Kaizen

Japanese term meaning “continuous improvement”

Operations or Quality

Kanban

Scheduling system for lean and just-in-time (JIT) production

Operations or Lean

Key Account

High-value client receiving personalized service

Sales or CRM

Key Account Manager (KAM)

Person managing strategic client relationships

Sales or Client Relations

Key Man Insurance

Life insurance for crucial personnel in a business

Insurance or HR

Key Risk Indicator (KRI)

Metrics used to signal increasing risk exposure

Risk Management

Key Stakeholders

Individuals or groups with significant influence on or interest in the business

Governance or Strategy

Key Success Factors (KSFs)

Critical elements required to achieve business objectives

Strategy

Kickback

Illegal or unethical payment to gain favorable treatment

Legal or Ethics

Kickoff Meeting

Initial meeting to launch a project or initiative

Project Management

Kitting

Assembling individual items into a ready-to-ship package

Logistics or Fulfillment

Knock-on Effect

Secondary impact caused by a business decision or event

Economics or Strategy

Knockout Option

Type of option contract that expires if a certain price level is hit

Finance or Derivatives

Know Your Customer (KYC)

Regulations requiring identity verification in finance or banking

Compliance or Finance

Knowledge Audit

Assessment of an organization’s knowledge assets and gaps

KM or HR or Strategy

Knowledge Base

Central repository of information for employees or customers

Customer Support or IT

Knowledge Economy

Economy based on intellectual capital and services

Economics or Innovation

Knowledge Management

Process of capturing, sharing, and using organizational knowledge

HR or Strategy or IT

Knowledge Transfer

Sharing expertise between individuals or teams

HR or Training

Knowledge Worker

Employees primarily dealing with information or intellectual tasks

HR or Workforce