SLIG 1997 - Not Just Another Acronym Theodora Landgren BTS/Translation Group Ltd. In this article, former LISA ExCom member Theodora Landgren assesses the localization scene in Ireland, the "capital" of localization, from the perspective of the Software Localisation Interest Group 1997 conference. Overviewing the presentations on topics such as staff grabbing and the "sacred cow syndrome", she points out the strengths and weaknesses of the Irish localization industry, and how we as a whole can learn from its experiences. The LRC, or Localisation Resources Center, is the locus for research and support for the localization industry in Ireland. Housed at University College Dublin, it has provided research, development and evaluation of software tools, as well as consulting, since 1995. SLIG, the Software Localisation Interest Group, uses this locale as a support center. Under the direct tutelage of Reinhard Schäler, the LRC is organizing seminars, clubs and other revenue-generating activities in order to meet its 1998 goal of financial independence. In October, I had the enlightening experience of attending a two-day annual SLIG event sponsored by these groups. ...the average life span of a sophisticated project manager in a company, for example, is about 4 months. In this predatory market for skill sets, an open forum with generous sharing of information is exactly what I experienced at the 1997 SLIG meeting in Dublin. I was delighted to be engaged in conversations that seemed unique in the industry, and seldom experienced outside this enclave. Inside Dublin, barriers dwindled, and people shared information, exhibiting a sincere belief that they had a common goal and that there is "power in numbers" which will provide solutions to the localization challenges faced by software developers. The conference opened with an official welcome by Mary Harney, the Tànaiste and Minister for Enterprise, and Reinhard Schäler, chairperson for the SLIG. Mrs. Harney proudly presented the development of the localization industry in Ireland and its successes. She noted that over 15,000 people were currently employed in the software industry (5,000 in the localization sector alone), and that 60% of all PC-based software which hits the European market passes through Ireland. Some is developed here, and a greater amount is localized here. This does not include all of the systems and client/server products which also have huge engineering and localization centers in Dublin and surroundings. These are significant numbers which are noteworthy in the sense of Dublin as a world localization hub. I do believe, however, that with so many new products are being developed every day, maintaining statistics is virtually an out-of-control experience. The two-day conference attracted more than 200 attendees, with Day One focused on Workshops: employment/salaries/skill sets; translation technology and localization; cultural and technical issues of multilingual Web design. The Exhibition Hall included the standard booths featuring tools developers and vendors, but with a strong tone toward employment opportunities. Several job agencies were there with packets of information about the market and salary structures. Salaries are IR£25-40,000, depending on education, with engineers demanding even larger salaries. However, it was noted that human skills seem to be lacking. With the skilled workforce shortage, companies and the government are supporting diversity by opening newer offices in more remote locations, where both telecommunications and educated workers are in abundance. LionBridge recently opened a new facility for Software Quality Assurance in an Irish community where two technical colleges will provide an untapped labor pool for the company. One thing I have noticed as a result of my routine visits to Ireland and SLIG meetings in 1997 was the overwhelming call for the elusive Irish worker with skill sets and experience necessary to fill the job openings. It appears that staff grabbing (a common term in Dublin) is prevalent, and the average life span of a sophisticated project manager in a company, for example, is about 4 months. It was repeatedly expressed to me that "everyone has worked for everyone else" at some point or another. Guess what happens then...costs rise as supply cannot keep up with the demand. This has a negative impact on maintaining the localization effort in Ireland. The US multinationals that are the source of most of the software I am referring to are increasingly questioning the value of sustaining these localization centers. Day Two was the main event, although it seamlessly integrated with the previous day's sessions. A series of to-the-point presentations on Localisation and the Internet Revolution started things off. Among the more notable presentations I attended were: "future tools" for integrated Web analysis with authoring and Smart Help features by Berlitz; John Bosak's magnetic speech on the future of XML; and John Norton, a project manager for Oracle's World-Wide Translation Group in Dublin, delineating their strategy for localizing Java products, which captivated the audience. Wendy Hamilton, Bowne Global Solutions, eloquently spoke of the "sacred cow" syndrome, and very directly of the problems, as well as opportunities, facing the localization industry today. Further talks came from Apple's European localization manager, Tom Connolly, outlining Apple's strategy for using localization tools from design to production. He indicated that centralization was imposed where it made sense, and decentralization was equally popular in many countries. He gave us a glimpse of Rhapsody, the future Apple OS, explaining how it was based on NeXT OpenStep with virtual Java. An award was given to Pat O'Sullivan for his thesis on "A Software Test Reduction System for Use in Localisation Environments" which he openly shared with the world. His efforts in the M.Sc. program with UCD's Department of Computer Science at gained him this recognition through sponsorship by Symantec Ireland, Ltd. 60% of all PC-based software which hits the European market passes through Ireland. The close concordance of LRC, SLIG and the localization industry in Ireland seemed to validate the raison d'être for Ireland as the center of localization. There was an air of comfort and familiarity which gave a very "warm and fuzzy" feeling to the event. Never before had I experienced such openness and sharing among competitors and industry experts. The apparent wall which so often prevails at other conferences was just not there. Let us all learn from Dublin, and continue to work hard at sharing expertise and methodology to improve the availability of knowledge and resources for global markets. Let this event be an inspiration to us, perhaps offering us some valu-able advice as to how we can all progress in marching band fashion toward our common goal...high quality products in the global marketplace...in a timely manner. I'll vote "yes" for this model anytime. Theodora Landgren Translation Group Ltd. BTS - WordHouse Manor House 21 Soho Square London W1V 6HN, UK Tel.: +44 171 468 1464 Fax: +44 171 465 0240 E-mail: landgren@btsinc.com http://www.btsinc.com