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Five Winning Strategies

1. Get Organized!
2. Write and Design with Translation and Localization in Mind
3. Create and Use Core Information
4. Identify and Maintain Metrics
5. Develop a Partnership with Translation/Localization Firm

Get Organized

• Do you know what your translation/localization strategy is today?
• Do you have style guidelines for creating world-ready information products?
• Do you offer training in international technical communication?
• Do you know what each milestone in your strategy costs?

Write and Design with Translation and Localization in Mind

• Create a style guide.
• Write for translation.
• Create global graphics.
• Provide training to the entire publications team.
• Create and maintain a glossary for translators at the enterprise level.

Create and Use Core Information

• Identify information that can be reused.
• Apply object-oriented design methodologies. Think about modules. Think about minimalism.
• Educate writers and editors on how to use core information and explain its value.

Identify and Maintain Metrics

Size (budget, shipped, and worked on)

Number of words in documentation

Number of words in help

Number of words per screen in user interface

Number of words per screen in Computer-Based Training

Quality

Number of bugs in target information product compared to number of bugs in source information product

Documentation quality rating

Throughput Metrics

Number of help pages localized per man month

Number of pages of documentation released per editor-man-month

Percentage of reused documentation pages

Develop a Partnership with Your Translation or Localization Firm

• Establish mutually agreed upon quality guidelines in the beginning of the project.
• Stick to your delivery dates.
• Provide lots of background information.
• Provide training.
• Establish clear and reliable communication channels.