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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Kompetenz-Netzwerk

English translation:

network of excellence

Added to glossary by Tobi
Oct 25, 2013 07:39
10 yrs ago
8 viewers *
German term

Kompetenz-Netzwerk

German to English Marketing Marketing
My client has formed a "Kompetenz-Netzwerk" which consists of some companies that provide different products or services with the common objective to offer a complete solution to their customers.
I've proposed to translate this as "expertise network", but my client would like to keep it closer to the German term and call it "Competence Network" or "Competency Network". Even if "Kompetenz" and "competence" are not false friends, I'm a bit afraid that they don't convey the same intention.
Maybe someone can help with a better translation or confirm one of above translations.
Thank you!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 network of excellence
4 network of tried and tested partners
3 Perfect Partners
3 Specialist Network/Knowledge Network
3 reliable partner network
3 network of competent partners
2 -2 network of competency
References
See previous question
Change log

Oct 25, 2013 07:45: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Tech/Engineering" to "Bus/Financial"

Oct 26, 2013 11:33: Sebastian Witte changed "Field" from "Bus/Financial" to "Marketing" , "Field (specific)" from "Telecom(munications)" to "Marketing"

Discussion

Tobi (asker) Oct 25, 2013:
Thank you Thank you all for your helpful input. I'll go with excellence or expertise.
Nora Morrison Oct 25, 2013:
Nevertheless, IMHO, *Network of Excellency* definitely sounds more authentic to the Anglophone ear. Perhaps Client is interested in the Network's expertise including authentic English translations of its business materials ...
Nora Morrison Oct 25, 2013:
Hi Yorkshireman : ) I agree that *Expertise Network* is MUCH better than *Competence/y Network*. Also, Client would probably feel more at ease with it than w *Network of Excellence*.
Steffen Walter Oct 25, 2013:
Excellence ... ... would be proper "marketing-speak", as it were.
Yorkshireman Oct 25, 2013:
Expertise network Your own idea is the best - I had posted it and then read through your question again and noticed you already had it, so I hid it..

Competence is only adequacy. Expertise is more (professionalism, expert knowledge, exceptional skills etc.)
Nora Morrison Oct 25, 2013:
@Steffen: Yep, your entry came up just as I was going to hit 'submit' - thought it wouldn't hurt to send it anyway...
Steffen Walter Oct 25, 2013:
Not at all I strongly advise against using "competence network" - most of the search hits on the first few pages are (translated) German websites.
freekfluweel Oct 25, 2013:
The E-Team ;-) (E = Excellence)

... this team can be found!
Subbanna Oct 25, 2013:
On going through the net, the term "Competence Network" seems to be widely used. May be the client would prefer the term.

Proposed translations

+3
14 hrs
Selected

network of excellence

Answer posted upon Helen's and Andrew's request - see my reference entry.
Peer comment(s):
agree Helen Shiner : Yes, this reflects the EN meaning perfectly.
8 mins
agree Lancashireman
1 hr
agree David Moore (X)
1 day 10 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
46 mins

Perfect Partners

At all costs, explain to your client why 'competence' would demote his idea, not promote it.

Proficiency Partners/Partners in Proficiency
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

Specialist Network/Knowledge Network

If the client doesn't like expertise, how about "Specialist" or "Knowledge"

It would also work with "Pool" as an alternative to "Network".
Something went wrong...
9 hrs

reliable partner network

You can use other qualifiers before partner network. But, IMO, partner network is the best term to use in this context. Unlike some of the other terms, there can't be any mistaking what this is about.
Example below:

"Because of our experience we have the expertise and ability to asses a disaster situation quickly and activate needed resources from within our reliable partner network, ensuring our customers of the priority service they require."
Reference:

http://www.firstonsite.ca/usa-services/coverage-via-captive-partner-network/

Something went wrong...
-2
3 hrs

network of competency

An option to satisfy your client but still sound "less German".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2013-10-25 20:20:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Definition of "competence" from http://www.businessdictionary.com:

"A cluster of related abilities, commitments, knowledge, and skills that enable a person (or an organization) to act effectively in a job or situation.
Competence indicates sufficiency of knowledge and skills that enable someone to act in a wide variety of situations."
Example sentence:

This underlying core network of competency has enabled us over the past 13 years to report a growing investment portfolio and profitability of £13.6m with an average return on equity in excess of 20%.

Reference:

http://www.eastbank.co.uk/About-us

Peer comment(s):
disagree Helen Shiner : No, competency is EN means a firm is ok, middling, adequate, certainly not excellent, a specialist in its field, etc. A real false friend if ever there was one./As Andrew says. Suggest you check further. A well-known non-native mistake.
5 hrs
Adequacy is only 1 of several meanings, you may want to check this in turn. Also, I didn't know that the American Heritage Dictionary was non-native. There, competence is defined as " A specific range of skill, knowledge, or ability". Same as in DE.
disagree Lancashireman : Damning with faint praise
8 hrs
An extremely helpful explanation...
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1 day 3 hrs

network of tried and tested partners

.
Something went wrong...
3 days 58 mins

network of competent partners

here are my thoughts that include the word "competent"
Peer comment(s):
neutral Steffen Walter : We've already established that the meaning of "competent" in English is unsuitable in this context.
16 mins
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

6 mins
Reference:

See previous question

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/german_to_english/advertising_publ...

I'd translate the 'Kompetenz-Netzwerk' as 'network of excellence' and would steer well clear of 'competency/competence' because it hasn't got the same meaning in English. Your (German?) client is obviously unaware of this difference.
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Nora Morrison : Straight to the point! I bet those google hits lead to translated websites ...
10 mins
Yes, they do - please see my discussion entry above.
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Sometimes one has to give the client a plausible explanation, and you have.
31 mins
agree Oliver_F
2 hrs
agree Uta Kappler
6 hrs
agree philgoddard
6 hrs
agree Helen Shiner : Please post this as an answer.
8 hrs
Done as requested :-)
agree Lancashireman : Query solved at 6 mins. Should be proposed officially.
11 hrs
See above :-)
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