII era

Fun Fact

Things that ramp up quickly often crash down even faster.

Source: Operations management terminology

Related Terms

Beginner

Leverage

To use something that already exists rather than building something new, which sounds strategic but usually means "we have no budget." The Swiss Army knife of corporate verbs -- it can mean literally anything.

💼 Corporate / Business💰 Finance / Accounting
Beginner

Quarterback

To lead or coordinate a project, borrowing from football despite most office workers never having touched a football. The person who gets credit when things work and blamed when they don't.

💼 Corporate / Business
Intermediate

White glove

Premium, high-touch service typically reserved for important clients, as if your company is a fancy butler. Everyone else gets the regular gloves, or no gloves at all.

💼 Corporate / Business
Advanced

single threading

Relying on only one relationship or contact point within a client organization, creating massive risk when that person leaves or changes roles. The business development equivalent of putting all your eggs in one basket, then dropping the basket.

💼 Corporate / Business
Intermediate

enablement

Corporate jargon for giving teams the tools, training, or resources they need to do their jobs—because apparently "support" wasn't fancy enough. It's particularly popular in sales contexts, where it means showering reps with content, training, and software they may or may not actually use. The term makes basic workplace support sound like a strategic initiative worthy of its own department and budget.

💼 Corporate / Business
Intermediate

eating your own dog food

Using your own company's products or services internally, forcing employees to experience the same pain points as customers. Also reveals whether your software is actually usable or hot garbage.

💼 Corporate / Business

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