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Chapter 1 Introduction
1. 1 Research background
The freelance interpretation market was supposed to be in the second stage of development ten years ago as new trainees entered the market (Tseng, 1991). However, a professional association failed to be formed in the market during the past ten years (Lin, 2005). Interpreters still followed the passive strategy of waiting for clients to call them in order to acquire interpretation assignments. The researcher believes that the concept of business strategies may provide insight into this issue.
After determining the role and definition of the freelance interpreter, a performance evaluation system was thought to be a possible tool in this regard. Traditional performance evaluation strategies are compared against strategic performance evaluation strategies in this study, and the latter is found to be superior by combining both financial factors and
non-financial factors. The Balanced Scorecard system is then selected and explored as a possible management tool for the freelance interpreter.
1. 2 Research objectives and scope
The objective of this research is to create a Balanced Scorecard that can be used by freelance interpreters. The study follows the research design of an embedded case study when determining the units of analysis.
Case studies can be used when the questions asked fall in the “why” and “how”
category. Two other requirements for case studies include: researcher has no control over behavioral events and research focuses on contemporary events. Both requirements apply in this case. And since the initial questions in this research are “why strategic performance evaluation systems may benefit freelance interpreters” and “how does the selected strategic performance evaluation system benefit freelance interpreters”, the case study method is found
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applicable.
Research scope of the study is limited to freelance interpreters in Taiwan due to the limitation of time and resources. The snowballing method is employed to determine the freelance interpreters’ contacts and two rounds of interviews were carried out. The first determined the vision and basic information on the interpreters, while the second focused on the four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard. Results were collected from the freelance interpreters that shared the same vision and compiled into a freelance interpreter model used in the development of a Balanced Scorecard.
1. 3 Research Flowchart
The research flowchart of this study is depicted as follows:
Figure 0.1 Research Process Flowchart of this study
Results compiled and characteristics determined Define motive and objective
Literature review
Subunits determined Possible respondents
contacted
Snowballing method utilized to determine respondents
Define research method
Second round of interviews conducted
Balanced Scorecard derived
Matched to Balanced Scorecard perspectives Conclusions and suggestions
