Begonnén

Begonnén is a neologistic term used in speculative discussions of process theory to denote the initial phase of a project, action, or systemic change. The term is not part of standard dictionaries and has no formal definition in professional guidelines, but it appears in a small body of academic and practitioner writing as a way to foreground early-stage work.

Etymology and usage: Begonnén appears to be a coined word combining a form of the English verb begin with a stylized suffix to suggest an ongoing process. Variants include begonnén and begon­nen in informal texts. It is generally used as a label for activities that precede full execution, such as goal-setting, stakeholder mapping, resource appraisal, and risk identification.

Concept and scope: In this usage, begonnén encompasses planning, alignment of objectives, governance setup, and the development of initial prototypes or pilots. It is distinct from the later phases of execution or completion, though in practice the transition from begonnén to execution is viewed as a continuum.

Characteristics: The begonnén phase emphasizes clarity of purpose, lightweight experimentation, and information gathering to reduce uncertainty before committing resources. It may involve cross-functional collaboration and iterative refinement.

Reception: As a niche concept, begonnén has limited formal acceptance. Proponents argue that explicitly naming the initial phase improves communication about early work; critics view it as an unnecessary neologism that can hinder cross-disciplinary dialogue.

See also: Project initiation, initiation phase, kickoff, design thinking, prototyping.