Oct 19, 2003 00:31
21 yrs ago
German term
New Zealand
Committed to the Customer
Native in: English (Variant: New Zealand) 
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English
nach denen man das beurteiltet
German to English
Bus/Financial
Performance Figures and Metrics
"Wichtig ist, dass es eine klare Verbindung beziehungsweise einen roten Faden gibt zwischen der Unternehmensstrategie und den Zielen, die man an den Außendienstmitarbeiter richtet und dann die Kennzahlen, nach denen man das beurteilt. Anders gesagt: Kennzahlen werden an Strategien und Ziele adaptiert."
From a text about performance figures and metrics. It's the same one I had a week or so ago, but the source text has been so heavily revised it's virtually a new job.
Anyway, in the phrase I've asked about, I'm having trouble with "das". What exactly is "das" referring to? It doesn't relate back gramatically to anything that has gone before it in the sentence. All the nouns used are either masculine or feminine. So why "das"? TIA for helping me clear this up.
From a text about performance figures and metrics. It's the same one I had a week or so ago, but the source text has been so heavily revised it's virtually a new job.
Anyway, in the phrase I've asked about, I'm having trouble with "das". What exactly is "das" referring to? It doesn't relate back gramatically to anything that has gone before it in the sentence. All the nouns used are either masculine or feminine. So why "das"? TIA for helping me clear this up.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
16 mins
Selected
according to which this is evaluated / upon which the evaluation is based
As you have pointed out yourself, the sentence is grammatically imprecise. If there's a way to consult with the writer of the source text I would suggest doing so.
If this isn't possible, I would suggest one of the above solutions. They are faithful to the source text in that they're wishy-washy and imprecise (with the second suggestion hiding the imprecision a bit better). Anything else would involve a wild guess as to what "das" refers to — could be the strategy, the goals, the connection, or even something that was mentioned earlier in the text.
If this isn't possible, I would suggest one of the above solutions. They are faithful to the source text in that they're wishy-washy and imprecise (with the second suggestion hiding the imprecision a bit better). Anything else would involve a wild guess as to what "das" refers to — could be the strategy, the goals, the connection, or even something that was mentioned earlier in the text.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kim Metzger
: ... a clear connection between the corporate strategy and the objectives that one enunciates to the field office employees and then the parameters according to which they are evaluated.
4 mins
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| neutral |
Anglo-German (X)
: Absolutely nothing imprecise about "this".
6 mins
|
|
Well, I disagree; I do think it's vague. Your interpretation above does make sense, but if that's what is meant, the text is doing a poor job of saying it.
|
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| agree |
Saskia
: best to use the "upon which..... " phrase
2 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for your help with this very confusing sentence (well, it was fairly straightforward up until the ""und dann die Kennzahlen ..." bit!).
I have decided to go with "as well as the performance figures upon which AN evaluation is based". I think that'll work - at least I hope it will! It makes about as much sense as the German, anyway! Thanks also to Christiane, Johanna, Angie and the peer graders for their input. Appreciate everyone's help."
+1
2 hrs
Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Canada
Native in German
Canada
Friendly, fast & certified!
Native in: German (Variants: Germany, Swiss, Platt / Nieder (Low German), Austrian)
Works in: English to German, German to English, German
Related KudoZ points
:
7785
another take
Rowan tells us that the text hase been revised.
Knowing that, I would think that the author lost track of his initial thought:
"Wichtig ist, dass es eine klare Verbindung beziehungsweise einen roten Faden gibt zwischen der Unternehmensstrategie und den Zielen, die man an den Außendienstmitarbeiter richtet"
Then he got distracted and continued ...
"und dann die Kennzahlen, nach denen man das beurteilt. "
I assume he meant to add this as an afterthought but somehow failed to create a proper connection (he meant to say: 'und *dann auch noch den* Kennzahlen', i.e. die Kennzahlen are part of the aforementioned 'red thread')
This sounds plausible especially in view of his concluding sentence.
IMO the original German is indeed flawed and Rowan has all reason to be confused!
Knowing that, I would think that the author lost track of his initial thought:
"Wichtig ist, dass es eine klare Verbindung beziehungsweise einen roten Faden gibt zwischen der Unternehmensstrategie und den Zielen, die man an den Außendienstmitarbeiter richtet"
Then he got distracted and continued ...
"und dann die Kennzahlen, nach denen man das beurteilt. "
I assume he meant to add this as an afterthought but somehow failed to create a proper connection (he meant to say: 'und *dann auch noch den* Kennzahlen', i.e. die Kennzahlen are part of the aforementioned 'red thread')
This sounds plausible especially in view of his concluding sentence.
IMO the original German is indeed flawed and Rowan has all reason to be confused!
+1
6 hrs
measurement/performance indicators used
I agree with Christiane and Johanna - there needs to be a clear link not only between strategy and goals, but also between the performance indicators used. You could possibly get around it in English simply by saying:
"and the measurement (or performance) indicators used".
HTH
Angie
"and the measurement (or performance) indicators used".
HTH
Angie
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Anglo-German (X)
: If only they'd let the translators write the orginal texts ;-)
4 hrs
|
|
how often have I thought that... ;-)
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14 hrs
(The figures / criteria) you judge that with...
Understanding the clause as a relative clause, I added figures or criteria, which might have to be adjusted to the original text.
Discussion
"Es mu� also eine klare Verbindung zwischen der Unternehmensstrategie, den an den Au�endienstmitarbeiter gerichteten Zielvorgaben und den Kennzahlen, nach denen der Erfolg bemessen wird, erkennbar sein."
Next sentence also has some relevance:
"Dabei gilt es, die Kennzahlen an die Ziele zu adaptieren, um die Gefahr zu vermeiden, dass sich an den Au�endienstmitarbeiter gestellte Anforderungen und Kennzahlen widersprechen."
So maybe they're talking about judging success? (Although "Erfolg" is masculine and not neuter.)