Copy of `businessballs - business and management terms`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

businessballs - business and management terms Category: Management > business and management Date & country: 13/09/2014, USA Words: 1681

Bookkeeping
The recording of a business's transactions, such as sales, purchases, payments, income, etc

Boomlet
A small period of rapid growth in trade and economic activity

Bootstrapping
Starting a business from scratch and building it up with minimum outside investment

Bossnapping
Believed to have started in France, the unlawful imprisonment of a boss, in the offices of a company or on the site of a corporation, by employees who are protesting against redundancy, closure of the company, etc

Bottom Fishing
Buying the cheapest investments available which are unlikely to fall much further in value

Bounce
In economics a bounce is a small quick partial recovery of the economy after a recession, which may subsequently continue upwards in growth, or plateau neither growing or contracting, or descend back into recession

Bounty Hunter
In the US, someone who pursues criminals or fugitives and brings them to the police in exchange for a monetary reward

Boutique
A small shop or outlet typically selling fashionable and expensive items such as clothing. The term 'boutique' is also now increasingly applied as a descriptive word in various other sectors and products to denote an outlet/supplier of small-scale, highly individual, bohemian, quirky, or hand-made quality, for example Boutique Hotels, below

Boutique Hotel
A small individual hotel, commonly within a historic building, with luxurious stylish themed and furnished rooms, typically independently owned.

Brain Drain
The loss of highly skilled people to another region, country or industry, where they can work in a better environment and/or earn more money

Brainstorming
Problem solving in small groups, contributing ideas and developing creativity

Brand
A unique identifying symbol, trademark, company name, etc., which enables a buyer to distinguish a product or service from its competitors

Brand Association
Something or someone which make people think of a particular product.

Bread and Butter
The main source of income of a company or an individual

Break Even
To make enough money to cover costs. In business, the point at which sales equals costs. To make neither a profit or loss

Bridging/Bridging loan/Bridge
A short term loan, normally at high rates of interest calculated daily, which 'bridges' a period when funds are unavailable, typically when payment has to be made before finance can be released from elsewhere to cover the transaction.

British Standards Institution
BSI. An organisation which sets out formal guidelines to help businesses, etc., produce or perform more efficiently and safely. The BSI operates in more than 25 countries, and represent UK interests in other organisations, such as the ISO - International Organisation For Standardization

Brown Goods
Household electrical entertainment appliances such as televisions, radios and music systems

Brown-noser
Insulting slang term for a sychophant, originally 1930s US military slang (brown-nose). Brown-nosing describes crawling or creeping to please a boss; an amusingly disturbing interpretation of various expressions which juxtapose the head of the follower with the backside of the boss, as in the rude slang metaphors: kissing arse/ass, arse-licking, bum-licker, etc.

Brownfield
Previously developed land, either commercial or industrial, which has been cleared for redevelopment

Budget
Allocation of funds or the estimation of costs for a department, project, etc., over a specific period. The management of spending and saving money

Built To Flip
Companies which have been sold soon after they have been created, so that money can be made quickly

Bull Market
On the Stock Market, a prolonged period in which share prices are rising and investors are buying

Bullet Point
A symbol, e.g. a dot or a square, printed at the beginning of each item on a list

Business Angel
Also known as Private Investor. A, usually wealthy, individual who invests money in developing (often high risk) companies, and who provides their advice, skills, knowledge and contacts in return for an equity share of the business

Business Name
See also Trade Name/Trading Name, which are loosely interchangeable. These are a very vague terms indeed. Precise interpretation may depend on the actual legal definitions of these terms in the territory/state/country concerned. And also the way a business perceives and interprets the terms, and whether they fill in the forms/checkboxes correctly.. Generally business names and trade/trading names may be registered and licensed. A lot depends on the interpretation of the term 'Business name'. Business name can refer to a trade/trading name, or also could refer to the the over-arching or parent or holding company, which is ultimately responsible for a trade/trading name within or of the business. A trade name is normally a division or branded operation/service, or product brand, within/of a (legally titled) business, but the terms are very broad and it's difficult to be specific because circumstances and legal interpretations vary. Be careful to avoid applying a strict definition to such loose terms and certainly if serious implications stem from interpretation then seek expert local clarification

Business Plan
A written document which sets out a business's plans and objectives, and how it will achieve them, e.g. by marketing, development, production, etc

Business To Business
B2B. Commercial transactions or activities between businesses

Business To Consumer
Transactions in which businesses sell goods and/or services to end consumers or customers

Button Ad
A small advertisement on a website, typically measuring 120 x 90 pixels

Buy-in
Purchase of a company where outside investors buy more than 50% of the shares, so they can take over the company

Buzzword
A word or phrase which has become fashionable or popular, or sounds technical or important and is used to impress people.

