Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
executiekracht
English translation:
effectiveness
Dutch term
executiekracht
I think I get what they mean, but I'm having a hard time deciding on a term. "Executive ability", sure, but it reeks of translatese to me. It doesn't seem to be used anywhere near as frequently or naturally as the Dutch term. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this.
5 +1 | effectiveness | Michael Beijer |
4 +3 | execution capicity | Brian Quigley |
5 +1 | executive power | Michael Beijer |
4 +2 | power to act | Lianne van de Ven |
Feb 28, 2016 15:05: Michael Beijer Created KOG entry
Non-PRO (2): Michael Beijer, Richard Purdom
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Proposed translations
effectiveness
I think this is much better than my previous attempt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *
"ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Organizational development refers to **the capacity of the organization to increase its effectiveness** and performance. It’s the ability to better achieve the particular goals of the organization. In that regard, indicators of success vary from one organization to another. In some cases, successful organizational development will require system improvement; in others, better distribution of tasks; building conflict resolution capacities; improving accounting mechanisms or evaluation tools; etc."
(https://interculturalinnovation.org/impact-indicators/ )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *
"Organization Development (OD) is a strategic process that takes into consideration the entire culture of the organization **to increase its effectiveness** and efficiency. The primary purpose of OD is to develop the entire organization. OD is about system change and the people involved in the process of change. It is not training, personal development, team development, HRD (human resource development), L&D (learning and development) or a part of HR although it is often mistakenly understood as some or all of these."
(http://www.thestriekergroup.com/organization-development/ )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *
"Solution
The team delivers the final version of the product and documentation **so the organization can increase its effectiveness**."
(http://www.datakind.org/datacorps )
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"The focus of this paper is WHO’s provision of support to countries, but many of the issues affect WHO itself. The
financial crisis has provoked an examination of **how the Organization can increase its effectiveness**. Work is in hand to seek
efficiencies, to explore new and better ways of working, and to review priorities." (http://goo.gl/bOnbrf )
Organizational development refers to the <b>capacity of the organization to increase its effectiveness</b> and performance. It’s the ability to better achieve the particular goals of the organization.
Organization Development (OD) is a strategic process that takes into consideration the entire culture of the organization <b>to increase its effectiveness</b> and efficiency.
agree |
Kitty Brussaard
: This could indeed work here too. The organisation wants/aims to increase its effectiveness (in achieving its goals and objectives).
16 hrs
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Thanks! I think all the other translations (incl my first attempt, "executive power") are trying too hard to stick to the source, and consequently don't sound very natural. They sound like translatese, as Emma mentioned.
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neutral |
Lianne van de Ven
: That's just too simple and actually not specific enough. Power to act would be one way of increasing effectiveness, there are many more.//Michael, we do have a Dutch word for effectiveness.http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cahrswp/142/
16 hrs
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I don't think it is a good idea to slavishly stick to the src here. It will only produce an unnatural-sounding and odd phrase. "The organisation wishes to increase its ... execution capacity / power to act / executive power" all sound terrible iyam.
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execution capicity
I believe this is what you're looking for...
Oy vey, that's a somewhat embarrassingly simple answer. . . Right on the money, of course. Thank you for cutting straight through my brain fog :-) |
agree |
Lianne van de Ven
: This would also be correct.
1 hr
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agree |
writeaway
: http://twinklemagazine.nl/achtergronden/2007/12/Ambitie,_lei... (capacity)
8 hrs
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agree |
Kitty Brussaard
: Yes, execution capAcity might indeed be the best option here. It is 'in context' and also stays closest to the source term.
23 hrs
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executive power
agree |
Richard Purdom
: your best explanation EVER!
3 mins
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Thank you kindly.
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disagree |
Lianne van de Ven
: I do not agree, which happens so often to myself when I am absolutely certain. :-)
37 mins
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And neither do I, now. I much prefer effectiveness – "The organisation wants/aims to increase its effectiveness (in achieving its goals and objectives)" ... sounds much better.
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agree |
Verginia Ophof
19 hrs
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Thanks!
