What is corporate bullshit according to the Cornell study?

Corporate bullshit is defined as puzzling corporate buzzwords and jargon that is semantically empty and confusing, often used to mislead and impress.

How does corporate jargon affect decision-making?

Employees most impressed by corporate jargon may be the least equipped to make effective decisions, showing lower scores in analytical thinking and fluid intelligence.

Who is susceptible to corporate bullshit?

The study suggests that highly educated individuals can also be susceptible to corporate bullshit, indicating it's not solely an issue of lower intelligence.

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Study: Fancy Talkers Make Worse Choices

23 Mar

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Summary

Corporate speak users may lack decision-making skills.
Cornell study links jargon susceptibility to poor judgment.
Bullshit receptivity correlates with lower analytical skills.

Research from Cornell University indicates a correlation between an employee's susceptibility to corporate jargon and their ability to make sound business decisions. The study defines "corporate bullshit" as misleadingly impressive, semantically empty corporate buzzwords and jargon. Employees who are most impressed by this type of language tend to perform worse on measures of analytical thinking and fluid intelligence.

Shane Littrell, the study's author, developed a "Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale" after testing 1,000 office workers. Participants rated statements generated by a "bullshit generator" alongside real corporate quotes. Those who fell for the jargon consistently chose less effective solutions to workplace problems, suggesting that this receptivity can lead to dysfunctional leadership.

While being swayed by corporate bullshit may lead to negative outcomes, it can also result in increased job satisfaction and a more positive perception of supervisors. The findings suggest that this phenomenon is not limited to less intelligent individuals, as participants were highly educated, indicating that anyone can be susceptible to well-packaged misleading language.

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