While reading the biography of a well-known, billionaire technology entrepreneur recently I had to smile when I discovered that he had issued a decree banning the introduction of any new acronyms without his express permission. At first, I thought that this was just a random ranting of a power-crazed megalomaniac, but the more I thought about it the more I realised how real the problem of over-use and abuse of acronyms can be. I last wrote on this subject in a blog four years ago, but it seems well worth re-visiting the issue.

One of the biggest challenges that many BAs face is effective communication between stakeholders, and it is often the case that this is affected by the use of acronyms. The problem is that many acronyms have entered the BA's vocabulary because they offer a quick way of communicating something complex and, when situations demand a speedy way forward, they provide a ready source of instant recall. Also, an acronym can also become a mnemonic (useful tool to aid memory recall) so, if used in an appropriate manner, they can enable BAs to effectively engage with their stakeholders. 

It could be argued that stakeholders who are unaware of the meaning of an acronym just need to ask what it represents (something I frequently find myself having to ask my 'millennial' children to do, as their entire vocabulary seems to be made up of unintelligible acronyms). However, it is not always that straightforward and there can be particular issues to be considered, such as:

• Due to the widespread use of acronyms there are often multiple meanings for the same acronym. For example, SME can refer to both subject matter expert and small to medium-sized enterprise.
• In some business cultures people use esoteric acronyms (or even, newly-created ones) as a way to exert superiority over others (or at least give that impression). For example, stakeholder A says to stakeholder B "we need to consider the IRR in the CBA section of the BC before we can identify the ROI". It would take a brave person to ask what on earth they are talking about for fear that they everyone else knows what those acronyms mean. Most people would be concerned that acknowledging a lack of understanding would be interpreted by their colleagues as weakness or incompetence. 

Therefore, acronyms can be misleading or, even worse, can be abused. As a result, they may not help clarify a message being communicated, they may become barriers to communication and understanding. So, I urge you to BCOT* because, after all, NOLASA**!

*be careful out there

**no one likes a smart aleck

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