In a LinkedIn Group someone asked, “What are the business terms that most make you want to puke?”  Their were some very good responses and excellent candidates. Here is one they found most egregious. We concur.

The mother of all "idiotic, annoying, or just useless buzzwords" by far is [drum roll please] -- value. It stinks.

The value code word is used by the lazy, ignorant and inarticulate. They employ this nauseating code word when they have no idea of specific merit or worth of something. 

Value provides vague cover for people when they do not know what they are talking about. Value is the refuge of scoundrels. Counterfeit people hide behind the value code word.  

Value attracts attention through guile and deception. It is used often as a ridiculous antecedent, such as ‘value network’ or ‘value proposition.’ Unfortunately, other dubious forms like 'social value,' or 'economic value,' or ‘intangible value’ <gag!> are also popular and, well, oh so nauseating.

The ridiculous value code word appears most often when business benefits are simply absent, e.g., the so-called ‘ValueNetworks’ firm failed in 2011. See: End of Value Networks. Beware of specious offerings using meaningless terms.

Look, if something increases productivity, just SAY so! If something has a benefit or advantage, just describe it, tell us what it is! There is NO need for the 'value' gobbledygook.

Let’s leave axiology to the philosophers and authentic, modern-day scholars. Beware of dubious thought leaders, business value buffoons and clinical solipsists claiming some magical value equation.

Above all, for 2012, in business writing and communications, let’s all eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.