Definition

A formal examination or comprehensive review of something, from land boundaries to customer opinions to workplace satisfaction (where everyone lies). It's the act of systematically gathering data, measurements, or feedback, usually resulting in a report nobody reads. The tool organizations use to pretend they care about your opinion.

Example Usage

Please complete this 45-minute survey about your 2-minute customer service interaction so we can ignore your feedback systematically.

Source: Business and research terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

Helicopter View

Looking at a situation from a very high level, which conveniently means you can't see any of the actual problems on the ground. The preferred altitude of executives who want to give opinions without understanding details.

💼 Corporate / Business
Intermediate

BHAG

Big Hairy Audacious Goal—an ambitious, decade-spanning objective that's supposed to inspire organizations but often just inspires confusion and burnout. Pronounced 'bee-hag' by people who enjoy making business sound like a fantasy game.

💼 Corporate / Business
Beginner

vice-president

A senior executive who serves as second-in-command, ready to step into the top role when needed, or more commonly, someone who runs an important division while collecting an impressive title. In startups, vice-presidents multiply like rabbits; in established corporations, becoming one actually means something. The corporate equivalent of being heir to the throne, except with more spreadsheets.

💼 Corporate / Business
Intermediate

underpinning

The foundational support structure, literally in construction or figuratively in arguments and business strategy. In corporate speak, it's the pretentious way to say "basis" when you want to sound more important. Every consultant's favorite word for describing whatever holds up their overpriced recommendations.

💼 Corporate / Business
Advanced

Bleeding Edge

Technology so new that adopting it will make your budget hemorrhage money while your IT department hemorrhages sanity. It's called bleeding edge because someone is always getting hurt.

💼 Corporate / Business
Beginner

quick win

An easily achievable success that builds momentum and credibility, often prioritized when someone needs to look productive fast. The business equivalent of a participation trophy you give yourself.

💼 Corporate / Business

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See “survey” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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