concept#Product#Delivery#Business Lexicon
Business Glossary
A business glossary documents terms and concepts used within the organization to promote a shared understanding.
A business glossary is an essential document that captures all relevant terms and concepts within an organization.
Maturity
Established
Cognitive loadMedium
Classification
- ComplexityMedium
- Impact areaOrganizational
- Decision typeOrganizational
- Organizational maturityIntermediate
Technical context
Integrations
Collaboration platformsKnowledge management systemsLearning management systems
Principles & goals
Clarity in communication.Continuity in terminology.Involvement of all departments.
Value stream stage
Discovery
Organizational level
Enterprise, Domain, Team
Use cases & scenarios
Use cases
Scenarios
Compromises
Risks
- Incorrect term definitions.
- Employee resistance to changes.
- Insufficient training.
Best practices
- Regularly update the glossary.
- Involve employees in the process.
- Provide training opportunities.
I/O & resources
Inputs
- Existing term data
- Feedback from employees
- Training resources
Outputs
- Centralized glossary
- Improved understanding of terminology
- More efficient communication
Description
A business glossary is an essential document that captures all relevant terms and concepts within an organization. It enhances communication and ensures that all employees speak the same language.
✔Benefits
- Improved communication within the team.
- Reduction of misunderstandings.
- Increased efficiency.
✖Limitations
- Dependence on timeliness.
- Requires regular maintenance.
- Can lead to confusion if inaccurate.
Trade-offs
Metrics
- Number of Active Users
The number of employees accessing the glossary regularly.
- User Satisfaction
Feedback from users regarding the usefulness and usability of the glossary.
- Frequency of Updates
How often the glossary is updated to ensure accuracy.
Examples & implementations
Example of a Comprehensive Glossary
A glossary that includes all relevant terms for the marketing team.
Change of Terminology
Example of a successful change of terms to avoid confusion.
Training Concept
A training concept based on the glossary.
Implementation steps
1
Collect glossary definitions
2
Establish review frequency
3
Introduce feedback loops
⚠️ Technical debt & bottlenecks
Technical debt
- Insufficient technical infrastructure.
- Debt to employees regarding training.
- Outdated term definitions.
Known bottlenecks
Lack of acceptance.Poor communication.Unclear responsibilities.
Misuse examples
- Use of jargon-specific terms.
- Unclear term definitions.
- Failure to communicate changes.
Typical traps
- Underestimating the effort.
- Lack of stakeholder involvement.
- Lack of documentation.
Required skills
Knowledge of terminology managementAbility to communicate clearlyAbility to work in a team
Architectural drivers
Interoperability between departments.Flexibility in introducing new terms.Technical support for the glossary system.
Constraints
- • Resource constraints.
- • Technical limitations.
- • Available budgets.