In this issue…

Validation • Renato S. Beninatto, Language Management International
Director’s letter • Michael Anobile
In Search of A New Modus Operandi for Localization • Minako O’Hagan, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
The IDOL Project • David Mowatt, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST)
ExCom Corner • Claude Pesquet, Compaq
Total Outsourcing • Alex McDonnell, Pervasive Software
Language Means Business • Prof. Sue Ellen Wright, Kent State University
Getting Globalization Right • Deborah Fry, Fry & Bonthrone Partnerschaft
First Steps towards a Structured Localization Environment • Mathieu Gorge, ETP

Director’s letter

Michael Anobile

Dear LISA Members and Newsletter Readers,

This year has been another year of transition and growth for LISA. Many achievements, including our Executive Round Tables, skills workshops, the OSCAR/TMX standard, Press conferences, and expanded multi-track forums (e.g., the Japanese language track in Japan), have been due to member and Executive Committee involvement. We would like to thank departing ExCom members Andreas Schuetz, Internationalization Manager of Software AG, and Michael O’Callaghan, Senior Vice President of Oracle Corporation, for their active participation over the past two years. We are especially grateful for Michael’s industry foresight and business perspective, which has helped LISA establish a stronger financial base and services outlook.

We also welcome our two new ExCom members, Siu Ling Koo, MD of L&L Informatie, and Anthony O’Dowd, MD of Corel Corporation. Roger Jeanty, CEO of International Communications, has now been “officially” elected this term after his appointment last year. This talented team, combined with ongoing board members Arturo Quintero of Moravia, Claude Pesquet of Compaq and Henri Broekmate of TRADOS, will assure quality program development and membership expansion.

More industry promotion programs are already in process for 1999, aimed at attracting vertical businesses, senior managers and Press involvement, as well as publicizing standardization and education. The LISA 2000 program is being revised to help fund these and related initiatives.

LEIT (the LISA Education Initiative Taskforce) has completed Phase I and II of its mandate. The results of their global analysis of localization courseware and recommendations for new courseware are available on the LISA Web site. If you have not completed the skill set questionnaire, please visit the Web site and do so. LISA will continue to update and support this skill development initiative.

The LISA 1998 Industry Survey will soon be distributed to over 300 companies in the business. Please take the time to complete the questionnaire, and encourage your clients and partners to do so too. The survey will be mailed and posted on the Website.

Don’t forget to mark your 1999 calendars with the dates of next year’s LISA Forums in Boston, Shanghai, Monterey and Budapest (see the overviews and calls for papers in this issue). Forums are growing and will include more participation from non-traditional localization players, tools exhibitors and service providers. We would also like to increase member involvement and would appreciate recommendations for speakers with expertise in the topics outlined. The Hosts and Forum Program Committees are working diligently to provide quality events with professional keynote speakers, multiple tracks for technical, business and executive management issues and provisions for continuing various SIGs and member issues.

Sincerely,
Mike Anobile signature
Mike Anobile
LISA Managing Director