Assessment criteria of project risk management in language translation service companies

Abstract

Risk management in translation service companies is an effective, integrative, proactive way to handle risk. Such companies must integrate defined long-term risk management into their strategies, decision-making, and daily processes; top-management must fully support the risk management system; risk factors, management benefits, and processes require articulation amongst employees; job roles, responsibilities, performance evaluation, and motivation systems must incorporate risk management practices. Risk management in project-based companies might also account for changing clients’ requirements, tight deadlines and budgets, different participants, and high IT use. However, this requires identifying the critical success factors. The research method builds upon the analysis and systemization of the scientific literature – from risk management, emphasizing the underlying strategic approach and effective management, to deriving the focal-points of effective risk management of translation projects. This work unifies the gathered knowledge and results in a conceptual model that integrates the specific assessment criteria for project risk management in translation companies – process definiteness and versatility, responsibility definiteness, top-management involvement, and risk management communication. The operationalisation of the model may lead to the companies’ critical success performance. To the best of our knowledge, this work is one of the first contributions addressing risk management assessment criteria in this industry.

Keyword : risk management, assessment criteria, language translation service companies, project risk management