Running a successful business often depends on good teamwork. But sometimes, teams have trouble communicating because they use different words or phrases to describe things. Some departments might use their own acronyms and shorthand, while others may use more common business terms.
Luckily, there is a simple solution: a business glossary. This internal dictionary standardizes the common vocabulary and definitions used at your company. It’s how you can ensure that everyone speaks the same business language.
Ready to build a glossary that promotes a shared understanding? This comprehensive guide on how to create a business glossary can help you get started.
Business glossary purpose and evolution
A business glossary is a specialized dictionary for workplace terminology. Originally, business glossaries were simple, only containing terms and their meanings. The NAIC’s Glossary of Insurance Terms is an excellent example of this. But now, they’ve become more detailed and packed with useful features.
Modern business glossaries don’t have to stop at definitions. These glossaries can now link the defined terms to data assets you use daily, like spreadsheets, financial reports, and customer databases. So, when you look up a data-related term, you can find where it appears in your work documents and see examples of it in action.
They can also include technical metadata for each term. This metadata helps you better understand the words and their definitions. It can tell you where and how you use the word in your work and if it has any related rules or guidelines.
Business glossary vs. data catalog vs. data dictionary
Business glossaries, data catalogs, and data dictionaries are 3 distinct systems for understanding and managing data. However, using them together is a data governance best practice to create a robust data ecosystem.
In this ecosystem, the business glossary serves as the foundation, defining key terms in a way everyone can understand. For instance, it might explain the term purchase order as a “legal document for ordering goods.”
The data catalog then organizes all your data assets, linking them to terms in the glossary. For purchase orders, it would show where to find all related data, like purchase orders from a specific timeframe or vendor.
A data dictionary offers detailed insights about your data assets, like their quality, classification, and relationship to other assets. This adds context to the glossary terms and enhances the functionality of the data catalog.
Why is a business glossary important?
Without a business glossary, information within your documents, systems, and various resources can cause confusion as each data asset moves between teams. Even the most basic business terms can start to mean different things to other departments and team members. For example, one team might define revenue as “total income,” while another interprets it as “profit after expenses.”
Miscommunication about key business concepts can cause many problems, such as:
- More time-consuming meetings to align definitions
- Unreliable data figures hindering good decision-making
- Project delays due to inefficient team collaboration
- Errors caused by poorly interpreted report data
- Difficulty onboarding and training new hires
As your company grows, you’ll likely face even more challenges, especially as business terms increase in number and complexity.
A business glossary solves these issues by creating a shared language for your entire organization. This common understanding allows for excellent teamwork and collaboration by ensuring everyone uses the same definitions for data-related terms.
In a data-driven culture, your processes, decisions, and results rely on your team’s understanding of your company’s business terms/data figures. That’s why it’s crucial to build a business glossary. Here are some benefits of linking defined business terms and data assets in one central location.
Improve team collaboration
A shared glossary of business terms linked to data assets greatly improves teamwork. By having clear definitions and connections to relevant data, team members across different departments can work together more effectively.
Enhance decision-making
Having a common understanding of business terms boosts the reliability and usefulness of data. When everyone is on the same page about these terms, the data connected to them becomes more accurate. This accuracy leads to better data-driven decisions and higher confidence in the outcomes.
Ensure regulatory compliance
In many sectors, strict data management and reporting rules are the norm. A business glossary helps meet these requirements by clearly defining and classifying data. For instance, the glossary could classify loan agreements and financial statements as sensitive so they’re handled properly.
What to include in your comprehensive business glossary
To empower your team, you need a plan on how to make your glossary more than just a list of terms. The words you pick, how you define them, and how you organize them matter. Here’s an idea of what to include when setting up your data governance tools.
Business terminology
Start with the basics by listing your company’s data-related words, phrases, and acronyms. Depending on your industry, this might include return on investment (ROI), customer satisfaction, or earnings per share. Then, explain these terms in a way that everyone can understand.
Data sources and relationships
Create a big-picture overview of your business operations by linking related terms and connecting each one to relevant data assets. For instance, you could connect the term customer satisfaction to data sources like customer surveys and feedback databases. Also, provide technical metadata for each entry to map its classification, usage, and other key information.
