<p>Sometimes it's difficult to describe some of the things that "us programmers" may think are simple to non-programmers and management types.</p>

<p>So...</p>

<p>How would you describe the difference between Managed Code (or Java Byte Code) and Unmanaged/Native Code to a Non-Programmer?</p>

"The specific term managed code is particularly pervasive in the Microsoft world."
Since I work in MacOS and Linux world, it's not a term I use or encounter.
The Brad Abrams "
What is Managed Code
" blog post has a definition that say things like ".NET Framework Common Language Runtime".
My point is this: it may not be appropriate to explain it the terms at all.  If it's a bug, hack or work-around, it's not very important.  Certainly not important enough to work up a sophisticated lay-persons description.  It may vanish with the next release of some batch of MS products.