I feel this poll from our member MoJo is a pretty interesting one (although it could use better choices, but I'm kinda brain-dead and tired right now, so too bad: it's almost 2 AM). The option you're thinking of probably isn't there, but just choose the one that fits best.

There's so much variation in situations that you can discuss, so feel free to do so on our forums here:
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=28763

You can submit poll ideas here (and try to keep them manga/anime-related):
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3903

Previous Poll Results:
Question: General opinion of non-manga (e.g., manhua, manhwa, OEL, etc)
Choices:
They're just as good as manga - votes: 5536 (42.1%)
I like them, but manga's still the best - votes: 4162 (31.7%)
I like them more than manga - votes: 332 (2.5%)
Don't think they're any good - votes: 790 (6%)
Never read any - votes: 861 (6.6%)
No preference - votes: 1461 (11.1%)
There were 13142 total votes.
The poll ended: September 10th 2011

In the end, there are series you like and series you don't like, and it doesn't matter if it's manga, manhua, manhwa, OEL, etc. Type doesn't matter too much, as there's some good everywhere.

A just ruler amongst tyrants

I think that it is hard to decide when a "group is too overwhelmed": users join and leave each day, a day it is possible to keep 8 series (enough tl, editors, etc.) and a day you can't even keep 4 series...
I voted option 3, but reflecting on it, it would be better to have max 3 projects, complete them and then move to new ones...
(these are reflection done by a user that is not a member of any group)

For me, it's really simple. I'm a selfish prick. I do scanlations because I enjoy it first and foremost. Don't overly care about the people downloading it to be completely honest. I love working on multiple projects. I will work a lot on a certain project, then get bored of it, then work a lot on another project, then another, and another, and so goes on.

For example, I love Koukou Tekken-den Tough. Love it to death. So much so that I scan, translate and typeset (or QC) it. But after I do one volume of it, I need to take a break and work on something else.

Some scanlators can work on only 1-2 projects and be happy, good for them. I just find it boring to work on only 1-2 projects.

-GGpX

I run Illuminati-Manga. You're welcome.

Selfish twit. ;D

Agree fully. Good to yah

yup so selfish. But as scanlation community is basically a free, unbinding, and non profit work. You can be selfish, or maybe you should ;-). Because in the end its the provider that bear the risk. Not the leecher or the reader.

I doubt that whoever came up with the poll ever worked in a scanlation group. All of these options are meaningless. A scanlation group is not a business, and scanlators are all volunteers, not employees. Whatever ideas you have about how many projects a group should have, individual members will still work on what they like. If you try to stop them, they'll leave. And if you try to make them work on something they don't want to work on, they won't. Therefore, the number of projects a group works on is the sum of preferences and availability of its members (although weighted heavily in favor of translators), and not the result of any kind of rational consideration.

Active translations list
Completed translations list
Dropped translations

This. Pretty much describes the entirety of the situation

"It is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."

the poll might be wrong about larger groups but it could stand true for 1-4 man groups (they do exist) i know when Ala Atra Scans started we only did 1 series but as time went on and we grew we ended up picking up way too many series (i never did anything other than our original series because that was the only reason i was scanlating at all). big groups almost always end up doing this and it can either kill them by slowing down releases, loosing members & readers ect. or the exact opposite by bringing in new people. either way you are right and what they scanlate is based 99% on what the translators want to translate and availability of the other people.

Seconded.

You do what you can as a group, but personally I prefer focussing on one thing before I start the next.

I and Me. That's how I feel about scanlations I do.

Honestly, the fourth option is just downright selfish. I mean:

1. At the end of the day, it's the scanlators who call the shots, not the readers.

2. Just like there is more to life than scanlating manga, there's also more to life than reading manga. So your favorite series got delayed, boo-hoo; it isn't the end of the world. If it is, someone needs to get their priorities straight NOW (and I'm not referring to the scanlators).

3. Better late than never. (let's see someone try to refute this.)

And IMO, delayed/irregular releases = pleasant surprises every now and then. Whenever I have work (or should I say school, because I teach, lol), I wake up at 4am. Just before I take a shower I check MU for new releases, and seeing updates from manga I haven't heard from in a while really brightens up my morning. 😉

Agreed

challenge expected auriga xD
As a scanlator myself.......
I prefer a group drops the series if they take more than 2-3 month working on it( or forever). When other group wants to do the same manga but cant because the group respect scanlating rules of not stealing other people's projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPNDqAF03V8