Forecast 2013-Is It E-Discovery Or Business Intelligence

© 2012 Cary J. Calderone, Esq

One thing I find baffling about data management is how applications are categorized.  I am not referring to classifications like private versus public cloud, or CRM versus Social.  But rather, the distinction between Business Intelligence and E-Discovery, and Record and Information Management.  BI has been popular and is viewed as a vitamin that can help boost sales and profits.  On the other end of the technology spectrum, we have RIM and E-Discovery.  When it comes to these unloved step-children of the corporate world, companies usually have to be dragged towards making the investment.  These are all pro-active and reactive tools for gleaning knowledge from your data.  But while RIM and E-Discovery are avoided, BI is relatively popular.  And, here is my argument:  Both types of applications are not really that different.  Let me explain.

The C-Level Nightmare-Do You Know What You Do Not Know?

Copyright ©  Cary J. Calderone 2011

Is this your CEO, CTO, or, General Counsel?

This post goes out to all those C-Levels who have not approved pro-active information management and DRED work because, "they can just search and find what they need when they have to."  For almost any attorney or e-discovery professional with experience, this cavalier attitude causes a  LOL moment.   We also call this approach, "head in the sand," or sometimes, "ignorance is bliss...until it's not."   After the 9-11  attacks, when the Department of Homeland Security was created, I remember Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, speaking about 3 things: 1)  What you know as fact,  2)  What you do not know but can research and discover and, 3)  What you do not know, you do not know.  C-Levels who think they will just find what they need, when they have not tested their approach under the threat of pending litigation, are in the last category.  They do not know, what they do not know.   Not convinced?  Then please consider these items: