Sunday, April 24, 2005

Civil Service Lingo

Ever wondered about the jargon used in Civil Service? Some of you might know something from your NS Days. Now, there's more to that, but I caution against using them too often. Especially in front of me *frown*

Expedite
- To hurry. Normally used when your boss is not happy at the speed you are doing your work.
- e.g. I need this submission done, could you please expedite?
- Can be used in other forms, e.g. Please proceed in an expeditious manner.

Operationalise
- Just a 'bigger' sounding word for implement
- e.g. Now that you have this framework, could you provide some proposals on how you intend to operationalise it in an expeditious manner?

Dovetail
- To flow into. I can't quite explain this, perhaps if some of you have better ideas, do not hesitate to let me know in an expeditious manner ;)
- e.g. This activity dovetails nicely into our framework that we are currently operationalising as it fits all the objectives, pls proceed in an expeditious manner

Incentivise
- To encourage. You won't find this word in the oxford dictionary, believe me
- e.g. The framework that we are currently operationalising should have the effect of incentivising our target audience to respond in an expeditious manner

Sensitise
- To be made aware of. You won't find this word in the dictionary as well
- e.g. We need to sensitise our subordinates on the urgency of the situation so that they can operationalise the framework in an expeditious manner

The ultimate killer paragraph. I got this from my colleague sometime back. I almost died when I heard this.
>>>
Yoz, our bosses are sensitised to the fact that we're not completing our project in an expeditious manner. Now, they are in the process of operationalising a framework to incentivise us to do so, I heard that it is because this project will dovetail nicely into the current initiatives being undertaken by HQ
>>>

I'll add on more as and when I come across. Perhaps I'll do a Singlish Dictionary equivalent of civil service speak when I have amassed enough of the phrase. Now, to operationalise it to dovetail into...

1 comment:

lovely said...

Oh my goodness.. I almost died reading this