I can't resist entering this discussion.

It's always seemed to me that part of the solution to this set of issues
lies MUCH earlier in the information lifecycle process.  By "earlier",
what I mean is that we'll always be chasing our tails as long as
questions about records/content management from users arise only in
response to crises (e.g., discovery requests, disasters).  When an
urgent need for information comes up, the user/requester wants the need
met; they don't want to be lectured to or routed to multiple
departments.  They certainly don't want to find themselves in the middle
of a turf discussion.

What would be helpful in the long term view is if attorneys received
some education during law school about the issues and challenges
surrounding the creation and management of the information they create
as part of working for their client and their employer.  Exposure to
these concepts as they learn to become lawyers could (I know I'm being
an idealist here) lay some valuable foundations for their future
professional careers, and help them to think more proactively about
applying information management policies BEFORE a crisis occurs.  When
such an attorney eventually ended up responding to a discovery request,
they wouldn't have to flail about not knowing where to begin or who to
bring to the table.  If the firm's RIM person wasn't at the table, the
attorney would ask, "Why not?"

While I agree that the RIM profession needs advocacy to continue to
stress the value we can bring to organizations, I would dearly love to
see our advocates taking a broader view of ways to address the more
fundamental challenges that result in this type of recurring situation.
How can information management concepts be incorporated into ALL
curricula, so that doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. have better control
over the data they create?  

I'd love to see a high school module that introduces students to basic
information management concepts, including the protection of personal
data, their medical and tax records, etc.  Imagine students like that
entering college and asking RIM-related questions of their professors!  

Pilar C. McAdam, CRM
Director of Legal Information Systems
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
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Pilar C. McAdam, CRM
Director of Legal Information Systems
333 South Hope Street
43rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1448
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Direct: 213.617.5417
Fax: 213.443.2703


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