Acronyms and Etiquette
A Gentle Discourse on Acronyms
When used properly acronyms can be useful. They save speaking time and time spent typing. It's easier to say type DOA, rather than Dead On Arrival.
However, acronyms can be alienating. You hear an acronym. You don't know what the letters represent and you end up feeling lost and disconnected, because you think that you you ought to have know the acronym that was just said or spoken.
Here's are a simple guideline in using acronyms, spoken or written.
That which the acronym represents should be have been established long enough that everyone in an organization knows what it is. In other words, everyone should know what the acronym stands for.
New initiatives do not follow under this criterion. I would go as far as saying that people who are new to an organization are not responsible for knowing what such acronyms represent.
When used properly acronyms can be useful. They save speaking time and time spent typing. It's easier to say type DOA, rather than Dead On Arrival.
However, acronyms can be alienating. You hear an acronym. You don't know what the letters represent and you end up feeling lost and disconnected, because you think that you you ought to have know the acronym that was just said or spoken.
Here's are a simple guideline in using acronyms, spoken or written.
That which the acronym represents should be have been established long enough that everyone in an organization knows what it is. In other words, everyone should know what the acronym stands for.
New initiatives do not follow under this criterion. I would go as far as saying that people who are new to an organization are not responsible for knowing what such acronyms represent.
A Partial List of Acronyms
In an attempt to harmonize our workplace and to avoid situations when you may not know what an acronym is, I've included a list of acronyms, that when I find out what they actually mean, I will list here. It is a work in progress until the next initiative arises.
WFH - Work From Home
WFH - Work From Home