Over 40 years ago, Phillip Broughton published an article “
How to Win at Wordsmanship” (
Newsweek magazine, 1968). He suggested a Systematic Buzz Phrase Projector, a three-column table with 30 words (see below). The use is simple. Think of any random three-digit number, and then select the corresponding buzzword from each column. For example, number 911 produces "balanced organizational flexibility" a phrase that can be dropped into virtually any report or presentation with a flavour of decisive knowledgeable authority. The claim was that “No one will have the remotest idea of what you're talking about, but the important thing is that they're not about to mention it.”
(Was it the first buzzword bingo?)
