Combining the Roles of Translator and Project Manager in A Decentralised Network: A Competency Framework

Aim. Since technology savviness and the ability to manage challenging projects turned from an option into an imperative for an ordinary translation professional, this study focuses on the competencies of a translation project manager (TPM), aiming to develop and verify a context-specific competency framework. Methods. The subject of this ethnographic study is the global decentralised network of translators, where the translator can avoid sharing the project management costs, i.e., undertake not solely the traditional activities of a language professional but also those of owning translation projects. Results. Cross-competencies of the framework of European Master in Translation (EMT) and of general project management are identified and verified through a quantitative and qualitative survey of participants. Both theoretically derived and refined TPM competency frameworks are presented. Conclusions. Although a translator's professional activity, unlike that of a project manager, does not require the development of qualities related to leadership, the study's results confirm the findings of other researchers on TPM, which emphasise the importance of well-developed interpersonal qualities.