The Cost of Technology Remains Same: Cloud or Network

November 1, 2011

In a new white paper Andrew Adkins provides a nice guide for law firms, especially small to medium-sized ones, to help them weave their way through the myths of cloud computing.  Law Firm Management in the Cloud: Leveling the Playing Field for Law Firms provides a nice overview of just what cloud computing is as compared to traditional IT networks in the world of law firm management.

The paper easily distills the arguments about security and confidentiality and operations.  I appreciate the fact that the statements about costs did not conclude that cloud computing was ultimately cheaper.

As the paper points out the average technology spend is between “3.5 and 6 percent of revenue.”  It is good to note that entry cost for the cloud is easier but over terms of service the costs are pretty even no matter the adopted IT Model:

But most analysts agree the reality is that the entry point is accessible for solo practitioners and small to mid-size law firms. Subscribing to a cloud-based application eliminates the need for a large initial cash outlay for servers, software licenses, and consultant fees. However, after several years, the overall costs between a traditional client-server system and a cloud-based system are about the same.

If you are a solo or small firm practitioner seeking a solid view of the advantages of cloud computing then this paper can answer some questions. When seeking a comprehensive technology and information management solution for your firm there is are more details to consider than this guide offers but it’s a great starting point.

Constance Ard October 31, 2011

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Slow and Steady: The Smart Approach to Legal KM

October 27, 2011

The House of Butter alerted me an interesting tidbit in “WK Buys Online Legal KM Outfit “Legal Intelligence”.  It was a little unclear from HOB’s writeup exactly which unit had made the acquisition so I went to the direct source of the PR release and filled in the blanks just a bit more.

Kluwer Netherlands, a unit of the global information service provider Wolters Kluwer, has taken over Legal Intelligence.

In my experience Wolters Kluwer has been careful with their acquisitions and methodical about the changes to service in acquired properties.  This new venture takes WK into a the arena with the vendors in a space that seems to have lacking some significant investment in one particular area: basic customer service.

Chances are that customers seeking a reliable system will benefit from WK’s investment.  Some infusion of cash to push innovation and a pretty solid customer service reputation bodes well.

Constance Ard October 26, 2011

 

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Emerging from the Masses: Create Value by Standing Out

October 25, 2011

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a law librarian who moved to the area from Washington D.C.  She contacted me to get an idea of the law library landscape in Louisville Ky.  Well, I’ve been out of the law firm world for over three yeas now, so I made sure I invited someone along that was in the field.  It was a fun lunch.

And an informative one. The questions our new friend asked, allowed me to reflect a bit on some of the good things I did in the land of law firm libraries.  My boss at the time was fantastic and encouraging when it came to finding new ways to demonstrate the value of the library.

So, I gave credit where it was due, and talked about a few of the simple things I did during my career that I think went a long ways toward not only demonstrating the value of library services but in actually adding value.

  • Hand deliver projects
  • Create Cover Sheets to Identify Your Product
  • Collaborate with Marketing

Simple steps that seemed revolutionary.  These additions allowed my service to emerge from the hidden library office to the hallways and conference rooms and the change was noticeable.

So if you are struggling to show why you are valuable, maybe you can reflect and see if something as simple as delivering a project in person can make a difference and allow you to emerge from the masses and be seen as a valuable asset.

Constance Ard October 24, 2011

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Enterprise Technology Trends to Watch Holistic Solutions and Mobile Devices

October 18, 2011

ZDNet has pronounced top 10 technology and business trends that will influence the enterprise through the 2010s.  In 10 Technology Trends That Will Define Enterprise Architecture in the 2010s the author lists out some interesting movements in cloud services, personal devices and the all important social landscape.

It may sound hokey, and yet, I think it’s spot on is Trend #4

4) Holistic integration enables agile enterprises. The silos are breaking down, but technology “does not overcome cultural obstacles.” A more holistic approach is emerging to address both technical and business integration, says Hopkins.

Companies such as Polyspot are pushing the envelope on enterprise data with a central access point through well-developed solutions and applications.  I think this holistic trend just might be the one to watch.

I do think virtualization, cloud storage and applications will continue to influence how businesses function.  Personal devices are not going to disappear, for risk management reasons companies need to get a grip on the use.  The exposure risks for company data on personal devices are a threat to risk mitigation in an ever-growing world of eDiscovery litigation action.

Constance Ard October 18, 2011

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Reflections on Association Value for Professional Librarians

October 6, 2011

Last week I attended the Kentucky Library Association Conference.  I have been an active member of this organization since Hector was my pup.  Or in non-country terms since I began my career in librarianship.  I still give credit to KLA for helping me land my first full-time library gig.

I spent some time during last week’s conference reflecting on the value I receive from my activity.  It truly comes down to networking and education.  The conference had several high impact presentations that were relevant to my work.  That is sometimes hard to get from an organization whose majority members are academic and public librarians.

