SA-301h · Module 1

Analogy Engineering

3 min read

Analogies are the translation tool that bridges the vocabulary gap between technical and non-technical audiences. A well-chosen analogy makes a complex concept instantly accessible. A poorly chosen analogy creates a false understanding that is worse than no understanding. Analogy engineering is the deliberate practice of finding, testing, and refining analogies that communicate accurately without oversimplifying.

Do This

  • Test analogies for accuracy — does the analogy hold when the audience asks follow-up questions?
  • Use analogies from the audience's domain — a manufacturing executive understands "assembly line" better than "pipeline"
  • Acknowledge analogy limits — "This is like a highway interchange, except that in our system the lanes can be added dynamically"

Avoid This

  • Force analogies that break under scrutiny — a database is not like a filing cabinet when you need to explain transactions
  • Use the same analogy for every audience — the analogy that works for the CTO does not work for the CFO
  • Extend analogies past their useful range — "and just like the highway, the cars have airbags which are like our error handling" — the analogy is now confusing, not clarifying