Page 88 - The Handbook - Legal and Accounting Networks 81
P. 88
Law and Accounting Networks and Associations
Accounting Technology Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
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 webinars381 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.
Networks generally do not address their primary role, which is to engage members in creating real relationships
that have value to their clients. This is not done through technology because the standard technology does not
381 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.
76
Accounting Technology Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
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 webinars381 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.
Networks generally do not address their primary role, which is to engage members in creating real relationships
that have value to their clients. This is not done through technology because the standard technology does not
381 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.
76
