Page 90 - The Handbook - Law Firm Networks 2018
P. 90
The Handbook: Law Firm Networks
Exhibit 8 – Technology and Network Levels
Word processing Technology Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Accounting Support x x x x
Design Support x x x x
Email Support x x x x
Fax Support x x x x
Video (one way) Support x x x x
Website Asynchronous x x x
Discussion groups Asynchronous x x x
Control of technology by Synchronous - x x
professionals Organic - x x
Linked list of contacts selected
by professionals Organic - xx
List of favorite information
selected by professionals Organic - xx
Publications dissemination
based upon interest Organic - xx
Document collaboration
Selection of contacts Organic - xx
Organic - xx
What Does Technology Mean for Professional Services Networks
When most networks think about technology, they first think of management support tools. These are the
same tools all businesses use. This same technology is easily extended to a network. The tools are all
familiar: QuickBooks, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Integration of this software can be integrated with web-
based technology means that when a member registers for a meeting, the information is automatically
transferred to the accounting system in the appropriate locations, e.g., registration, firm member, profession,
and the meeting itself. The fully integrated systems greatly enhance the management of the network.
Networks may immediately think of asynchronous and synchronous audio and video delivery systems.
Members can use publicly available technology such as YouTube to host their videos. The videos can
include information about the network and what it’s promoting. They can conduct surveys with
SurveyMonkey, have video conferences with Skype, and chat via Meebo.
They may also think about webinars406 and web conferencing, which are great ways for members to be
introduced to one another. For example, new professionals require training. The network can arrange for a
webinar on a subject of interest. Importantly, it can be recorded so that the content can be used in the future.
The role of the network is to coordinate this collaboration.
406 Web conferencing refers to a service that allows conferencing events to be shared with remote locations. Most vendors also provide either a
recorded copy of an event or a means for a subscriber to record an event. The service allows information to be shared simultaneously across
geographically dispersed locations in nearly real-time. Applications for web conferencing include meetings, training events, lectures, or short
presentations from any computer. The term “webinar” is a neologism, short for Web-based Seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop, or seminar that
is transmitted over the Web, specifically a portmanteau of Web & seminar, to describe a specific type of web conference. Although some argue that
webinars might be one-way, from the speaker to the audience with limited audience interaction, such one-way broadcasts are perhaps more accurately
called a webcast. Webinars themselves may be more collaborative and include polling and question & answer sessions to allow full participation
between the audience and the presenter. In some cases, the presenter may speak over a standard telephone line, while pointing out information being
presented onscreen, and the audience can respond over their own telephones’ speaker phones, allowing the greatest comfort and convenience. Web
conferencing, WIKIPEDIA, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_conferencing (last visited Feb. 6, 2016).
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Exhibit 8 – Technology and Network Levels
Word processing Technology Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Accounting Support x x x x
Design Support x x x x
Email Support x x x x
Fax Support x x x x
Video (one way) Support x x x x
Website Asynchronous x x x
Discussion groups Asynchronous x x x
Control of technology by Synchronous - x x
professionals Organic - x x
Linked list of contacts selected
by professionals Organic - xx
List of favorite information
selected by professionals Organic - xx
Publications dissemination
based upon interest Organic - xx
Document collaboration
Selection of contacts Organic - xx
Organic - xx
What Does Technology Mean for Professional Services Networks
When most networks think about technology, they first think of management support tools. These are the
same tools all businesses use. This same technology is easily extended to a network. The tools are all
familiar: QuickBooks, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Integration of this software can be integrated with web-
based technology means that when a member registers for a meeting, the information is automatically
transferred to the accounting system in the appropriate locations, e.g., registration, firm member, profession,
and the meeting itself. The fully integrated systems greatly enhance the management of the network.
Networks may immediately think of asynchronous and synchronous audio and video delivery systems.
Members can use publicly available technology such as YouTube to host their videos. The videos can
include information about the network and what it’s promoting. They can conduct surveys with
SurveyMonkey, have video conferences with Skype, and chat via Meebo.
They may also think about webinars406 and web conferencing, which are great ways for members to be
introduced to one another. For example, new professionals require training. The network can arrange for a
webinar on a subject of interest. Importantly, it can be recorded so that the content can be used in the future.
The role of the network is to coordinate this collaboration.
406 Web conferencing refers to a service that allows conferencing events to be shared with remote locations. Most vendors also provide either a
recorded copy of an event or a means for a subscriber to record an event. The service allows information to be shared simultaneously across
geographically dispersed locations in nearly real-time. Applications for web conferencing include meetings, training events, lectures, or short
presentations from any computer. The term “webinar” is a neologism, short for Web-based Seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop, or seminar that
is transmitted over the Web, specifically a portmanteau of Web & seminar, to describe a specific type of web conference. Although some argue that
webinars might be one-way, from the speaker to the audience with limited audience interaction, such one-way broadcasts are perhaps more accurately
called a webcast. Webinars themselves may be more collaborative and include polling and question & answer sessions to allow full participation
between the audience and the presenter. In some cases, the presenter may speak over a standard telephone line, while pointing out information being
presented onscreen, and the audience can respond over their own telephones’ speaker phones, allowing the greatest comfort and convenience. Web
conferencing, WIKIPEDIA, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_conferencing (last visited Feb. 6, 2016).
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