is "Working Groups" the new buzz-word ?

[momcpa]

At our small company, we used to have group meetings based around a particular business function.......sales, support, etc.   Just recently the powers-that-be created a whole new structure called "Working Groups"......spelled out in black and white.  It doesn't seem to vary much from the way it was.  But now it seems ALL the conversations, ALL the e-mails from the top few people HAVE to include a reference (or multiple references) to Working Groups, no matter what they are talking about.

I hadn't heard that term before, but in just a few short days, I think I'm tired of it!!

Oh well, if that's what they want/require, I can fit it into my vocabulary also (I think).

[Travis]

In the Army we use "working groups" in lieu of conferences to imply something actionable is supposed to come out of that gathering.  Since many conferences can be accomplished via video teleconference and not face-to-face meetings the use of that word is discouraged if for no other reason than your travel request will get denied. A working group also meets on a fairly regular basis with a project goal in mind.

[marty998]

We have Project Governance and Steering Committees :(

The bigger the organisation, the worse it gets.

[dividendman]

Just create a working group to come up with a better name for working group and you're set.

[Guses]

Questions that comes up at Executive Management Commmittee get sent to Management table for resolution. After deliberations over several meetings ( at least 3), the questions are directed towards Working Groups (WG). WGs convene a few times to establish a project timeline and list deliverables and further sub WGs and then proceed to deliver a solution with input from steering committees and external relations committee. The proposed solution is delivered to the Management table for approval. After several rounds of "Ping-Pong" between the WGs, sub WGs and MT, approval from the steering committee and external relations committee, a solution is recommended to the EMC. EMC then proceeds to ignore all of the above and opt to do something else.

And what do we call them?

[gliderpilot567]

My favorites are Tiger Team and Blue Ribbon Panel