I have been conducting my own research on this one. Management speak, otherwise known as complete bollocks, can be traced.
That's right. If you listen to any supposedly 'high brow' radio or television broadcast (Sunday mornings are particularly useful), you will begin to pick up phrases which are being used by journalists, politicians and television presenters. These phrases - like 'comfort zone' - filter down to the lower intellectual echelons of television and radio (for instance Chris Moyles, who, although an undoubtedly entertaining man, is hardly food for thought, other than in that 'haven't-quite-woken-up-yet-so-need something-easy-to-digest-in-order-to-warm-my-brain-up-ready-for-the-day-ahead' sort of a way.
You also start to hear the phrase on game shows and sport programmes.
I followed the phrase through these bland channels of communication and was rather amused to hear it spewing from the lips of the directors at work, even to the point where the phrase has now become the subject of ridicule among disgruntled middle management.
So next time you hear a phrase being spun by some guest on the Andrew Marr show - keep your ears open and soon it will be everywhere.