The Importance of a Business Plan when Planning a Lexicographical Project*

Abstract

This paper deals with the importance of a business plan when planning a lexicographical project. A business plan is an aspect of a lexicographical process most lexicographers would like to ignore. It is, however, an important step towards the establishment of a dictionary project. The compilation of a dictionary is a time-consuming process and a costly business, and proper planning is of the utmost importance, whether a dictionary project is undertaken by an individual or by a team of lexicographers. Therefore a business plan is the ideal tool for proper planning before embarking on a lexicographical project. It also gives stakeholders an indication of the scope of the envisaged lexicographical project. Financiers require a business plan to authorise the financing of a project, and this also applies to a lexicographical project. This paper deals with the importance of and reasons for a business plan. It also covers aspects such as drawing up a business plan as well as its contextual requirements.

Keywords: Action plan, business plan, collaborators, critical success Factor, empirical survey, end user, financier, goal, human resources, key Service, key uncertainty, knowledge transfer, lexicographical practice, Lexicography unit, mission, needs assessment, objective, opportunity, organisational Structure, risk, situation analysis, stakeholder, strategy, Vision