A translation project is often a complicated task and can sometimes involve many people and tasks, especially if it is translated into several languages, and needs proofreading, editing, back translation, layout etc. How do we best manage translation projects? Someone who can answer this is today’s interviewee, a fellow winner of the Proz.com Community Choice Award for best book – on project management – Nancy Matis.

Key points mentioned in this episode:

• Nancy Matis’ Book, “How to Manage Your Translation Projects”
• The importance of project management for translators
• Steps in managing a translation project
• How we manage a project as freelance translators dealing with direct clients
• Information needed to prepare a good quote for a translation project
• Why scheduling and deadlines are so important
• Profitable projects
• Recruiting the right resources and the expectations attached
• The marketing strategy that works best for Nancy Matis

Important links and URL’s to take away:

• Translation Project Management Website
• The Book: “How to Manage your Translation Projects”
• Risk Management in Translation Projects, Study and Survey Results
• Lille III, France: TSM Master – in M1 and M2, Translation Project Management Courses
• KU Leuven, Belgium: Postgraduate Programme in Specialised Translation, including a course on Translation Project Management
• Universiteit Gent, Belgium: Master of arts in translation, including an introduction to Translation Project Management

I think it is great that we as freelance translators can learn the steps in project management, both so we understand the project manager’s point of view when we work with them, and so that we can manage our own projects with direct clients in a professional way.

Nancy Matis is the author of the book How to manage your translation projects, originally published in French and translated afterwards into English. Nancy has been involved in the translation business for around 20 years, working as a translator, reviser, technical specialist, project manager and teacher, among other roles. She currently manages her own translation company based in Belgium and teaches Translation Project Management at four universities. She also ran seminars at numerous universities across Europe and was involved in some European projects, designing and evaluating training materials for future translators and project managers. You can find more information on her website:
http://www.translation-project-management.com/

eCPD Webinars

This episode is sponsored by eCPD Webinars – quality continuing education for translators by translators. For more information, please go to www.ecpdwebinars.com.

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