Terminology for Specialist Departments
Structured terminology doesn’t arise solely in the technical documentation department. Departments like development, product management, support, or quality assurance play a crucial role in ensuring that terms are correct, practical, and widely accepted. flashterm helps you shape this collaboration efficiently and with clear roles, streamlined processes, and strong acceptance.
Why specialist departments are essential
Terminological knowledge is often where it originates: in the day-to-day work of specialist teams. Developers use specific terms for functions or components, product managers know customer terms and marketing language. Only by systematically involving this knowledge can a consistent and comprehensible terminology set be created.
- Higher technical accuracy through direct input
- Greater acceptance of terminology within the organization
- Fewer questions during translation and documentation
Typical roles in terminology work
- Specialist departments: provide technical input, validate terms, give feedback
- Editorial team: structures content, creates definitions, ensures consistency
- Translation: ensures linguistic quality and international consistency
- Terminology managers: coordinate and moderate the overall process
How to involve specialist departments
Successful collaboration requires clearly defined roles and transparent processes. Who can suggest terms? Who reviews them? Who makes decisions? flashterm supports this task distribution systematically.
- Early involvement instead of retroactive approval
- Suggestion forms or comment features for input
- Approval workflows with defined responsibilities
- Visibility of terminology work for all involved
flashterm as enabler for cross-departmental collaboration
flashterm is designed to involve all stakeholders in terminology work — without technical barriers. With role-based permissions, workflow logic, and commenting features, flashterm is ideal for interdisciplinary teams.
- Browser-based – no installation needed
- Predefined roles such as “Contributor,” “Editor,” “Approver”
- Notifications about new suggestions or decisions
- Linking terms to product areas or responsibilities
Case study: terminology in collaboration
A medical technology company uses flashterm for interdisciplinary collaboration. Development teams submit term suggestions via an integrated form, editors add definitions and sources. Terms go through a defined approval process with feedback to the department. The result: verified, understandable, and accepted terminology — even for highly regulated markets.
Long-term benefits through participation
When specialist departments are actively involved in terminology work, the result is not only better terminology — it also improves communication across departments. Terms are no longer perceived as rigid rules, but as a shared language that simplifies processes and reduces misunderstandings.
At the same time, transparency in term handling creates greater clarity across the company. flashterm builds trust in terminology processes by documenting decisions clearly and involving all stakeholders in the cycle. This strengthens both quality and cross-departmental collaboration.
Conclusion
Good terminology doesn’t happen in isolation — it’s the result of collaboration. When specialist departments are involved from the beginning, content quality and acceptance increase. flashterm provides the right platform to achieve this.
Field Notes
“Thanks to flashterm, editorial and development speak a common language — no more constant clarification.”
“Every department knows its role — processes are lean and effective.”
“Since we discuss terms instead of just imposing them, everyone uses the system willingly.”
“With flashterm we mapped and visualized our approval process.”
“Browser-based, intuitive, role-driven — IT didn’t need to lift a finger.”
“Terms and responsibilities are finally documented — not just stored in people’s heads.”
Want to learn how flashterm involves your departments in terminology work? Request a live demo now — or talk to our team about your scenario.