Juha Eskelinen

A Community of Practice as a Quality-Enhancing Feature in an In-house Translation Team

Introduction

a community of practice as a quality-enhancing feature in an in-house translation team. Discover how Communities of Practice (CoP) enhance quality in in-house translation teams. This article explores CoP impact on translator learning, team communication, and overall translation excellence.

Abstract

The goal of this article is to analyse the quality benefits of communities of practices (CoP) in the context of in-house translation teams. The article seeks to answer two research questions: Can CoPs develop as part of an in-house translation team and how do they affect the quality of translation on the levels of the individual translator, the in-house translation team and its mother organisation? The article presents findings from the analysis of interviews with members of an in-house translation team. The interviews are analysed from the viewpoint of communities of practice (Lave & Wenger 1991). In the article communities of practice (CoP) are seen both as social learning environments and quality-enhancing environments for organisational knowledge manage-ment and team translation. The article posits the hypothesis that an in-house translation team that functions as a CoP creates an environment beneficial for enhanced team communication, situated life-long learning and interaction with subject matter experts. It is further hypothesised that this would result in the improved quality of translations in both the short term and the long term. The findings could be beneficial for development of in-house translation units as well as translator education in university training programmes and life-long learning.

Review

This article sets out to explore a significant and timely topic: the role and impact of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in enhancing quality within in-house translation teams. The core objective is to analyze the quality benefits that stem from such communities, specifically addressing two pertinent research questions: the feasibility of CoP development within in-house translation teams, and their subsequent effect on translation quality at individual, team, and organizational levels. This focus promises valuable insights into the intersection of collaborative learning, professional development, and quality assurance in a practical, industry-specific context. Methodologically, the study employs a qualitative approach, with its findings derived from an in-depth analysis of interviews conducted with members of an in-house translation team. The theoretical lens is firmly grounded in the foundational work of Lave & Wenger (1991), viewing CoPs as both vital social learning environments and critical enablers for quality improvement in organizational knowledge management and team translation. The article posits a compelling hypothesis that an in-house translation team functioning as a CoP cultivates an environment conducive to enhanced team communication, situated lifelong learning, and effective interaction with subject matter experts, thereby leading to both short-term and long-term improvements in translation quality. The potential contributions of this research are noteworthy for several audiences. The anticipated findings could provide actionable insights for the strategic development and optimization of in-house translation units, offering practical guidance for fostering environments that prioritize quality through collaborative learning. Furthermore, the implications extend to translator education, potentially informing the design of university training programs and promoting effective lifelong learning strategies within the translation profession. Overall, by rigorously examining the practical application of CoP theory in translation, this article stands to make a valuable contribution to understanding professional development and quality enhancement in specialized translation contexts.

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