Abstract
This paper deals with the importance of a business plan when planning a lexicographical project. A business plan is an aspect of a lexicographical process most lexicographers would like to ignore. It is, however, an important step towards the establishment of a dictionary project. The compilation of a dictionary is a time-consuming process and a costly business, and proper planning is of the utmost importance, whether a dictionary project is undertaken by an individual or by a team of lexicographers. Therefore a business plan is the ideal tool for proper planning before embarking on a lexicographical project. It also gives stakeholders an indication of the scope of the envisaged lexicographical project. Financiers require a business plan to authorise the financing of a project, and this also applies to a lexicographical project. This paper deals with the importance of and reasons for a business plan. It also covers aspects such as drawing up a business plan as well as its contextual requirements. Keywords: action plan; business plan; collaborators; critical success factor; empirical survey; end user; financier; goal; human resources; key service; key uncertainty; knowledge transfer; lexicographical practice; lexicography unit; mission; needs assessment; objective; opportunity; organisational structure; risk; situation analysis; stakeholder; strategy; vision
Highlights
A dictionary is a linguistic tool used for the development and preservation of languages
A business plan is the ideal tool for proper planning before embarking on a lexicographic project - whether done by an individual, a group of lexicographers, or a lexicographic unit
During the preparatory stages of any prospective lexicographical project it is wise to spend more time than the lexicographers might deem necessary to formulate the the business plan. This is important for the following reasons: it ensures that the project team arrange their thoughts in a logical order; it assists the project team in identifying and formulating objectives; it helps the project team to develop strategies to meet those objectives; it helps them to provide a structure to the leXicographical project by defining activities and responsibilities; it forces the project team to simulate reality and anticipate pitfalls; it serves as a working action plan or guideline when the lexicographical project is up and running; it is an essential aid when applying for financial assistance or when marketing the envisaged end product to a potential publisher; and it builds team spirit within the project team
Summary
A dictionary is a linguistic tool used for the development and preservation of languages. Many lexicographers decide to compile dictionaries based either on a feeling what they think to be a marketable product or on an idea which they believe to be viable It is, very important to check the facts and to examine the viability of the idea by means of a needs assessment before embarking on the project. A business plan is the ideal tool for proper planning before embarking on a lexicographic project - whether done by an individual, a group of lexicographers, or a lexicographic unit It provides the lexicographer with the opportunity to take a realistic, detached look at the process in its entirety. A Perhaps the best way in which to show why business plan is important, is to consider answers to questions such as: What exactly is a business plan? Why do you need one? When do you prepare one? How do you prepare one? Who has to prepare it?
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