A Closer look at Objectives

We have created objectives for buyers of translation services in our Global Communication Maturity Model, our adaptation of the Localization Maturity Model. Here is one of the twenty objectives:

Objective:

Eliminate redundant steps in the process of developing source copy.

Sounds pretty simple, eh? Whenever we review this objective to make it more relevant, we find that this objective still resonates with us the way we wrote it 5 years ago. It is about drilling down to those 20 most important and key processes.

This objective was formulated to help buyers of translation services understand the impact of their source copy development on the translation process and costs. If they can more effectively develop their source copy, leverage from previously written content and in a way where content can be developed for different types of media, the translation process will also go a lot smoother.

To expand on this objective, we also make it more useful by adding specific action items and metrics that are relevant in specific stages of maturation. Those action items and metrics are not formulated around one specific technology, but rather the processes and the efficiencies that we are trying to reach and that companies can put into action right away.

Technology improvements have made it possible for more small and midsize companies to consider source authoring as a way to improve the process of developing source copy. Our action items were written around the identification of the process workflow and bottlenecks to identify the most important points of improvement. It is the organization's responsibility to find a solution that fits their needs, but we can help organizations assess whether a source authoring tool has the capabilities that also help them get content out that flows more efficiently through our work process as well.

These objectives are great starting points for companies to start thinking about optimizing their processes for translation and localization, without losing focus on the overall objectives of the company. All objectives (20) are defined around the perspectives of the balanced scorecard and can be integrated into an organization's own balanced scorecard.