Localization Project Management

This course is designed to introduce students who are at the very outset of the TLM track to the fundamental principles of Localization Project Management. For many students, this is their first introduction to localization, so we will cover the basics with an emphasis on concepts, processes, and tools. We will cover the essentials of business communication, and how to develop strong project management skills for translation and localization projects, such as the ability to manage a wide variety of stakeholders while producing work efficiently in teams.

Students will work in teams to take a simulated project from start to finish through a basic localization workflow consisting of translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP), plus formatting. Teams will develop essential documentation for their projects, including specifications, work orders, queries logs, and risk trackers. They’ll learn strategies for building and curating strong linguistic assets, such as glossaries, style guides, and translation memories (TMs). Finally, they’ll get practice at collaboratively managing the triple constraints of time, cost, and quality, while participating in ongoing cycles of production, reflection, and improvement to get things done.

Obviously not all translation and localization projects are alike, so students will be asked to think outside the box for novel solutions to potentially complex project requirements.