1. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 1 Fantasy Meets Reality: Strategic Planning and Budgeting DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN Presented by: Cynthia Aylsworth Presented by: Director, Technology and Information Systems

2. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 2 THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN Document What We Want –Document the firms business strategy Document What We Have –Assess the firms current IT capabilities Document How to Get Where We Want to Go –Gap analysis, identify options, prioritize projects

3. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 3 DOCUMENTING BUSINESS STRATEGY Research and review the firm s business plan –Expansion, contraction, merger plans –Office relocations, expiring leases Research and review practice group business plans –New client markets –New services to existing clients

4. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 4 DOCUMENTING BUSINESS STRATEGY Methods for Gathering Information –Written Business Plans –One on one meetings Practice Group Leaders, Managing Partner, Executive Director, members of Technology Committee –Practice Group Meetings Identify Lawyer and Client Expectations –Are there client expectations that we cannot currently meet? –Can our competitors offer services that we cant?

5. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 5 ASSESS CURRENT CAPABILITIES Document Existing Information Technology Infrastructure –Hardware and Software Architecture Desktop, Back office, Infrastructure, Practice Area Technology –Business Continuity Plan –Knowledge Management –Technology Policies Acceptable Use, Email, Electronic Document Retention, Internet usage and monitoring Laptops, Home PCs, PDAs, Blackberry, Cell Phone –IT Staffing Resources Org Chart Knowledge Levels

6. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 6 ASSESS CURRENT CAPABILITIES Overview of All Projects in Process –What they are –What they accomplish –Timelines for implementation Internal Customer Satisfaction –Conduct internal survey to gauge services provided compared with lawyer expectations

7. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 7 BENCHMARKING FIRM TECHNOLOGY What would we like to do that we can t do now? –Outline new environment based on business strategy research –Identify technology opportunities - Watch List technologies Portals XML Wireless networking Unified messaging, VoIP.NET –Where will we be tomorrow?

8. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 8 BENCHMARKING FIRM TECHNOLOGY What do other Law Firms have? –LawNet Technology Survey –Hildebrandt Process and Technology Survey –AmLaw Technology Survey What do our Clients Have? –Gartner Group Reports –McKinsey Reports and Surveys –CIO, IT Trade Magazines

9. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 9 BENCHMARKING FIRM TECHNOLOGY Compare the Firm s Current Technology with Business Needs and Industry Surveys and Research –Plot the gaps between current technology, business needs, and industry standards –Large gaps will likely become focal points for technology plan

10. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 10 GAP ANALYSIS Where is the Firm Ahead of the Curve, Behind the Curve, or Not on the Map? –Desktop –Practice Area Technology –Business Process –Back Office –Infrastructure –IT Staffing and skill sets Which of These Gaps Impact Business Strategy?

11. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 11 BRIDGING THE GAP Propose New IT Environment Prioritize Projects Based on Gap Analysis –Desktop –Practice Area Technology –Back Office –Infrastructure –Internal Business Process, e.g.: Opening new matters Document Retention Electronic Documents of Record Lawyer and Staff Evaluations

12. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 12 BRIDGING THE GAP Associate Business Goals with each Project Identify Options for Implementing each Project –Hardware –Software –Consulting –Training –Costs –Time Develop High-Level Timeline based on Prioritization Creates foundation for budgeting

13. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 13 PUTTING IT TOGETHER Assemble all Pieces of the Plan –Business Strategy –Client Requirements –Current IT Environment –Benchmarks and Gap Analysis –Proposed Environment Summarize Each Section for a Non-Technical Audience

14. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 14 PUTTING IT TOGETHER Develop Executive Summary –Objectives of Strategic Technology Plan –How information was collected –Summary of findings Where the firm is leading Where the firm is keeping up Where the firm is behind –Summary of Recommendations Apply recommendations to firm business strategies –This may be the only section of the plan that is actually read

15. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 15 SUGGESTED READING Transforming the Law: Essays on Technology, Justice and the Legal Marketplace, Richard Susskind The Art of War, Sun Tzu Practical Steps for Aligning Information Technology with Business Strategies: How to Achieve a Competitive Advantage, Bernard H. Boar

16. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 16 QUESTIONS?

17. DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY PLAN © Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2002 17 Contact Information Cynthia Aylsworth Director, Technology and Information Systems caylsworth@cl-law.com 203.351.4170 Cummings & Lockwood LLC Four Stamford Plaza Stamford, CT 06902 203.351.4170 Phone 203.708.5609 Fax