考働

English translation: working smart; intelligent working

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:考働
English translation:working smart; intelligent working
Entered by: JoelD

01:56 Apr 18, 2012
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general)
Japanese term or phrase: 考働
In the title of a worker evaluation form: 目標達成考働シート

http://www.kanac.co.jp/bi/dictionary.html defines this term as 人が価値ある事を考えて働く事である.

It's clearly a conjured-up management term, but is there anything similar in English?

There is such as thing as "value-centric work analysis" (http://www.slideshare.net/dickdavies/value-centric-work-anal... but it doesn't necessarily point to the idea of "人が価値ある事"

FYI Mandom Corp. cops out and calls this concept "kohdoh"
(http://www.mandom.co.jp/company/corp/philosophy1_en.html)
JoelD
Local time: 17:46
working smart; consideration and application of value maximization
Explanation:
It could simply be translated as working smart, since it is on a worker evaluation form. For instance, whoever is evaluating the worker, the evaluator may be looking for feedback that describes the worker's ability to work smart. In other words, does the worker consider the value of some task or resource at some stage of work, eliminate or minimize waste that does not add value, and apply his or her conclusion in an efficient manner? At each level of this value maximization task is improvement also. Thus, the ability to work smart by maximizing value to achieve some objective. There are many ways to use this concept as the examples and links below show. Hope this helps.
Selected response from:

aviator1x1
Local time: 01:46
Grading comment
I used a variation of this. Thanks
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Ignore it
Finance Japan
3 +1working smart; consideration and application of value maximization
aviator1x1
4Value judgment
humbird
3work ethic
jgraves
1work with knowledge
cinefil
1intelligent working
MalteLaurids


  

Answers



1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
intelligent working


Explanation:
I understand the term as thinking while working (as opposed to just doing what one is told without giving input and thought to the job), so maybe intelligent working could describe this.

The title of the form could be translated as Target Achievement & Intelligent Working Sheet or something like that.

MalteLaurids
Local time: 09:46
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: I like this, but ended up using "smart" instead of intelligent. Wish I could give points for both

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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Ignore it


Explanation:
I'd say this is one of those times when you should ignore what the Japanese says and come up with a sensible name for what the form actually is: a performance evaluation form.

... assuming your client will let you translate it sensibly!

Finance Japan
Japan
Local time: 17:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Typically, I agree with ignoring meaningless expressions, but this needed to be translated this time. Thanks


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Veitch
1 day 4 hrs
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
working smart; consideration and application of value maximization


Explanation:
It could simply be translated as working smart, since it is on a worker evaluation form. For instance, whoever is evaluating the worker, the evaluator may be looking for feedback that describes the worker's ability to work smart. In other words, does the worker consider the value of some task or resource at some stage of work, eliminate or minimize waste that does not add value, and apply his or her conclusion in an efficient manner? At each level of this value maximization task is improvement also. Thus, the ability to work smart by maximizing value to achieve some objective. There are many ways to use this concept as the examples and links below show. Hope this helps.

Example sentence(s):
  • 価値向上考働
  • 企業理念は【考働】

    Reference: http://www.kanac.co.jp/bi/dictionary.html
    Reference: http://www.mandom.co.jp/company/corp/philosophy1.html
aviator1x1
Local time: 01:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
I used a variation of this. Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hidetoshi kudo: Work Smart sounds a smart call.
3 hrs
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
work ethic


Explanation:
No need to take it out of context.
Whole phrase essentially means: "[Goal] achievement-driven work ethic"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 hrs (2012-04-18 17:20:30 GMT)
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more natural alternative: "results-driven work ethic"

jgraves
Local time: 17:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16
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3 days 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Value judgment


Explanation:
You think (考), and act on it (働) ... so closest English counterpart I come up with is "value judgment".
Despite all the hype sometime seen in Japanese written expressions, essensially what 考働 wants to convey is this.
Please think about it.

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 59
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