How to Make Sense of Any Mess by Abby Covert

Chapter 4: Choose a Direction | Page 104

Control your vocabulary.

Are you facing a mess like Rasheed’s? Do your stakeholders speak the same language? Do you collectively speak the same language as your users? What language might be troublesome in the context of what you are doing? What concepts need to be better understood or defined?

To control your vocabulary:

• Create a list of terms to explore.
• Define each term as simply as you can.
• Underline words within your definitions that need to be further defined, and define them.
• Document the history, alternatives, and myths associated with each term.
• Review your list of defined terms with some of your users. Refine the list based on their feedback.
• Create a list of requirements that join your nouns and verbs together.

Chapter 4: Choose a Direction | Page 97

Understand the past.

As you talk through your controlled vocabulary, listen for stories and images people associate with each term.

Language has history. Synonyms and alternatives abound. Myths can get in your way too, unless you’re willing to uncover them.

Gather the following about each term:

• History: How did the term come into being? How has it changed over time?
• Myths: Do people commonly misunderstand this term, its meaning, or its usage? How?
• Alternatives: What are the synonyms for the term? What accidental synonyms exist?

When it comes to language, people are slow to change and quick to argue. Documenting these details will help you make your controlled vocabulary as clear and useful as possible.