From vicious to virtuous cycle
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Keiran J. Dunne
Abstract
This chapter discusses the challenges of customer-focused quality management in outsourced translation and localization projects. Current quality management theory, which frames quality in terms of customer satisfaction, suggests that quality cannot be defined, but rather must be modeled based on customer requirements. However, most customers cannot state their quality requirements and no consensus currently exists as to the operational definition of quality as a variable in translation and localization projects. These challenges are exacerbated by traditional project management approaches, in which customer quality assessment is undertaken in the final stages of a project based on preferences (unidentified needs) rather than requirements (identified needs). Agile project management methodologies offer effective strategies for overcoming these problems, but require significant changes in approaches to project management and to client review, as well as a greater degree of client involvement.
Abstract
This chapter discusses the challenges of customer-focused quality management in outsourced translation and localization projects. Current quality management theory, which frames quality in terms of customer satisfaction, suggests that quality cannot be defined, but rather must be modeled based on customer requirements. However, most customers cannot state their quality requirements and no consensus currently exists as to the operational definition of quality as a variable in translation and localization projects. These challenges are exacerbated by traditional project management approaches, in which customer quality assessment is undertaken in the final stages of a project based on preferences (unidentified needs) rather than requirements (identified needs). Agile project management methodologies offer effective strategies for overcoming these problems, but require significant changes in approaches to project management and to client review, as well as a greater degree of client involvement.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Mapping terra incognita 1
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I. Project management in the context of translation and localization business
- Strategic views on localization project management 17
- Selecting enterprise project management software 51
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II. Project management knowledge areas
- Applying PMI methodology to translation and localization projects 71
- Requirements collection 95
- Managing the fourth dimension 119
- From vicious to virtuous cycle 153
- Effective communication in translation and localization project management 189
- Risk management in localization 211
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III. Managing human and organizational factors
- Rethinking the role of the localization project manager 235
- Project as a learning environment 265
- Global virtual teams 289
- Relationship management 319
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IV. Translation and localization project management in action
- Managing the challenges of game localization 349
- Project management for crowdsourced translation 379
- Additional resources 409
- Contributors 413
- Author index 417
- Subject index 421
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Mapping terra incognita 1
-
I. Project management in the context of translation and localization business
- Strategic views on localization project management 17
- Selecting enterprise project management software 51
-
II. Project management knowledge areas
- Applying PMI methodology to translation and localization projects 71
- Requirements collection 95
- Managing the fourth dimension 119
- From vicious to virtuous cycle 153
- Effective communication in translation and localization project management 189
- Risk management in localization 211
-
III. Managing human and organizational factors
- Rethinking the role of the localization project manager 235
- Project as a learning environment 265
- Global virtual teams 289
- Relationship management 319
-
IV. Translation and localization project management in action
- Managing the challenges of game localization 349
- Project management for crowdsourced translation 379
- Additional resources 409
- Contributors 413
- Author index 417
- Subject index 421
