Comments on: More on writing corporate mission statements http://www.sfmtraduction.com/blog/more-on-writing-corporate-mission-statements/ A blog about translation, copywriting, presentations, and multilingual communication Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:41:53 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jolene Dobbin http://www.sfmtraduction.com/blog/more-on-writing-corporate-mission-statements/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Jolene Dobbin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:22 +0000 http://www.sfmtraduction.com/blog/?p=168#comment-33 Sara, Thanks for referencing the post about writing mission statements. You definitely bring up some good points about writing with the translatability of corporate mission statements in mind. I'd imagine that jargon would, indeed, be difficult to translate into French. It's difficult enough to make sense of those words in English. In fact, funnily enough, our next post will touch on "translating" the gobbledygook of jargon and corporate-speak into English. A great point as well about "writing by committee." It's also necessary that someone takes responsibility (preferably the writer) for the final product. And that's easier to do if it's established as early in the process as possible. Sara,
Thanks for referencing the post about writing mission statements.
You definitely bring up some good points about writing with the translatability of corporate mission statements in mind. I’d imagine that jargon would, indeed, be difficult to translate into French. It’s difficult enough to make sense of those words in English. In fact, funnily enough, our next post will touch on “translating” the gobbledygook of jargon and corporate-speak into English.

A great point as well about “writing by committee.” It’s also necessary that someone takes responsibility (preferably the writer) for the final product. And that’s easier to do if it’s established as early in the process as possible.

]]> By: Patricia http://www.sfmtraduction.com/blog/more-on-writing-corporate-mission-statements/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Patricia Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:59:43 +0000 http://www.sfmtraduction.com/blog/?p=168#comment-32 Writing corporate mission and vision statements is tough indeed. All the more so right after a merger - and most mergers do not consider the parties' cultural "fit" before the marriage! A few years ago, I worked on the cultural integration of a tripartite merger among a French, a British and a German company, each one with a rich cultural history, strong brand identity, and distinct markets and client profiles; their voices ranged from soprano to contralto. Unfortunately, writing the mission/vision statements was by committee, with each key word having a different reach for each board member around the table. The new company has since re-branded, and though the mission statement was overhauled, it still lacks the needed punch and unified voice. Shouldn't writing mission statements be outsourced to a professional writer who knows the company well but has the right distance to consider the big picture without the corporate baggage? Writing corporate mission and vision statements is tough indeed.

All the more so right after a merger – and most mergers do not consider the parties’ cultural “fit” before the marriage! A few years ago, I worked on the cultural integration of a tripartite merger among a French, a British and a German company, each one with a rich cultural history, strong brand identity, and distinct markets and client profiles; their voices ranged from soprano to contralto.

Unfortunately, writing the mission/vision statements was by committee, with each key word having a different reach for each board member around the table. The new company has since re-branded, and though the mission statement was overhauled, it still lacks the needed punch and unified voice.

Shouldn’t writing mission statements be outsourced to a professional writer who knows the company well but has the right distance to consider the big picture without the corporate baggage?

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