ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS

Below is a list of acronyms and abbreviations commonly used in business sectors. Confronted by "business speak", professionals in one sector of business often find themselves at a loss in other sectors. The list is not exhaustive and new terms will be uploaded regularly. We invite professionals to contribute to this list in order to support a free-flowing exchange of knowledge. 

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A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A
A/V	Audio Visual
AAMOF	As A Matter Of Fact
AAPDF	Affirmative Action Policy Development Forum
AAR	After Action Review
ABE	Affirmable Business Enterprises
ABET	Adult Basic Education and Training
AFAIK	As Far As I Know
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AL	Accelerated Learning
ALARA	As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ASA	Advertising Standards Authority
ASAP	As Soon As Possible
ASTD SA	American Society for Training and Development of South Africa
ATS	Advanced Training System
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B
B&P	Bid and Proposal
BBBEE	Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment
BCEA	Basic Conditions of Employment Act
BEE	Black Economic Empowerment
BEER	Behaviour, Effect, Expectation, Results (for feedback for improvement)
BET	Behaviour, Effect, Thanks (for positive feedback)
BPM	Business Process Management
BPR	Business Process Re-engineering
BST	Basic Skills Trainer
BTW	By The Way
BSA	Business South Africa
BUSA	Business Unity South Africa
BWASA	Business Women's Association of South Africa
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C
C	100 (Roman numerals)
CAI	Computer Aided Instruction
CAX	Computer Assisted Exercises
CBI	Computer Based Instruction
CBT	Computer Based Training  Competency Based Training
CCMA	Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
CEE	Commission for Employment Equity
CEEQ	Centre for the Evaluation of Educational Qualifications
CEO	Chief Executive Officer
CETA	Cost Effective Training Analysis
CFO	Chief Financial Officer
CM	Change Management
CMI	Computer Managed Instruction
COIDA	Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act
COSATU	Congress of South African Trade Unions
CP	Change Proposal
CPI	Continuous Process Improvement
CSD	Corporate Social Development
CSI	Corporate Social Investment
CSR	Corporate Social Responsibility
CSS	Central Statistical Services
CTC	Cost to Company
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D
DM	District Municipality
DMP	Data Management Plan
DO	Dynamic Organisation
DoE	Department of Education
DoL	Department of Labour
DQAD	Directorate: Quality Assurance Development
DR	Design Review
DSM	Don't Shoot Me
DTI	Department of Trade and Industry
DTP	Detailed Test Plan
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E
EAP	Employee Assistance Programmes
EBE	Empowered Business Enterprise
ECC	Employment Conditions Commission
ECD	Early Childhood Development
ECR	Electronic Classroom
EE	Employment Equity
EEA	Employment Equity Act
EEC	Employment Equity Committee
EEF	Employment Equity Forum
EMIS	Education Management System
EMS	Electronic Management Systems
EMT	Executive Management Team
ENDEX	End of Exercise
EOD	End Of Discussion
EPSS	Electronic Performance Support System
EQ	Emotional Quotient
ERIC	Educational Resources Information Centre
ERP	Enterprise Resource Planning
ET	Embedded Training Evaluation Tool
ETC	Estimate To Complete
ETD	Education, Training and Development
ETQA	Education and Training Quality Assurance Body
EU	European Union
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F
FEDUSA	Federation of Unions of South Africa
FET	Further Education and Training
FICA	Financial Intelligence Centre Act
FOJT	Formal On the Job Training
FQAs	Frequently Asked Questions
FRD	Family Responsibility Discrimination
FRIDGE	Fund for Research into Industrial Development, Growth and Equity
FTA	Free Trade Agreement
FTX	Field Training Exercise
FWIW	For What It's Worth
FYCP	Future Years Corporate Plan
FYI	For Your Information
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G
GCIS	Government Communication and Information Services
GDP	Gross Domestic Product
GDS	Growth and Development Summit
GIGO	Garbage In, Garbage Out
GSSC	Gauteng Shared Services Centre
GTA	Graphical Training Aid
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H
HDSA	Historically Disadvantaged South Africans
HE	Higher Education
HEQC	Higher Education Quality Committee
HIV	Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HPT	Human Performance Technology
HR	Human Resources
HRCOSA	Human Resources Council of South Africa
HRD	Human Resource Development Human Resources Development
HRDM	Human Resource Development Management Human Resources Development Management
HRH	Human Resources for Health
HRIS	Human Resource Information Systems
HRM	Human Resource Management Human Resources Management
HRP	Human Resources Planning
HSEC	Health, Safety and Environmental Community
HUMINT	Human Intelligence
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I
I&D	Integration and Development
I&KP	Instructor and Key Personnel
I/O	Input/Output
IAW	In Accordance With
ICT	Information and Communication Technology
ICW	Interactive Courseware
IDC	Industrial Development Corporation
IDP	Integrated Development Planning
IDZ	Industrial Development Zone
IIP	Investors in People
IIRC	If I Recall Correctly
IKPT	Instructor and Key Personnel Training
