PLAIN LANGUAGE / WORKING REFERENCE

Terms I use,
without the fog.

This is a reference for the acronyms and specialist language that appear in my work. Each case study should still make sense on its own; the glossary is here when more context is useful.

15 TERMS / UPDATED AS THE PORTFOLIO GROWS
01

AI

Artificial intelligence

Software that can generate, classify, summarize, or reason from data. In this portfolio, AI usually refers to tools I use to prototype, automate parts of a workflow, or test a product idea.

02

CAB

Customer Advisory Board

A recurring group of customers who discuss priorities, problems, and proposed directions with a product team.

03

CLO

Collateralized loan obligation

A financial product built from a pool of business loans. Different investors buy different layers of risk and return.

04

Grounded theory

Qualitative research approach

A way to build an explanation from closely coded observations and interviews, comparing new evidence with the developing model as the study continues.

05

HCDE

Human Centered Design & Engineering

The University of Washington graduate program where I earned my master’s degree. It combines design, research, engineering, and the study of technology in context.

06

LCD

Leveraged Commentary & Data

A credit-market news and research business acquired by PitchBook. Its reporting and data became part of the PitchBook Credit product.

07

MBI

Minimum business increment

The smallest release that delivers a meaningful customer and business outcome. It is broader than simply proving that a feature can work.

08

MVP

Minimum viable product

The smallest version of a product that can test whether the central idea is useful and worth developing.

09

NPS

Net Promoter Score

A survey measure based on how likely someone is to recommend a product, service, or workplace. I specify employee NPS when the respondents were team members rather than customers.

10

OKR

Objective and key result

A goal-setting format that pairs a desired outcome with measurable signs of progress.

11

PUG

Product User Group

A recurring group of customers or users who review product questions and provide feedback to the team.

12

Research operations

Research operations

The recruiting, tools, consent, storage, schedules, standards, and communication practices that make user research repeatable across a team.

13

SDOT

Seattle Department of Transportation

The city department responsible for Seattle’s transportation system. My graduate work included a usability study of one of its public parking maps.

14

UX

User experience

How a person experiences a product or service, including what they understand, do, and feel before, during, and after using it.

15

VoC

Voice of Customer

A structured practice for gathering, organizing, and sharing customer feedback so it can inform product decisions.

See a term that is still unclear?

Tell me what needs a better definition →