When you send files across for translation, do you ever wonder: " How is it exactly done?" Do you ever ask your localization vendor how they go about spinning a project into a completely new language or a set of languages simultaneously with the same look and feel as the original?
Like any creative work, it is a vision; a dream weaved with the imagination and hard work of a team: a team of extremely gifted translators and linguistic experts, graphic designers, content writers and polishers, DTP'ers, reviewers and Quality personnel. At the helm of this group of professionals is the Project Manager who plays a very crucial role in the actual execution of the project. The PM is the most vital link between the client and the vendor. A project without a PM is like a ship without its captain!
To begin with, the Project Manager "Sizes the Project”. He works with the client to assess the requirements, determines processes and procedures while referring historical information. The PM then scopes the work, mainly translation, graphic designing, and DTP efforts along with the internationalization impact. This involves the count on words, graphics and other localizable elements. In addition to this, the PM needs to establish the localization tools to be used for the entire length of the project, the platform to be used (Windows or Mac), project schedule as well as the communication channels between the client team and vendor team. Product manager establishes the performance measurement baselines and creates the quote.
Once the PM gets a formal approval to the plan (or sometimes even before the go ahead), comes the very important task of team building. Selection of teams and resources (the vendor team we spoke of) from the databases to match the exact job requirements, that is, the nature of the translation material and the number of languages for translation and localization. This always needs to be a very good fit to ensure the best quality output. Project Manager must understand the culture of the client company and that of the intended geographical region and/or language. A lot can be lost in translation.
The actual execution phase is the most time consuming that requires maximum coordination- preparation of files for translation. Most often, files received from clients are not in a format that can be translated directly. They have to be processed in such a way that will enable them to be returned to the client with the same look and feel as we receive them. However, more importantly the format also needs to support the translation tools preferred for the project.
The files are then sent on to the translators. What is received from the translators is raw data again, a bunch of garble if you tried to read it as is, and needs a lot of processing, work of graphic designers and DTP experts in some cases before it is again converted into a final format suitable for the client. A team of linguistic Quality Assurance professionals, 3rd party reviewers are then roped in as the PM confirms final touches, some cosmetic while some linguistic as the project gets ready to be delivered to the client.
Throughout the life cycle, performance is measured against the performance baseline, risks are pro-actively identified, and quality audits are routinely performed. Until the formal acceptance of the product is received, project manager is completely responsible for the project.
Project Manager is an extremely important link in the entire localization cycle. He/she is involved from initiation to the closing of the project, is constantly in touch with all the stakeholders, along with the members of the team ( both client and vendor) and responsible for a seamless hands off in the agreed time frame. More the number of languages and complex file formats, more challenging it is for a PM. Clearly, project mangers are wonderful people, who are destined to save the universe.
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Thursday, April 22, 2010
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