Practical know-how of the Global Project

Hitoshi Goto

Ukihiko Takagi

In Part 13, we discussed the management point such as the use of PC software in overseas projects. This time, we will look at the important points regarding to the traslation of documents in overseas projects.

Secure man-power, budgets, and resources for a translation in advance

In order to work with foreign IT vendors as well as off-shoring developments, it is necessary to secure the budget of the translation man-powers and the costs of documentations from the plannng phase of the project.

Off course when it is asked to the translation agent, the cost needs to be budgeted. And in case of a translation of a "company specific" english, it might be difficult for a translation agent out of the company, and the work load might be covered by a project member. Even if there is a translation agent that had been worked with, the resource is limited even in the agent, so it would be hold at PJ early stage.

Ordinally, the number of the translation agent that knows well about IT terminologies are limited, so for even translation about normal area, it would be hold early also.

Clarify what language should be used at the deliverables and meetings in PJ planning document

It should not be forgotten that the translation is not only one time. Once the original Japanese document is updated, the translated document needs to be updated.

This thing needs to be clarified in the project planning documents. Let us raise 2 points on the project planning documents about a foreign language.

The first point is a deliverable definitions. It should be defined that which deliverables will be described by which language. It needs to be noted that the language of the deliverables might be different depend on reviewers and approvers of the deliverables.

The second point is a language that is used at meetings. It is necessary to define which language is used at the meeting depend on the attendees of the meeting, and off course the materials used at the meeting needs to be same. At a factory in the country side overseas, there are a lot of people that can speak only local languages. In that case, the interpretor is also required.

After clarifying the these points, the man-power, cost, and assignment of such a translation would be defined and bugetted.

In actual case, originally the language of the PJ deliverables was English, but new approver requests a version of Portugese. It caused additional work-load suddenly. These possibility might be considered beforehand.

By the way, it needs to be careful when you looks for the interpretor or translator of Portugese, because the Portugese in Portugal and it in Brazil are different slightly.

<<Read [Part 13]Read [Part 15]>>

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