Terminology and Knowledge Management – Two Sides of the Same Coin

Terminology and knowledge management – two sides of the same coin – both disciplines are essential for ensuring clarity, consistency, and accessibility in today’s knowledge-driven work environments. When used together, they unlock the full potential of your organizational knowledge.

Introduction

In an increasingly complex and globalized work environment, structured information and precise communication are key. Two central disciplines that play a vital role in this context are terminology work and knowledge management. At first glance, they may seem distinct – but a closer look reveals how they are closely linked and mutually reinforcing.

What is terminology management?

Terminology work deals with the systematic capture, definition, maintenance, and provision of terms in a specific domain. The goal is to provide clear and consistent designations for technical content – within one language and across multiple languages.

• Defining preferred terms
• Documenting synonyms and rejected terms
• Defining terms
• Categorizing into subject areas

Well-maintained terminology improves communication across the company – especially in international teams.

What is knowledge management?

Knowledge management includes all activities that capture, structure, and make knowledge accessible within an organization. The goal is to preserve experiential knowledge and provide explicit knowledge effectively.

• Capturing explicit and implicit knowledge
• Structuring and contextualizing
• Providing access for relevant target groups
• Transparent documentation

The link between terminology and knowledge

Terms are carriers of knowledge. Terminology structures the language of knowledge management. Without consistent terms, knowledge cannot be effectively shared or understood. Terminology and knowledge management – two sides of the same coin – both support clarity, traceability, and reusability.

Shared goals

• Enabling understanding through consistent terminology
• Facilitating access to knowledge through standardized terms
• Ensuring quality through clearly defined terminology

Common challenges in practice

Many organizations struggle to efficiently structure their internal knowledge. Often, clear term definitions are lacking, leading to misunderstandings and ineffective communication. At the same time, valuable experiential knowledge remains undocumented.

A central terminology database combined with structured knowledge management can provide targeted relief. flashterm supports this process with clear structures, access rights, and user-friendly interfaces.

What makes a system successful?

• Transparency: All stakeholders access the same terminology
• Ease of maintenance: Roles and processes are clearly defined
• Integration: Connects to translation memories, editorial tools, or intranet

Case study

A company maintaining an internal knowledge base benefits from terminological consistency. Inconsistent terms like “customer,” “client,” or “user” hinder search, navigation, and understanding. With flashterm, a unified terminology registry was created within a few months — now used in documentation, service, and development.

Benefits for your organization

Combining terminology and knowledge management creates a shared knowledge base that improves decision-making, onboarding, documentation, and communication. It boosts efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction – with measurable impact.

Conclusion

To build knowledge systematically, you must also be able to name it. And structuring terms lays the foundation for effective knowledge processes. With flashterm, you get a tool that supports both terminology and knowledge management – two sides of the same coin – simply, professionally, and efficiently.

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