Knowledge can’t flow when people are using the same words to describe different experiences.
If you’ve ever used the word Agile in a meeting, you know what I mean. 98% of the time, everyone has a different definition of Agile. Even common words can trip us up. When people think they are talking about the same thing, but aren’t, the discussion spirals. Not because they don’t understand each other — they are solving different problems and don’t realize it.
Sharing the same language is key to Knowledge Flow. In Domain-Driven Design, this is called “ubiquitious language”. Everyone uses the same terms in conversations, code, documentation, and experiences. This enables quicker understanding and a significant decrease in bikeshedding.
Make a list of words that matter. The ones that people must understand in order for you to make sense. As you read, practice, and build your studio — add more, whenever a word’s meaning is essential to share.
Example Glossary→
I’ve included some relevant terms. Like bikeshedding!