C-Suite
The Chief Officers or most senior executives in a business or organisation

Calculated Risk
A risk which has been undertaken after careful consideration has been given to the likely outcome

Call Account
A bank account, which usually pays a higher rate of interest, from which investors can make instant withdrawals

Callable
Usually applies to bonds or convertible securities which can be bought back, at an agreed price, before maturity, by the company or government which sold them

Callipygian
Having well-shaped beautiful buttocks. This fascinating obscure term (thanks S Marcus, PhD) - indeed the OED categorises the adjective as 'rare' - deserves wider exposure. Callipygian is pronounced 'Kallipijian' with the emphasis on the 'pij' syllable. A more recent variation is Callypygous ('kallipijus'). The word came into English in the late 1700s from Greek, kallipugos, which was used to describe a statue of Venus (the 1922 OED says it was actually the name of a statue of Venus), from kallos meaning beauty, and puge, meaning buttocks. Kallos is also a root of the word calligraphy (decorative handwriting/lettering), and callisthenics (graceful gymnastics).

Capital
The net worth of a business, including assets, cash, property, etc., which exceeds its liabilities (debts). The amount of money invested in a business to generate income

Capital Allowance
Money spent by a company on fixed assets, such as buildings, vehicles, machinery, which is deducted from its profits before tax is calculated

Capital Flight
The sudden movement of money from one country or investment to another in order to reduce risk, such as high inflation, or to increase profit

Capital Gains Tax
Tax payable on profits made on the sale of certain types of assets by a company or individual

Capital Outlay
Money which is spent for the acquisition of assets, such as land, buildings, vehicles, machinery

Capitalization Issue
When a company converts its spare profits into shares, which are then distributed to existing shareholders in proportion to the amount of shares they already hold

Capitialism
When an economic system of a country is controlled and profited by private individuals and corporations, rather than the government

Capped-Rate
Interest rate, usually on a loan, which cannot rise above the upper set level but can vary beneath this level

Carbon Credit
Allows the right to emit a measured amount of harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the air, and can be traded between businesses and countries

Carey Street
To be heavily in debt or bankrupt. Originates from Carey Street in London where the bankruptcy court was situated

Carload
A shipment of goods which, typically by weight, qualifies for a lower shipping rate. The term 'Less than carload' refers to a shipment which is below the given size/weight necessary to qualify for such a rate. The term originated from USA railway freight car transportation and also applies to other methods of freight transport, notably shipping containers, hence similar terms containerload and 'less than containerload'.

Carpet Bomb
To send an advertisement to a large number of people by e-mail or onto their computer screens

Cartel
A group of separate companies or nations which together agree to control prices and not compete against each other. Also known as a Price Ring

Cash Call
A request by a company to its shareholders to invest more money

Cash Cow
A steady dependable source of income which provides money for the rest of a business

Cash Flow
The movement of money into and out of a company, organisation, etc

Cash Flow Forecast
Also called Cash Flow Projection. An estimate of the amounts of cash outgoings and incomings of a company over a specific time period, usually one year

Casting Vote
The deciding vote cast by the presiding officer to resolve a deadlock when there are an equal number of votes on both sides

Catch-22
Much misused expression, it refers properly only to a problem whose solution is inherently self-defeating. Wrongly it is used to describe any insurmountable or difficult problem. It's from Joseph Heller's book of the same name; see cliches origins

Category Killer
Large companies that put smaller and less efficient competing companies out of business

Cattle Call
Term used in the entertainment industry for a large number of actors, etc., who are all auditioning for the same job

Caveat Emptor
When the buyer takes the risks and is responsible for checking the condition or quality of the item purchased. (Latin - Let the buyer beware)

Central Counterparty
Acts on behalf of both parties in a transaction, so that the buyer and seller do not have to deal with each other directly.

Chain Of Command
A system in a business, or in the military, in which authority is wielded and delegated from top management down through every level of employee. In a chain of command instructions flow downwards and accountability flows upwards.

Channel Of Distribution
Also known as Distribution Channel. A means of distributing a product from the manufacturer to the customer/end user via warehouses, wholesalers, retailers, etc

Check The Gate
A term used in the film industry after a shot is taken on a film set. The gate, or opening in front of the camera, is checked to make sure that there is no dirt, hair, etc., present

Clapper Boy
On a film or TV set, the person who holds the clapperboard (which has information on it, for example film title, shot number, etc) in front of the camera for about one second at the start of each shot after the camera starts rolling

Class A Spot
In the media, commercials which are run on a prime time network

Class Action
A lawsuit in which one person makes a claim and sues on behalf of a large group of people who have similar legal claims, usually against a company or organisation

Click Farm
A supplier of fraudulent website traffic/visitors - typically an organized and exploited group of low-paid workers who are tasked to visit websites to post false reviews/comments or to click on PPC adverts so as to generate fraudulent clickthrough advertising revenues

Clicklexia
Ironic computing slang for a user's tendency to double-click on items when a single click is required, often causing the window or utility to open twice