Data ownership
For data management excellence, always clearly identify who’s responsible for each data element and when its entry was last updated. This clarity helps your team members know which data owners to approach for specific queries or issues.
Data governance workflows
Ensure consistent and responsible data handling by outlining your data governance workflows. These workflows should include the steps for collecting, storing, and using data in your organization. To ensure compliance with data regulations, include guidelines for handling sensitive customer data, such as names and credit card numbers.
Several popular platform options exist for businesses that want to create a business glossary. Each has its own features and benefits to consider.
Basic spreadsheet
If you prefer simplicity, a basic spreadsheet is a great choice. This method uses familiar tools like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets to list all your business terms, their definitions, and additional notes.
Data glossary tool
A data glossary tool is purpose-built to efficiently organize and manage your business glossary. It’s perfect for companies that need simple controls for functionalities like data asset linking and user access permissions.
Internal wiki system
An internal wiki functions like a mini-Wikipedia for your business glossary. It allows for creating individual pages for each term, linking to related concepts, and collaborative editing.
Top things to consider when building a business glossary
When building your business glossary, keep the following factors in mind to make it user-friendly and effective.
Define your business glossary goals, scope, and audience
A helpful business glossary needs clear goals, a defined scope, and a known audience. Begin by figuring out what you want the glossary to do. For example, it could help people understand each other across different departments or make training new staff easier.
Next, decide on the scope. Think about whether it will cover data-related terms from the whole company or just focus on specific areas like sales or IT.
Then, consider who will use the glossary. If it’s for all employees, including those who might not be familiar with technical terms, keep the language simple. Or it can be more complex if written for experts in a certain field.
Establish a clear and consistent data management format
Strive to have a clear and consistent format to keep your information accessible. To do that, choose a single way to arrange all the data-related terms. You might want to sort them from A to Z or group them by topics like finance, marketing, or human resources.
Once you have the foundation, lay out each business term in the same way. Start with the term, follow with a simple definition and technical metadata, and then link to related data assets. This uniform style will help people quickly get used to the glossary and streamline the update process.
Ensure your glossary is accessible and intuitive for all business users
Your business glossary should be developed with simplicity and usability in mind, catering to all business users. Also, place it in a central, easily accessible location like the company intranet or a shared digital workspace.
Design the glossary to be intuitive with a clear layout and easy-to-navigate structure. A user-friendly interface with a simple search function can greatly enhance the usability of your glossary. Consider providing a quick tutorial on how to use this tool.
Encourage different departments to add data-related terms
A comprehensive glossary should include input from various departments within your organization. Encourage teams from different areas to contribute data-related terms specific to their work.
Also, ask for their feedback to identify any outdated terms, missing assets, or other gaps. This approach enriches the content of your glossary while promoting a sense of ownership among various data teams.
Implement an ongoing glossary review and update process
Establish a regular review and update cycle to keep your business glossary relevant and up-to-date. This process should involve checking and revising the glossary entries to reflect current business practices and language.
Assign a team or individual the responsibility of overseeing these updates. The updates could include adding new data-related terms as the business evolves, removing obsolete ones, or revising definitions.
Use your business glossary in onboarding and training programs
Incorporating your business glossary in onboarding and training programs can significantly benefit new employees. It helps them familiarize themselves with your company’s specific data-related terms.
Use the glossary as a reference tool in training materials and encourage new hires to consult it as they learn about their roles. This practice can speed up the onboarding process and enhance overall understanding and communication.
Measure the success and impact of your business glossary
To measure the success of your business glossary, look at how often it’s used and get feedback from your employees. If many people use the glossary and find it helpful, it’s a good sign.
Other things to think about include:
- Has there been an increase in glossary usage over time?
- Have there been fewer misunderstandings about data-related terms?
- Is the glossary improving decision-making processes?
- Are new employees adapting to their roles and teams faster than before?
- Has the glossary helped in reducing training time?
The answers to these questions will reveal your business glossary’s impact and areas for improvement.
Transform data assets into knowledge by creating a business glossary
A well-crafted business glossary is the brain of your operations. It combines all the important ideas and words everyone in your company uses and links them to your data assets. Doing so improves communication and empowers team members with the correct information, enhancing teamwork and collaboration. So, don’t wait another moment. Give your employees the support they need to excel by building your business glossary today.