In working on a few variety of projects lately I’ve become more informed about enterprise search, e-discovery, and the use of content in businesses.
It makes me wonder how manageable is one’s approach to electronic data? Are law firms just keeping the beast at bay day-by-day when dealing with a specific case or do they truly have a handle on how to approach data with a process that will deliver good results in a timely manner to the benefit of the client?
Or, is the reality that firms take it case-by-case and hope that the process they used is complete enough to meet their needs without fear and minimal risk?
Do you have a team or do you have individuals who govern e-discovery practices within your firm? Is management able to understand the full implications or are decisons made in the dark with hopes for the best?
Can the vendors you already do business with truly deliver the product you need to save time in processing the gigabytes and terabytes of data that lay before you?
How do you travel this labyrinth successfully? Is there a trusted information professional within your organization that truly understands the broader scope of this very important and ever-changing landscape? Do you just have a competent gardener who tears out the weeds as they pop up or do you have a strategic thinker who plans the companion planting to minimize the risk of infestation and keep the garden green and clean?
The Answer Maven doesn’t have answers for these general questions but is willing to help individual firms find their own solutions to the e-discovery puzzle.
Strategic thinking: Knowing e-discovery is inevitable, I argue an enterprise can use technology proactively to make its e-records more benign. It can broadcast intent to be lawful and a request that adversaries come forward as early as possible. What do you think? –Ben
http://hack-igations.blogspot.com/2008/05/nix-smoking-gun-e-discovery.html
Benjamin, I do agree that enterprises can use technology proactively, I just wonder how well they will use it.