Perhaps the highlight was Christian Miller’s  ”Fostering Innovation and Creativity: What Libraries Can Learn from Second City” Christian brought his passion for Improv acting to the world of librarianship and provided some great reminders about how to bring innovation into our daily world.

  • Don’t Block i.e. No is not an answer
  • Enhance ideas
  • Brainstorm means just that – let ideas flow, analysis can come later
So each year I attend conference I am reminded again of the value that my fellow librarians provide to my own career development and work at hand.  Another highlight was the fact that I’m beginning to see my mentees take up the mantle of presenting and leading.  These young librarians are doing creative things that capture the attention of other library leaders.  Julia Turpin brought to her audience practical steps used in her public library to go Dewey Free.
The after hours networking is another highlight and amidst the fun much work is accomplished. These are the reasons I stay active in organizations such as Kentucky Library Association.  What do you value in your professional organizations?
Constance Ard October 6, 2011

									


				

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Social Business: Trending Up in IT World

				October 3, 2011



				

					
In a ZDNet article “The “Big Five” IT trends of the next half decade: Mobile, social, cloud, consumerization, and big data” we are provided an early look at the up and coming trends in IT.  I find it interesting to note that “social business” is on the list.


For some it may be difficult to define what social business means.  The article explains that CIO are concerned about mobile, social and application developments.


Delivery platforms are shifting (mobility, cloud, social), communication and collaboration channels are being reinvented (Web, mobile, social), the consumer world of technology is driving innovation, and data is opening up and exploding out of the proliferating apps, devices, and sensors that organizations are deploying or are connecting to (but alas, are often not engaging with.)


The trend seems to be not just resource based but actually has a focus on revenue.  The article shares an interesting tidbit:


 McKinsey and Company is reporting that the revenue growth of social businesses is 24% higher than less social firms and data from Frost and Sullivan backs that up across various KPIs. The message is that companies are going to — and have very reason to — be using social media as a primary channel in the very near future, if they aren’t already. It’s time to get strategic.


At least the big guys are maintaining that strategy in social business is important.  This reaches beyond social media marketing techniques but reaches to data warehousing, collaboration and cloud applications within the enterprise.


Constance Ard October 3, 2011

									


				

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SLA Board of Directors Candidacy: Awesome Opportunity and Awesome Responsibility

				September 7, 2011



				

					
In January I was asked to consider running for the position of SLA Chapter Cabinet Chair-Elect.  As a business owner I hesitated.  It takes a lot of time to keep my pipeline full and to execute the work for my clients.  I carefully weighed the pros and cons.  In the end, I said yes. And I’m glad I did.


I spent the Annual Conference in June 2011 introducing myself and listening to SLA members and their challenges and their solutions.  Our members are incredibly creative, innovative and smart.


Throughout this process I have been asked to provide my views on specific candidate questions.


Candidate Speech


Candidate Question 1: What sort of advice would you give to professionals in their first library-related position who might be interested in nontraditional career paths?


Candidate Question 2: When did you first join SLA? What made you decide to join then, and why do you still belong today?


Candidate Question 3: What is the newest “techie” gadget that you have/would like to have, and how do/would you use it to improve the work relationship that you have with your primary clientele?


Candidate Question 4: How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?


 Candidate Question 5: SLA is an international organization. How can SLA involve and reach out more to members outside of North America?


So you can follow these links and get some insight into my thinking, experience and kowledge.  Other candidate information is available as well.


Why did I write this post? Because Elections open today and if you want to know about me this just  might be the place you come to get more information before casting your educated vote.


Constance Ard September 7, 2011

									


				

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				August 25, 2011



				

					
The MSNBC press release Recommind’s Axcelerate eDiscovery Named to KMWorld’s 2011 Trend-Setting Products List highlights the end to end solution that just might corner the market on predictive analysis.


“”Axcelerate eDiscovery has played a leading role in bringing Predictive Coding and other predictive technologies into daily use at some of the world’s largest enterprises and law firms,” said KMWorld editor-in-chief Hugh McKellar”"


Axcelerate eDiscovery has a full suite of products that can be used on site or on demand.  The on demand installations  allows scaling, security and flexibility that make it a good solution for projects that have multiple teams.


KMWorld’s selection of Axcelerate was no shoo-in choice for this honor. Over 800 products were reviewed so Recommind has an honor that is a bit more notable than being named top of customer service from some tiny Middle Eastern entity.  I would say this is big news.


Recommind remains a leader in eDiscovery solutions.  Their CORE (Context Optimized Relevancy Engine) platform really does seem a strong foundation for building  a responsive, automated system.


I’m not sure any system will be as accurate as we would like but if the predictive analysis can be relied upon for a large percentage of work – I suspect this product to continue to gain traction in the eDiscovery field.


Constance Ard August 25, 2011

									


				

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