I am at a conference where we talked about "planned disruption" in health care today. Though we spent all day on the concept, in short, it is planning for the chaos that occurs with change. One person stated that she thought planned disruption was an oxymoron. My thoughts precisely! We also had discussions about whether there is positive disruption. While I think that disruption can result in something positive, I can't see that the disruption itself is positive.

What do you think?

I think that the only accurate use of "planned disrupton" would be for something like strike action where you are planning to disrupt your employer's business. The phrase I'd have used for what you describe is "anticipated disruption" or pehaps "contingency planning for the anticipated disruption", longer I know but at least it's accurate.

Planned disruption sounds like sabotage. Emergency plan sounds better.

Tinman

Yes, I agree. It just irritates me how academics take a perfectly good word and make it mean something else. It is confusing and often illogical.

An example of positive disruption:

I once came home to find my SO (Significant Other. Do you use that term in the UK?) sitting in a chair gazing idly out a window. She seemed mildly preoccupied with something but whether she was simply bored or depressed, I never found out.

Walking over to the chair, I bent over, took her face in my hands, and laid a good, wet, sloppy one right on her. After some 30 seconds duration, I pulled away and said, "There! That's for nothin'!" and walked away.

As a result of this positive disruption, she got out of the chair, we went out for dinner and dancing and had a wonderful evening. I highly recommend it.

Nice example, CJ. So you've convinced me; there are positive disruptions. However, that must mean there are negative disruptions and just plain disruptions.

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As a result of this positive disruption, she got out of the chair, we went out for dinner and dancing and had a wonderful evening. I highly recommend it.

Won't you be jealous if we do likewise? Sunflower will definately frown on it!

And Kalleh, as for academics' changing the meaning of a perfectly clear word, whaddaya think politicians do!!! Orwellian semantics!

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as for academics' changing the meaning of a perfectly clear word, whaddaya think politicians do!!! Orwellian semantics!

I believe the term for that is "spinning."

Dictionary.com has this for "spin":
To provide an interpretation of (a statement or event, for example), especially in a way meant to sway public opinion: “a messenger who spins bogus research into a vile theology of hatred” (William A. Henry III).

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Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:

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As a result of this positive disruption, she got out of the chair, we went out for dinner and dancing and had a wonderful evening. I highly recommend it.

Won't you be jealous if we do likewise? Sunflower will definately frown on it!

Why would I frown on a kiss, dinner and dancing???

Sunflower, I had the same question you did. I can't wait to see what Asa had meant!

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Originally posted by Kalleh:
Sunflower, I had the same question you did. I can't wait to see what Asa had meant!

Still waiting. . .

My guess is that he (Asa) was joking because of the way it was originally phrased. It could have been interpreted that CJ was suggesting that others try it out with his(CJ's) S.O.

Asa, being the way he is, was saying that Sunflower would not like it so much if he was suddenly kissing, wining and dining someone else.

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Asa, being the way he is, was saying that Sunflower would not like it so much if he was suddenly kissing, wining and dining someone else.

Yeah, what she said!

And Kalleh, see the thread wherein "reframing" is mentioned. It's a close ally to spinning.

Disruption is halting a process, and in that context has no moral dimension. To apply positive disruption would be the halting of a negative process (poor hygiene practices thru to phobias, for clinical examples).

I don't consider 'planned disruption' to be oxymoron because a disruption is not necessarily the undoing of a plan. I would guess that the connotation of negative, chaotic influence that the word disruption has become associated with is due to its use by our teachers when describing interruptions to our lessons. Well, it's a theory . But disruption is often the orderly halting of a process, so doesn't qualify for oxymoron status.

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Originally posted by Caterwauller:
My guess is that he (Asa) was joking because of the way it was originally phrased. It could have been interpreted that CJ was suggesting that others try it out with his(CJ's) S.O.

Asa, being the way he is, was saying that Sunflower would not like it so much if he was suddenly kissing, wining and dining someone else.

You guessed right, CW!

Or...Sunflower, he was just trying to get out of it fast!

Beans, I have been thinking a lot about "positive disruption" and "planned disruption" since posting this, and I am coming around to your point of view. I think you make a good point. BTW, we haven't seen you in awhile...welcome back!