ILO	International Labour Organisation
IMHO	In My Humble Opinion
IMI	Interactive Multimedia Instruction
IMS	Integrated Manufacturing Strategy
INPO	In No Particular Order
IOW	In Other Words
IP	Intellectual Property
IPM	Institute of Personnel Management
IPT	Integrated Product Team
IQ	Intelligence Quotient
IQI	Integration Quality Indicator
IR	Industrial Relations
IRPP	Integrated Resource Planning Process
ISD	Instructional System Development
ISD/SAT
ISETT	Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies
IT	Information Technology Instructional Technology
ITP	Individual Training Plan
ITS	Individual Training Standard  Integrated Training System
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J
JA	Job Aid
JDC	Job Description Compiler
JIPSA	Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition
JITT	Just In Time Training
JLI	Joint Learning Initiative
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K
KA	Knowledge Acquisition
KAS	Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills
KISS	Keep It Simple Stupid
KPA	Key Performance Areas
KPI	Key Performance Indicator
KSA	Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes
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L
L	50 (Roman numerals)
L.T.O.	Labour Turn over
LAB	Leadership Advisory Board
LED	Local Economic Development
LG	Lecture Guide
LIFO	Last in First out
LO	Learning Objective
LOI	Letter of Intent
LRA	Labour Relations Act
LRC	Learning Resource Center
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M
M	1000 (Roman numerals)
MAPPP	Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing and Packaging
MAS	Minimum Acceptable Standards
MD	Managing Director
MEC	Member of the Executive Council
Metro	Metropolitan Municipality
MINIEX	Mini Exercise
MIS	Management Information System
MOP	Measure Of Performance
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding
MPA	Motivation Problem Analysis
MPRDA	Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
MS	Milestone
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N
NACTU	National Council of Trade Unions
Nafcoc	National African Federated Chamber of Commerce
NCA	National Credit Act
NDA	National Development Agency
NEDLAC	National Economic Development and Labour Council
NEPAD	New Partnership for African Development
NGO	Non-Governmental Organisation
NHRD	National Human Resources Development
NIPF	National Industrial Policy Framework
NLRD	National Learners' Records Database
NPO	Non-Profit Organisation
NQF	National Qualifications Framework
NQR	National Qualifications Register
NRDF	National Rural Development Forum
NSA	National Skills Authority
NSB	National Standards Body
NSDS	National Skills Development Strategy
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O
OAU	Organisation of African Unity
OBET	Out-comes-based Education and Training
OD	Organisational Development
OECD	Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OHSA	Occupational Health and Safety Act
OJT	On the Job Training
OOBE	Out of Box Experience
OSH	Occupational Safety and Health
OTM	One Time Measure
OTOH	On The Other Hand
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P
P3I	Pre-Planned Product Improvement
PA	Performance Assessment Personal Assistant
PDI	Previously Disadvantaged Individuals
PE	Practical Exercise
PEBCAK	Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard
PFA	Pulled from the Air
PFMA	Public Finance Management Act
PMFJI	Pardon Me For Jumping In
PMO	Project Management Office
PPE	Personal Protective Equipment
PPM	Policy and Procedures Manual
PPP	Personnel Performance Profile  Public Private Partnership
PR	Program Review  Public Relations
PRO	Public Relations Officer
PSA	Proudly South African
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Q
QA	Quality Assurance
QC	Quality Control
QI	Quality Improvement
QM	Quality Management
QMS	Quality Management Systems
QVT	Quality Verification Test
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R
R&D	Research and Development
RAD	Rapid Application Development
RBM	Rational Behavioural Model
RESA	Research, Evaluation, and Systems Analysis
RFI	Request For Information
RFP	Request For Proposal
RFT	Ready For Training
ROI	Return on Investment
RPL	Recognition of Prior Learning
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S
S.E.X.	Synergistic Energy eXchange
SABPP	South African Board of Personnel Practice
SADC	Southern African Development Community
SALGA	South African Local Government Association
Sanco	South African National Civic Organisation
SAQA	South African Qualifications Authority
SARS	South African Revenue Services
SAT	Systems Approach to Training
SAYC	South African Youth Council
SDA	Skills Development Act
SDF	Skills Development Facilitator
SDLA	Skills Development Levies Act
SESD	Support for Education and Skills Development
SETA	Sector Education and Training Authority
SETQAA	Services SETA ETQA
SGB	Standards Generating Body
SGI	Small Group Instruction
SGL	Small Group Leader
SHE	Safety, Health and Environment
SHEQ	Safety, Health, Environment & Quality
SIM	Simulator
SIMTECH	Simulation Technology
SITD	Still In The Dark
SKA	Skills, Knowledge, Attitude
SMART	Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time based (objective and goal setting)
SME	Subject Matter Expert
SMME	Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises
SOA	Service Oriented Architecture
SOO	Statement Of Objectives
SOW	Statement Of Work
SPEC	Specification
SQT	Skills Qualification Test
SSA	Statistics South Africa