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power to act
It is with becoming-woman in organizations that this sadness might be challenged. ... This empowerment, as an enhancement of the power to act, is 'good'; ...
https://goo.gl/9hK9hX
And in order for an organization to fulfill its obligations, it must act. ... hold such roles), and describing who has the power to act in the name of the organization.
https://goo.gl/4MJGCk
Onder “executiekracht” (ook wel aangeduid met daadkracht) wordt verstaan de capaciteit om ideeën en plannen die aanwezig zijn binnen de organisatie om te zetten in resultaat.
http://smclaren.com/nl/blog/wendbaar_weerbaar_executiekracht...
Daadkracht kan vertaald worden als vigor, decisiveness, of power to act.
Second, prove your organizational power to act. Find one initiative that can demonstrate, even on a small scale, that taking action will not result in catastrophic failure.
https://hbr.org/2012/06/learned-helplessness-in-organi/
The search ["power to act" "executive power" "business" "organization"] has about 200.000 google hits. Add -president and there are 50 ghits left. Executive power is associated with above provided definition.
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-02-25 18:03:25 GMT)
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van dale:
the executive power
de uitvoerende macht (als bevoegdheid)
Dit is niet hetzelfde als vermogen.
agree |
Kitty Brussaard
: Your suggestions definitely come closest in my opinion. Executiekracht = daadkracht/slagvaardigheid >> decisiveness, power/capacity to act etc.
3 hrs
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Dank je.
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neutral |
Michael Beijer
: can't quite put my finger on why, but "power/capacity to act" sounds wrong to me. in my mind, an organisation's capacity to act would relate to their ability to act in a specific situation, which isn't really the case here
5 hrs
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Ik zie wat je bedoelt, maar er staat dan ook niet capacity maar power to act, wat wel in meer algemene zin verstaan kan worden.
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agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: You could make it even stronger: power/ability to take decisive action.
22 hrs
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Dank je.
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Discussion
Notice that they are using it in the heading ("Vergroten executiekracht"), but then in the body of the little section, "executiekracht" is just one of the items in the list of stuff they intend to do. The main objective of this company here is definitely not to "improve their power to act", whatever that means in English. It just doesn't sound right.
(–Michael, met een gedegen achtergrond in Engels ;-)
However, other than this, a search for 'increase/increasing/increased (the/our/its/their) power to act' or a similar search for 'improve/improving/improved (...) power to act' doesn't yield many convincing/relevant examples I'm afraid.
How would you translate the term "executiekracht" in my context:
"Vergroten executiekracht
‘NAME OF COMPANY'S GRAND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE’ bestaat uit een bezinning op onze rol en activiteiten, verbetering van prestaties voor de klant, een cultuuromslag om beter te handelen vanuit publieke waarden en de vergroting van onze executiekracht."
http://www.call-for-action.com/166-de-converteers
http://www.consultancy.nl/nieuws/5909/house-of-performance-b...
Het begrip "executiekracht" moet gezien worden binnen het kader van "empowerment" als een onderdeel van effectiviteit/effectiveness.
https://goo.gl/SvI8L6
"Vergroten executiekracht
'NAME OF COMPANY'S GRAND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE' bestaat uit een bezinning op onze rol en activiteiten, verbetering van prestaties voor de klant, een cultuuromslag om beter te handelen vanuit publieke waarden en de vergroting van onze executiekracht."
I think i am going to go with "increase the effectiveness of our organisation"
Or as suggested in one of the links posted by Lianne: executiekracht = daadkracht.
I'm familiar with the term "executive power", but I'm wondering whether it's the right one. Businessdictionary.com defines it as the "authority to enforce orders and to ensure they are carried out as intended". The 'enforcing orders' part isn't relevant here, as the company's authority isn't affected one way or the other. It ultimately comes down to optimising efficiency, ensuring effective decision-making. (Some of the things listed under "executiekracht vergroten") include simplifying the organisational structure and organising regular roundtables to pick the brains of employees.)
http://www.brightcompany.nl/en/
and can somebody change this to non-pro?
A much better solution is on the tip of my tongue though ... hmm. The organisation wishes to increase its ability to put sth into action ...
executory force? nah.