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pôle

English translation: department

08:29 Feb 11, 2008
French to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general)
French term or phrase: pôle
This is from an article on a large international group. The group is apparently dividied into a "pôle risques et services assurance," a "pôle conseil en risques et technologies" and a "pôle conseil"
Any idea on how to translate "pôle" in this context?
Thanks!
Ysabel812
English translation:department
Explanation:
or division

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-02-11 10:05:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, division would be better than department... it depends on the size and the diversity of activities.
For example, GE uses "businesses" or "operating segments" (http://www.ge.com/ar2004/ob.jsp).
If they are distinct enough, "business" might work as well.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 days (2008-02-17 09:22:42 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks Claire-Rejane!
Selected response from:

John Di Rico
France
Local time: 17:47
Grading comment
Thanks, I decided to go with this answer. Thanks for all the helpful comments and links.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7department
John Di Rico
4 +6business unit/cluster
Rob Grayson
4 +1branch / unit / section / operational centre
Dana Pottratz


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
pôle (in this context)
business unit/cluster


Explanation:
This is one of those things that each business tends to have its own preferred name for. In my experience, though, it tends to be larger than a single department, with "business unit" and "cluster" being the two terms I've come across most often.

If it's a multinational, a bit of research on their corporate website might tell you what terminology they use. If not, either ask the client or use your own term but point out to them what you've used and where so that they can change it if required.

Rob Grayson
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 444

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sheila Wilson: good advice
3 mins
  -> Thanks, Sheila

agree  Anne Girardeau: I agree with both the translation and the piece of advice
8 mins
  -> Thanks, Anne

agree  Michael GREEN: Good advice Rob. I prefer "business unit" but the choice will depend on the culture of the company.
14 mins
  -> Thanks, Michael

agree  Dominique Laurent: see : "Lyonbiopôle, a world competitive cluster in Lyon" http://www.lyonbiopole.org/home-1-2.html
22 mins
  -> Thanks, Dominique

agree  suezen: business unit
34 mins
  -> Thanks, suezen

agree  ST Translations
44 mins
  -> Thanks

neutral  Julie Barber: I haven't seen business groups or multinationals use 'cluster' for their business divisions/sectors. You see it for research groups, not this - as per Dominique's link which refers to a group of bodies not one company
53 mins
  -> hi Julie, I used to work for a UK financial multinational that used both "cluster" and "business unit" for two different levels of business groupings.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
pôle (in this context)
branch / unit / section / operational centre


Explanation:
I often use branch, unit, section or operational centre, depending on the context.

Dana Pottratz
France
Local time: 17:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  ForexTrader1: Agreed. Branch or unit
18 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
pôle (in this context)
department


Explanation:
or division

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-02-11 10:05:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, division would be better than department... it depends on the size and the diversity of activities.
For example, GE uses "businesses" or "operating segments" (http://www.ge.com/ar2004/ob.jsp).
If they are distinct enough, "business" might work as well.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 days (2008-02-17 09:22:42 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks Claire-Rejane!

John Di Rico
France
Local time: 17:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Thanks, I decided to go with this answer. Thanks for all the helpful comments and links.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Victoria Porter-Burns:
2 mins

agree  Michelle Grace
11 mins

agree  ST Translations
55 mins

agree  cmwilliams (X): division
1 hr

agree  Miranda Joubioux (X): division
1 hr

agree  Wioletta Gołębiewska
1 hr

agree  Julie Barber: division (or sector....)
1 hr
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