Translation in the network economy

If we consider the aspect of “situatedness” in translation, it becomes clear that social connections have a key influence on the work process. Five years after the completion of a case study examining the roles, competences and work coordination of translation project managers (performed in 2002), a follow-up study was performed in the same company in 2007. The data for this new field study was gathered by means of participatory observation. The developments identified can be characterised as moves towards an increasingly computer-assisted network economy. This transition has increased the transparency and efficiency of the company’s work from the point of view of its employees and managers and raised its level of dependency on the other actors in the translation process and on technology. The results suggest that the translation sector is becoming increasingly differentiated — with obvious consequences both for teaching and the translation profession as a whole.