The business users have a language that is poorly defined with multiple meanings for the same word and multiple words for the same meaning. One of the aims of the business coach is to establish context between the development team and the business users. This often requires the business coach to clearly define the business language used by both. This is normally done using a business model (simplified object / entity relationship model ). Sometimes this involves the business coach helping the business user to unlearn their imprecise vocabulary and then learn a new precise one.
We all have different meanings for words. The meaning is only valid when considered with the words and experiences that the word is related to. Those relations will be different from person to person. The business coach needs to understand that all people have different meaning for the same word. This gives them the starting point for the common vocabulary that they will produce. i.e. A mess of words with little or no common shared understanding.
Sounds fun. It certainly is.
Posted by chrismatts at June 20, 2004 7:36 PM