August 30, 2007
In The Enterprise
Another phrase that is bugging me.
Ryan sent me this “ars technica” article, which pertains to our work. It’s about how new standards in wireless routers are getting good enough that wired networks at companies may soon be a thing of the past.
My problem with it is that instead of “at companies” they pepper their prose with the phrase “in the enterprise.” For example:
The other major factor in adopting 802.11n is the increased prevalence of laptops in the enterprise.
It’s in the title, too: “Report: 802.11n good enough to chase Ethernet from the enterprise” There are four usages like this, totaled, in the short article. Clearly, this is commonplace IT-speak. But here is what I think of when I hear about “the Enterprise”:
- Tribbles or the Lights of Zetar - especially “chased from the Enterprise”
- The newspaper where my grandfather used to work - The Enterprise out of Brockton, MA.
- Or this aircraft carrier.
I know the IT world doesn’t care, but, heck, why not just wear Spock ears to work, too? It’s the logical thing to do. Or maybe even say something like “in enterprise” rather than “in the enterprise.”
Rant off.
Is it just the "the" you're really complaining about? Or is it the whole "enterprise" thing?
At IBM, "enterprise" refers to large corporations (like us), as opposed to "SMB" == small and medium businesses. If ars technica is making the same distinction, the point is that "SMBs" might be using wireless already but "enterprises" still use wired networks... and that might soon change.
But, yeah, I agree that "in the enterprise" has sort of taken on a life of its own as a "buzzphrase". "24-7" still bothers me more, though, so....
Posted by: Barry Leiba at August 30, 2007 5:20 PMPlease check around your immediate seating area...
Just people trying to make what they say sound more important. "In the enterprise" will come and go. I still remember "paradigm shift".
Posted by: Chuck S. at August 30, 2007 6:53 PMI guess a lot of it is the "the" but unnecessary buzzword proliferation bugs me.
Really, more than the confusion with Star Trek, "in the enterprise" just sounds really puffed up. Overimportant.
Ah, as I was typing this there was a BOC on the w00t-off and Chuck posted in the interim. Yes, exactly right. It's self-important.
IT people are wrapped up in their world. There is slang that's practical. SMB is an acronym for "small and medium businesses." It doesn't get a highfalutin'-sounding buzzword because life in the enterprise is much more... everything.
Posted by: James at August 30, 2007 7:01 PM