Emergent Shared Understanding
When I’m coaching organizations, I use the phrase “Emergent Shared Understanding”. I use this because it makes clear that even when we write something down, when we talk about it, when we estimate it, when we design how we’re going to build it, our shared understanding of that thing is still emerging. Even after we’ve built a piece of functionality and users have started using it — shared understanding is still emerging. Let’s dig deeper into that idea.
Shared understanding could be thought of as being on a continuum. We can have a clearer or less clear shared understanding. We can have a near zero shared understanding and likewise we never have an absolute shared understanding.
No matter how precise our language about something, no matter how thorough our writing, language barriers persist. This is true whether the people we are speaking with started with the the same native language or not. Even pulling out the dictionary definition of words and using that to interpret what someone is saying or has written has its flaws. The nature of communication is imperfect.
The LEGO exercise that I use has pairs of people sit back to back. Each has a set of the same five LEGOS. One person is asked to build a simple structure using the five LEGOS they have been given. Then they are asked to describe to the other person the structure they have built, and to get the other person to build the same structure. Usually a lot of laughing ensues, because in that moment, people realize that the simplest of LEGO structures isn’t that easy to describe.
Each LEGO has a color. Each LEGO has a describable shape and size. Each LEGO fits together. The person describing the structure knows what it looks like and can conjure up words to describe what it looks like. Some do better than others.
Compare this with software development. When developing software, people are creating something new that isn’t in the physical plane. Even after it’s built, it’s not a solid thing that can be touched and felt. It’s a thing that is experienced. It’s truly amazing that we as human beings have built the incredible products that we have built given the difficulty of describing what they are supposed to do or how they are supposed to benefit the people using them.
Let’s all keep this in mind when we’re communicating with each other about requirements. When you feel frustrated because what ended up on the screen is different than what you visualized in your head, know that it’s not an easy thing to describe. Assume that as a thing is built, shared understanding continues to emerge. When you realize that your perception of something is different than somebody else’s, get curious. Sit down with them and continue the conversation. Continue learning together rather than allowing blame do harm to what you’re building together.
