# Corporate Jargon Decoder Takes a list of corporate acronyms or jargon terms and translates them into plain language with short explanations of when and how each term is used. Reach for it in your first weeks when you hit a wall of unfamiliar abbreviations in meetings, emails, or documentation. ## Prompt ## Context You are helping [YOUR NAME], a former [GRADE LEVEL AND SUBJECT] teacher who recently started a new role as a [NEW JOB TITLE] at [COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION NAME], a [BRIEF COMPANY DESCRIPTION]. They have encountered the following terms, acronyms, or phrases they do not recognize: [LIST OF JARGON TERMS]. The industry or function this role sits in is [INDUSTRY OR FUNCTION]. ## Task For each term in [LIST OF JARGON TERMS], provide: 1. The full name or phrase the acronym stands for, if it is an acronym. 2. A plain-language explanation of what it means (two to four sentences). 3. A brief note on when or how it typically comes up at work: in what meetings, documents, or conversations this term usually appears. 4. If the term has a teaching or education equivalent, name it so the person can anchor the new concept to something familiar. Present the output as a simple glossary: one entry per term, in the order given. ## Standards - Plain English only. Do not define jargon with more jargon. - Explanations must be accurate. If a term has more than one common meaning, explain which is most likely given the [INDUSTRY OR FUNCTION] context. - Do not invent workplace procedures, company-specific definitions, or industry facts. Base explanations on how these terms are generally used. - Do not suggest the person pretend to know something they do not. The goal is genuine understanding, not performance of knowledge. - Keep each entry short enough to scan. The person is reading this between meetings, not studying for an exam. - If a term in [LIST OF JARGON TERMS] is ambiguous or could mean multiple things in different contexts, flag that rather than guessing. If a specific named input is missing or ambiguous, ask before drafting. ## Variables - YOUR NAME - GRADE LEVEL AND SUBJECT - NEW JOB TITLE - COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION NAME - BRIEF COMPANY DESCRIPTION - LIST OF JARGON TERMS - INDUSTRY OR FUNCTION ## Input checklist - [ ] Copy the exact terms, acronyms, or phrases as they appeared: spelling and context matter for accurate definitions - [ ] Note the industry or function (L&D, corporate training, HR, ed-tech, healthcare, etc.) so the AI can pick the right interpretation - [ ] If a term appeared in a specific document type or meeting context, include that context with the term - [ ] Strip any student names or student-identifying data from classroom materials before pasting. Keep your own and others' personal data out unless the AI tool is approved for it. - [ ] You do not need to know what the terms mean before running this; that is the whole point ## Verification checklist - [ ] Check each definition against a second source (a colleague, your company's internal wiki, or a quick web search) before relying on it - [ ] Confirm the AI did not invent a company-specific meaning for a general term: internal acronyms vary by organization - [ ] Verify any education equivalent offered actually maps correctly to the corporate term, not just sounds similar - [ ] If the AI flagged a term as ambiguous, resolve the ambiguity before accepting the definition - [ ] Do not repeat these definitions in meetings as if they are authoritative until you have confirmed them with a colleague - [ ] Check that no definitions include invented statistics or fabricated industry standards ## Sample output Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs: **Corporate Jargon Glossary** For: Dana Reyes | New role: Instructional Designer at Brightpath Learning (corporate L&D) Terms submitted: SME, ADDIE, KPI, L&D, ILT, EOD --- **SME (Subject Matter Expert)** A person inside the company who has deep knowledge of the content you are designing training around. You are the designer; the SME is the person who knows the actual job. You interview SMEs to find out what learners need to know and do. When it comes up: in project kickoffs, needs assessments, and when someone assigns you a "SME contact" for a course. Teaching equivalent: The department head or curriculum specialist you consulted when building a unit on a topic outside your primary area. --- **ADDIE** A five-phase instructional design model: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation. It describes the process of building a training program from identifying the problem to measuring whether it worked. When it comes up: In project plans, design documents, and when colleagues describe the phase a project is in ("We are in the Design phase"). Teaching equivalent: Backward design or your lesson planning process. Same logic: start with what learners need to do, then build toward it. --- **KPI (Key Performance Indicator)** A measurable number the business tracks to know whether something is working. KPIs vary by team: a sales team tracks revenue, an L&D team might track course completion rates or time-to-proficiency. When it comes up: In strategy meetings, dashboards, and when your manager asks how you will show that training made a difference. Teaching equivalent: Assessment data or school-level performance metrics. --- **L&D (Learning and Development)** The department or function responsible for employee training, onboarding, professional development, and sometimes organizational capability-building. You may hear it used to refer to your team, your function, or the field itself. When it comes up: Constantly. It describes what your team does. Teaching equivalent: Professional development and curriculum departments, combined. --- **ILT (Instructor-Led Training)** Training delivered by a person in real time, either in a classroom, a conference room, or a virtual meeting. Contrasted with e-learning (self-paced, online) or blended learning (a mix). When it comes up: In project scoping conversations when the team decides the format. "Is this ILT or async?" Teaching equivalent: Direct instruction or a live class session. --- **EOD (End of Day)** A deadline term meaning "by the end of the business day today." In some companies this means 5 PM; in others it is looser. If you are unsure, ask your manager. When it comes up: In emails and Slack messages assigning tasks with same-day deadlines. Teaching equivalent: "Before you leave today." ## Customization notes Run this prompt in batches: paste in five to ten terms at a time rather than a long list, so explanations stay specific. If your new role is in a specialized industry (healthcare, finance, government), add that to [INDUSTRY OR FUNCTION] so the AI picks the right version of ambiguous terms. You can also run this with internal company acronyms, but verify those definitions with a colleague since company-specific usage varies. --- From The Teacher Transition Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/teacher