Conference. The conference is a bizarre ritual where the organisation (q.v.) reveals in detail the stories for the forthcoming year which the assembled masses must re-tell to the customers (q.v.). The stories reveal slowly and tortuously through often conflicting PowerPoint (q.v.) slides, many of which must later be 'cascaded (q.v.)' throughout the organisation. Those who have been at the organisation for a while will know there is a wide gulf between the story and reality. However a heady mix of alcohol, jet-lag and e-mail (q.v.) overload will ensure it is a brave person who causes a fuss at such disparity.