Clicks And Mortar
Also known as Clicks and Bricks. Refers to businesses which trade on the Internet as well as having traditional retail outlets, such as shops

Clickstream
A record of an internet user, including every web site and web page which have been visited, and e-mails sent and received

Clip-Art
Ready made pictures of computerised graphic art which can be copied by computer users to add to their own documents

Close Company
In the UK, a company which is controlled by five or less directors

Code-Sharing
An arrangement between different airlines in which they all agree to carry passengers on the same flight using their own flight numbers

Coercion
Forcing someone, by some method or other, to do something or abstain from doing something against their will

Combined Ratio
In insurance, a way of measuring how much profit has been made by comparing the amount of money received from customers to the amount paid out in claims and expenses

Commercial Monopoly
The control of a commodity or service by one provider in a particular market, virtually eliminating competition

Commercial Paper
An unsecured and unregistered short-term agreement in which organizations can borrow money from investors who cannot take the assets from the organization if the loan is not repaid

Commission
In finance, a payment based on percentage of transaction value, according to the local interpretation of value (e.g., based on total revenue, or gross profit, etc).

Companies House
A government agency in the UK which is responsible for collecting and storing information about limited companies. The companies must file annual accounts or face penalties

Comparative Advantage
See definition for Competitive Advantage

Compensation Fund
A fund set up by a company or organisation from which to pay people who have suffered loss or hardship which has been caused employees or members of the company or organisation

Competition Law
Known as Antitrust law in the US, regulates fair competition between companies, including the control of monopolies and cartels

Competitive Advantage
A position a business gains over its competitors

Competitor
A business rival, usually one who manufactures or sells similar goods and/or services

Competitor Analysis
Also called Competitive Analysis. A company's marketing strategy which involves assessing the performance of competitors in order to determine their strengths and weaknesses

Compliance Officer
A corporate official whose job is to ensure that a company is complying with regulations, and that its employees are complying with internal policies and procedures

Compound Interest
Interest which is calculated on not only the the initial loan, but also on the accumulated interest

Compromise Agreement
Euphemism for a 'Gagging Clause'.

Concept
A thought or notion. An idea for a new product, advertising campaign, etc

Concierge
An employee of e.g. an hotel who provides a service to guests, such as handling luggage, delivering mail and messages, making tour reservations, etc

Conciliation
To bring two disputing sides together to discuss the problem with the aim of reaching an agreement

Concordance
In publishing, a concordance is an alphabetical list of the key words from a text showing their meanings. Concordances are rare in old large books because of the time and effort required to compile them, but more commonly arise in modern computer-generated applications. A concordance is a sort of cross-referenced index, but in (sometimes very much) more detail than the standard index of chapters and subjects typically shown before the main content. There are other more complex and different meanings of the word concordance relating to various technical applications (mathematics, genetics, etc) where often the meanings concern duality or cross-referencing of some sort

Conditional Sale
A purchasing arrangement, usually where the buyer pays in instalments but does not become the legal owner of the goods until the full purchase price has been paid

Conference Call
A telephone call which allows three or more people to take part at the same time

Conflict of Interest
A much overlooked, under-estimated, yet highly prevalent factor in the execution of any responsibility or activity, where an organization/group/individual is subject to incompatible demands, opportunities, incentives, or responsibilities, etc., and especially where there is potential for one demand to distort the proper honest diligent execution of responsibility in achieving the second demand, i.e.., the incompatibility is competing and mutually unhelpful. A conflict of interest produces divided loyalties, for example where a person represents two different competing businesses, or an employee is responsible for managing family members or personal friends. Nepotism unavoidably involves a conflict of interest, regardless of intent. Politicians being paid to give advice to corporations also unavoidably involves a conflict of interest, even where there appears to be no direct connection between the politician's political responsibilities and the nature of the advice and corporate 'client'. In this respect, and elsewhere, denial of conflict of interest generally ignores the value and influence of indirect connections, obligations, 'quid-pro-quos', especially via friends and associates. Similarly where advisors work for a government or regulatory authority, and also have external commercial interests, there is always and unavoidably some conflict of interest. Any form of organizational self-regulation or self-investigation almost always entails a conflict of interest. Common commercial conflicts of interest arise where a provider is able to benefit in the supply of one service as a direct result from the provision of another related service and whose overall effect is typically to the disadvantage of the 'client' organizatio...

Conservator
In law, a guardian or protector appointed by a court to manage the affairs, finances, etc., of someone who is too ill or incapable of doing so themselves

Consortium
A group of businesses, investors or financial institutions working together on a joint venture

Constructive Spending
Helping the local economy by buying home produced goods, holidaying in your own country, etc., rather than buying imported goods and holidaying abroad

Consultant
An expert who is paid by a company, individual, etc., to give advice on developing plans and achieving goals

Consumer
An individual who uses goods and services but who may not have been the purchaser