SSP	Sector Skills Plan
STRAP	System Training Plan
STX	Situational Training Exercise
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T
T&D	Training and Development
T&E	Training And Evaluation
TA	Transactional Analysis Transitional Analysis
TADS	Training Analysis Data Sheet
TADSS	Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations
TBA	To Be Announced
TBD	To Be Determined
TDNS	Training Development Needs Statement
TDS	Training Development Study
TE	Training Emphasis
TEA	Training Effectiveness Advocate Training Effectiveness Analysis
TEE	Training Effectiveness Evaluation
TEEP	Training Effectiveness Evaluation Plan
TEMP	Test and Evaluation Master Plan
TETA	Transport Education and Training Authority
TFT	Technical Feasibility Test
THETA	Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education & Training Authority
THRIP	Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme
TINSTAAFL	There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
TKT	Threshold Knowledge Test
TLA	Training Level Assignment
TLO	Terminal Learning Objective
TM	Technical Manual
TMO	Training Material Outline
TMP	Training Management Plan
TO	Task Order
TOIS	Task Oriented Instructional System
TOS	Training Objective Statement
TPR	Trained Personnel Requirement
TPTB	The Powers That Be
TQM	Total Quality Management
TQR	Training Quality Report
TR	Training Requirement
TRADE	Training Devices
TSA	Training Situation Analysis
TSFC	Training System Functional Characteristics
TSP	Training Support Package
TT	Technical Test
TTHSS	Touch, Taste, Hear, Sight, Smell (5 Senses)
TWI	Training Within Industry
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U
UIF	Unemployment Insurance Fund
UNEP	United Nations Environment Programme
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V
VAK	Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic
VDT	Visual Display Terminal
VI	Visual Information
VV&A	Verification, Validation, and Accreditation
VV&C	Verification, Validation and Certification
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W
W&SP	Workforce and Succession Planning
WBI	Web Based Instruction
WBPSS	Web Based Performance Support System
WBS	Work Breakdown Structure
WHO	World Health Organisation
WIIFM	What's In It For Me
WISN	Workload Indicators for Staffing Needs

WYSBYGI	What You See Before You Get It
WYSIWYG	What You See Is What You Get
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X
X	10 (Roman numerals)
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Y
YAFA	Yet Another Fine Acronym
YMMV	Your Mileage May Vary
YOYO	You're On Your Own
YTD	Year To Date
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Z
ZD	Zero Defects

Short summary
Abbreviations and acronyms abound in business language - this list aims to clarify some of them.

Keywords and relevant phrases
Abbreviations, acronyms, business speak.