Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
structured abandonment timeout pro-forma
English answer:
Outline of planned abandonment procedure
Added to glossary by
Manuel Cedeño Berrueta
Jan 30, 2007 12:04
17 yrs ago
English term
structured abandonment timeout pro-forma
English
Tech/Engineering
Linguistics
language/nominal group modifier//visual aids/emergency management courses
Hello everybody.
In the “Narrative Team Appraisal” of a Major Emergency Management Course I have the following paragraph:
Can/will someone explain to me
(1) What is a “Structured Abandonment Timeout Pro-forma”, and
(2) Does “structured” modify “pro-forma” or “abandonment timeout”?
I mean, is this
a “**structured pro-forma** for **abandonment timeouts**” or
a “**pro-forma** for **structured abandonment timeouts**” (whatever such things may be)?
Many thanks in advance,
Manuel
In the “Narrative Team Appraisal” of a Major Emergency Management Course I have the following paragraph:
Can/will someone explain to me
(1) What is a “Structured Abandonment Timeout Pro-forma”, and
(2) Does “structured” modify “pro-forma” or “abandonment timeout”?
I mean, is this
a “**structured pro-forma** for **abandonment timeouts**” or
a “**pro-forma** for **structured abandonment timeouts**” (whatever such things may be)?
Many thanks in advance,
Manuel
Responses
| 3 | possible explanation |
Ken Cox
|
| 4 | pro-forma = draft??? |
Alexander Demyanov
|
Change log
Jan 30, 2007 12:38: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "Structured Abandonment Timeout Pro-forma" to "structured abandonment timeout pro-forma" , "Field" from "Other" to "Tech/Engineering"
Responses
1 hr
Selected
possible explanation
"Structured abandonment" gets zero google hits, so I can only speculate on the meaning of the phrase.
In this context, abandonment means leaving a site, building, structure or location, usually in an orderly manner.
Structured abandonment would mean an abandonent process or procedure organised in several stages or levels (e.g. first abandon selected offices or workstations in a building, then abandon one or more buildings of a site, and then abandon the site).
The timeout could be the amount of time alloted for the abandonment process, or (allowing for misuse of the term) the amount of time necessary for the process.
As for 'pro-forma', I'm inclined to follow the idea of the following definition (used in a financial context) here:
Definition: Pro forma describes a presentation of data, typically financial statements, where the data reflect the world on an 'as if' basis. That is, as if the state of the world were different from that which is in fact the case.
In this case, this suggests that the timeout value is based on a model, simulation, or analysis of the abandonment process instead of an actual exercise.
In any case, 'structured' modifies 'abandonment', and 'pro-forma' is an adjective.
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-30 13:43:51 GMT)
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I should have said that abandonent means leaving... in response to a threat, imminent hazard, or danger.
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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-01-30 18:00:59 GMT)
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In response to Alexander's comments, it's possible that 'pro-forma' is being used here in the sense of an incomplete or skeleton document as described in the wikipedia reference. IMO it's impossible to say for certain without more information.
In this context, abandonment means leaving a site, building, structure or location, usually in an orderly manner.
Structured abandonment would mean an abandonent process or procedure organised in several stages or levels (e.g. first abandon selected offices or workstations in a building, then abandon one or more buildings of a site, and then abandon the site).
The timeout could be the amount of time alloted for the abandonment process, or (allowing for misuse of the term) the amount of time necessary for the process.
As for 'pro-forma', I'm inclined to follow the idea of the following definition (used in a financial context) here:
Definition: Pro forma describes a presentation of data, typically financial statements, where the data reflect the world on an 'as if' basis. That is, as if the state of the world were different from that which is in fact the case.
In this case, this suggests that the timeout value is based on a model, simulation, or analysis of the abandonment process instead of an actual exercise.
In any case, 'structured' modifies 'abandonment', and 'pro-forma' is an adjective.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-30 13:43:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I should have said that abandonent means leaving... in response to a threat, imminent hazard, or danger.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2007-01-30 18:00:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In response to Alexander's comments, it's possible that 'pro-forma' is being used here in the sense of an incomplete or skeleton document as described in the wikipedia reference. IMO it's impossible to say for certain without more information.
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for your time and explanation, Ken. The sentence is more clear to me now. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I think that this phrase contains the idea that you have explained, and I can translate it because I understand it.
"
2 hrs
Alexander Demyanov
Software Engineering background
Native in: Russian 
Works in: English, Russian, Russian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
30
pro-forma = draft???
I totally agree with Ken's excellent explanation of "structured abandonment but am not sure "pro-forma" is treated correctly.
According to Wikipedia, "Sometimes a pro forma or proforma, can refer to a partially completed document..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_forma)
Indeed Google returns enough hits to "proforma invoice", "proforma plan", and such.
I believe taking "proforma" to mean "draft" would work quite well in the context.
According to Wikipedia, "Sometimes a pro forma or proforma, can refer to a partially completed document..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_forma)
Indeed Google returns enough hits to "proforma invoice", "proforma plan", and such.
I believe taking "proforma" to mean "draft" would work quite well in the context.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Alexander. As you say, pro-forma/proforma normally refers to something provisional. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Ken Cox
: I'm certainly not sure of the meaning of pro-forma above, but I don't think it means 'draft' (incomplete in the sense of the wikipedia entry is not quite the same as draft). A proforma invoice is not a draft invoice, but instead an informational invoice.
2 hrs
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1. When I suggested "draft" as the meaning, I meant it for this context, not for invoices. 2. Proforma Invoices are IN MOST cases not the same as Informational Invoices
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Discussion