From the Huffington Post Why Workplace Jargon Is A Big Problem http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/25/work-words_n_5159868.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business When we replace a specific task with a vague expression, we grant the task more magnitude than it deserves. If we don't describe an activity plainly, it seems less like an easily achievable goal and more like a cloudy state of existence that fills unknowable amounts of time. A fog of fast and empty language has seeped into the workplace. I say it's time we air it out, making room for simple, concrete words, and, therefore, more deliberate actions. By striking the following 26 words from your speech, I think you'll find that you're not quite as overwhelmed as you thought you were. Count the number that LLNLs mangers use. touch base circle back bandwidth - impactful - utilize - table the discussion deep dive - engagement - viral value-add - one-sheet deliverable - work product - incentivise - take it to the ...
Comments
April 29, 2016 at 5:08 PM
True enough. But many people, including many who frequent this blog, care about LANL.
April 29, 2016 at 5:08 PM
Well what happens with LANS may well be what happens with LLNLS. In any case LANS is not going anywhere until 2020, and after that some other form of LANS will take over. Perhaps it should it will only be Bechtel, no UC at all, lets see what happens to that dam culture when Bechtel can just let itself go FULL BECHTEL, I would love to see that!
"National labs don't exist to make money or to be "compliant". They exist to solve problems of national importance."
This is how it USED to be. And SHOULD be.
But since 2006 and 2007, the Labs DO exist to make money for their partners at the expense of taxpayers, AND be compliant, in that order and ONLY for what is covered by a PBI. Solving problems of national importance runs a distant third.
The evidence of what these institutions are for today is clear: bring in LLC partners, lay off and VERIP hundreds of knowledgeable staff to pay the LLC and the taxes triggered by for-profit status, put a constructive freeze on staff pay and hiring for the better part of a decade to keep paying the partners, and then watch as the capability withers with the attrition.
Today we see the scramble to TRY to hire thousands people in the next several years to make up for the lost decade and talent. Good luck with that.
It is now tragic comedy to see them expect to hire the best and brightest people with an absurdly ponderous hiring process (unless you're a partner employee who needs parking for a couple of years on the taxpayer dime--then it's FAST and EASY), average benefits and compensation (unless you're a partner employee--they're rewarded with rich employment contracts and six figure bonuses), with uncompensated personal burdens including clearances, drug testing, polygraph testing and incompetent micromanagement of every activity by the Feds.
Precious little nationally important problem solving goes on in this environment.
But a LOT of taxpayer money has been raked in by the partners. This is fertile ground for corruption, which there is a solid record of, and lot of corruption not yet in the daylight.
Taxpayers should wonder, how have the partners' campaign contributions and favors tracked their cash flow?
UC (Regents) will not give up LLNL - a lab that's named after UC's first Nobel Prize laureate. If Bechtel is no longer involved in LANL then UCOP is more likely to drop them from LLNS and restructure it into a solely UC owned LLC. It would look very similar to LLNS in that it has a board of Governors appointed by UC and LLNL employees work for the LLC not UC.
Remember the last bidding there was originally no one other than UC interested in the LLNL contract until NNSA doubled the fee from the original RFP. So if NNSA lowers the management fees by 50% for LANL and LLNL as is expected, and UC-Bechtel is out at LANL, then why would UC continue with Bechtel in a 2020 bid for LLNL.
Major undertaking. Lots of downside. Poor PR. Difficult customer. Ignorant sponsor. Impossible safety risk. When UC drops, there will be no scientific leader Lousy mountain to climb. New talent will not apply. Poor contact begats poor culture.
May 1, 2016 at 5:31 AM
Poster ignorant, inadequate, and confused. No one will employ, bitter and jealous. Poster dishonest and stupid.
May 1, 2016 at 5:31 AM
Major denial. Lots of delusion. Poor self awareness. Difficult patient. Ignorant guardian. Impossible to reason with. When reality drops, there will be no accountability. Lousy person. Never was talent why was fired. Blame others for personal failures. Bitterness is all has, cling too, hate LANL, hate LANL. No sleep at 5:30AM. Crazy, denial denial denial....off line.... .. .
Since that is exactly what has been happening since 2006, I'd guess you are wrong about that. Regardless of what the corporate roster says, Bechtel is and has been in charge all along. And they have royally screwed it up.
May 2, 2016 at 12:17 PM
How egalitarian of you. I guess you liked it when the entire class got punished because one kid misbehaved. Anything else requires actual knowledge, thought and judgement.
May 3, 2016 at 7:55 AM
It's a rule that lousy navigators and incompetent engine room mechanics really love.
May 3, 2016 at 3:54 PM
Kids say the damndest things. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes the grownups are just wrong, and stupid, because they have learned nothing new in many years, unlike kids.
May 3, 2016 at 8:49 PM
May Bechtel crush you arrogant ants. They could not get the job done in 10 years because of UC, but in the next round it will only be Bechtel and the gloves come off, I cant wait to see it.
May 3, 2016 at 7:58 PM
No surprise here. All the "fat cats" at LANL have no intention of leaving until they are absolutely forced to. These cats have enjoyed the huge salaries, tax free bonuses, and lack of accountability since LANS took over in 2006.
May 3, 2016 at 8:49 PM
Sometimes, maybe. But, the other 99.99% of the time, all they do is mess in their diapers and cry.
And freedom from the "bitter" LANL staff who keep cluttering up this place.
May 2, 2016 at 4:56 PM
I hate to be pedantic, but you misspelled "better."