op de korte baan schaatsen

English translation: focus on short-term goals

13:41 Apr 3, 2004

Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research / CRM

Dutch term or phrase: op de korte baan schaatsen

Again, from CRM - I understand the meaning of this expression, but I'm having trouble coming up with a 'snappy' English version or something equally idiomatic in English, if it exists - I don't know if "taking shortcuts" or "taking the easy way out" applies here. Brain not functioning today, so all the help I can get is welcome!
Here is the complete sentence(s): Marketeers zullen in dergelijke omstandigheden op korte termijn succes moeten laten zien. Zij kunnen dan wel het belang van CRM inzien, maar ze worden gedwongen ‘efficiencymarketing’ te bedrijven of ‘op de korte baan te schaatsen’. Minder gelegenheid is er aandacht te besteden aan de consistentie in het beleid.
TIA!

AllisonK (X) KudoZ activity Questions: 166 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 561 Netherlands
Local time: 21:40

English translation:focus on short-term goals

Explanation:
It sounds to me as though the pressure to show successes in the short-term may cause an undesirable focus on short-term goals, possibly at the expense of the longer-term thinking/direction.

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Note added at 3 hrs 22 mins (2004-04-03 17:04:12 GMT)
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I\'m not sure if this is what you\'re looking for; I suppose I\'ve translated the meaning rather than just the words...

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Note added at 9 hrs 35 mins (2004-04-03 23:17:11 GMT)
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\'Short-term thinking\' is also a commonly-used phrase in this sort of context. E.g.:
-> \"But, how did a rich country [Guatemala] turn itself into a ruin? It wasn\'t easy. It took more than 200 years to cut down the trees, to set the rainforests on fire, to waste the rich soil and turn beautiful warm weather into some kind of unpredictable mess. How did that happen? Short-term thinking.\"
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0706-04.htm

Selected response from:

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 21:40

Grading comment

This fits in well with the sentence - thanks Chris!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

focus on short-term goals

Chris Hopley

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

focus on short-term goals

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 21:40
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

Grading comment

This fits in well with the sentence - thanks Chris!

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