Osmotic communication is a term coined by Alistair Cockburn in his 2004 book “Crystal Clear: A Human-Powered Methodology for Small Teams” and further described in his 2006 book “Agile Software Development: The Cooperative Game.” He is also an Agile originator.
According to the PMI, “Osmotic communication means that information flows into the background hearing of members of the team so that they pick up relevant information as though by osmosis.”
In osmotic communication, team members sit in an open area where they can hear one another while they discuss their work-related issues, tasks, routine work, etc.
If two team members are discussing any issues and another team member hears them, and if they have a better suggestion, they can jump in and provide their feedback.
Also, a new team member can learn much from overhearing discussions of skilled and experienced team members.
Osmotic communication is useful with collocated teams, but virtual teams can bridge the gap by using online tools and establishing stable, continuous video communication channels among distributed teams.
The benefits of osmotic communications are as follows:
- They help share knowledge.
- They improve the work environment.
- They increase work efficiency.
- They enhance responsiveness.
Osmotic communication removes physical barriers, ensures all team members are engaged and informed, minimizes misunderstandings, and maximizes productivity. Adopting osmotic communication streamlines decision-making processes and leads to more successful project outcomes.
Summary
Osmotic communication is a powerful tool in Agile project management. It promotes seamless collaboration and information sharing among team members. By enabling a constant flow of information and promoting a shared understanding, osmotic communication enhances team cohesion and responsiveness.
I am Mohammad Fahad Usmani, B.E. PMP, PMI-RMP. I have been blogging on project management topics since 2011. To date, thousands of professionals have passed the PMP exam using my resources.
