The Compleat Jargoner: How To Obfuscate the Obvious Without Half Trying

Zisk, Betty H.

doi:10.1177/106591297002300102

“…Broughton’s buzzword generator shows us that ‘the key to successful exposition is the well-chosen complex phrase’ (Zisk, 1970, p. 55). Indeed, using Broughton’s generator we can produce terms that still sound like they should mean something such as integrated management concept, parallel digital hardware and balanced incremental contingency .…”

Section: A Short History Of Management Buzzwordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, using Broughton’s generator we can produce terms that still sound like they should mean something such as integrated management concept, parallel digital hardware and balanced incremental contingency . But, Zisk (1970) emphasizes, there is a skill to producing buzzwords beyond their complexity that Broughton missed. Buzzwords cannot be completely meaningless.…”

Section: A Short History Of Management Buzzwordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the context of management, though, the terms are ambiguous and so function effectively as buzzwords (Collins, 2000). As a result, Zisk (1970, p. 55) argues that we need to remodel Broughton’s buzzword generator for particular audiences and offers a generator designed specifically for political scientists as an illustration (see Table 2).…”

Section: A Short History Of Management Buzzwordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In each instance, buzzwords offered the speaker a form of protection from potential criticism. By using buzzwords, business students could sound authoritative even when they lacked expert knowledge, managers could dazzle people in their organizations and political scientists could be assured ‘of public and scholarly acclaim’ (Zisk, 1970, p. 55).…”

Section: A Short History Of Management Buzzwordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Compleat Jargoner: How To Obfuscate the Obvious Without Half Trying

Cited by 3 publications

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What Makes a Management Buzzword Buzz?

What Makes a Management Buzzword Buzz?

How to Succeed in Political Science by Being Very Trying: A Methodological Sampler

How to Succeed in Political Science by Being Very Trying: A Methodological Sampler

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