This page does not intend to be clever or full of insights into XY and Z. It merely lists some uses of the term business which I looked up from an old edition (early 1980's) of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. The list was used as an item in an "ice-breaking" exercise with a group of undergraduates who were largely studying business for the first time.

Ice-breaker

The word "Business" is littered in everyday conversation. You are embarking on a course of study which takes "Business" as its focus.

To do

As a group

1. Discuss the usage of the word and the meaning of the terms listed.
2. What important connotations of "Business" have been omitted in your view ? Discuss these and add to the list.
3. Draw some conclusions about how these uses of the term may or should be reflected in your programme of degree studies.

The initial list (from an early 1980's edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

• busily engaged in something
• activity, briskness
• mischievous or impertinent activity
• earnestness, importunity (a condition of being importune, troublesome, pressing, urging, soliciting, asking for a thing persistently)
• anxiety, uneasiness, trouble, ado
• care, attention, diligent labour
• serious occupation
• piece of work, job
• difficult matter
• dealings
• an affair (its my business, keep your nose out)
• commercial enterprise going concern which has a legal personality

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This resource was written by Chris Jarvis for the BOLA project