Business Evolution?

The word "evolution" might be the most misused or abused words in the english language.  I think it stems from the passive and vague acceptance of the idea that life has evolved from a simple, unorganized existence (think, primordial ooze) to a complex, highly ordered existence (think, you).  This is the general idea behind darwinian evolution and since this theory has been accepted by the masses, the masses have begun to think uncritically that improvement = evolution.  This explains why it is commonplace to hear that word being used whenever improvements are made to a process, system, or structure.  The interesting thing about this is that no one EVER uses the term in every day conversation in the strict and appropriate way to describe something that has improved and organized itself by undirected, random process, as Darwin defined it.

The most common way the word evolution is used is to describe a purposeful, effort-filled restructuring or reorganization of a process or system. For example one might hear at a company meeting, "Our training program has evolved through many hours of hard work on the part of our HR department and now we are please to offer the following training programs."  This is an extremely common (mis)usage and it is ironic that it is referring to the very thing that Darwin was trying to disprove.  He was devoted to disproving the idea that there was a purposeful design that was worked and built in the creation of what we call the universe.  Interestingly, in our use of common english, we all realize the fact that order and improvement comes not through random chance and undirected process, but through purpose, planning, and hard work, even if we don't use the right words to say it.
-- Matt