The company selected to run the course was Irish based ETP. One reason for choosing this company, was their knowledge of the software business! The founders of this company, and those who actually ran the course, have over 20 years experience within the computer industry between them, more than 50% of this time being in project management. A pilot course, entitled Managing Localization Projects was run from 25-29 September in Dublin. The attendees included Project Managers from the work group companies, each with a different background and different levels of experience.

The objective of the course was to teach structured methods for handling individual and multiple projects, time management skills, use of scheduling tools, problem solving skills and to provide an understanding of the commercial background to localisation project management. It was designed as a 5 day presentation, discussion and case study program with follow up sessions on a 1 to 1 basis scheduled at a later date.

The course was intensive and demanded much from the participants, both in terms of application and their responsibility, as pioneers for future Project Management development programs, to view it as an on-going process. The feedback indicated that the course was long overdue (as much as 5 years, according to one participant!) and, as well as imparting valuable information for Project Management, presented the opportunity to view the process from varying perspectives using previously untapped methods to deal with problem areas.

What the participants had to say

The attendees had varying experience of managing localization projects - from 2 months to more than 5 years. So what did they have to say after having attended the intensive 5 day course?

All participants found the course relevant, especially since it was localization specific and emphasised time management. The interactive approach provided opportunities to discuss aspects of managing localization projects with people from different background and different companies. Workgroup exercises enabled participants to discuss and find solutions to common problems. The course underlined the importance of detailed and iterative planning, and initially we heard quite a few comments like: "That's not possible"; "We don't have time to plan!"; "By the time we have planned the project, the updates start coming". However, we didn't hear these comments towards the end of the course!

An overwhelming majority rated the course Very Good (71%) or Excellent (20%). All attendees felt that their objectives were met. When asked if other people in the company would benefit from the course, the answer was unanimously Yes. 100% recommended that anybody involved in managing localization projects (I.e., project managers, resource managers, functional managers, engineers, etc.) would benefit from the course. Some participants suggested a shorter version of the course for anybody involved in any way with a localization project.

One specific feature of the course is the (optional) follow up sessions after 6 and 12 weeks. When asked if such follow up would really be necessary, again the response was unanimously Yes. And why was this seen as useful? So that we have time in the interim to put what we have learned into practice. This would force us to work hard towards implementing some the new procedures learned. A chance to discuss specific problems encountered on an actual project. The course material was rated somewhat lower. It was, after all, a pilot programme and we were testing some of the materials. Still an amazing 50% found the material very good, while 43% found it good. On the other hand, course preparation was rated Very Good (50%) or Excellent (50%).

There is obviously some more work to do, based on the feedback from the pilot. We need to update the localization process flowchart and incorporate the suggestions from the participants in the generic flowchart. We also need to expand the business module to include more hands on tips on how to handle project finances.

But overall participants were rather pleased and happy with the course (Yes, we accept that a dinner would have been a bonus!)

Finally, we asked if we should go back to the LISA executive committee and recommend that LISA organizes Managing Localization Project courses. And you have already guessed the answer - a unanimous Yes.

And so, what next?

Through LISA and the Centre for Software Engineering in Dublin (and with funding from the EU's ESPITI programme in Ireland) we plan to run a further course in February 1996 in Dublin and thereafter, having examined the logistics, to offer the course throughout Europe in venues yet to be decided. In order to give maximum benefit to those attending it is planned to have no more than 20 attendees on each course and to grant a Project Management Certificate to those successfully completing the course - the design of which is open to suggestion. Given the innovative nature of this course and the degree enthusiasm with which the pilot has been received, that shouldn't be difficult !