As ILTA’s content curator, I’m always monitoring the discussion forums to discover what topics are top-of-mind among the members. Each week, I’ll focus on a few areas that sparked your interest, and I’ll provide some curated resources to assist your own information-gathering on the topics. It’s not surprising that many of the best resources sit within ILTA’s treasure chest. If there are specific topics you would like assistance exploring, please contact me at joanne@iltanet.org.
This past week members discussed MiFi for very remote access issues, afterhours Helpdesk support and the benefits of User Experience/User Interface experts for intranets. ILTA members also shared the results of the Ethical Wall Survey.
Ethical Wall Survey
Thank you Information Management Content Coordinating team for organizing the Ethical Wall Survey results and publishing the results. Given the recent news about the legal representation during hostile takeovers, firms must remain current on implementing and maintaining ethical wall regulations.
(Very) Remote Access
With the summer vacation season upon us, the challenge of supporting attorneys and staff working in the deep woods, on a deserted island, or at sea increases. Though not always perfect, MiFi seems to be the tool of choice for gaining access. Here are some articles on setting up a remote connected office, using free Wi-Fi securely, and preparing for remote work due to emergency weather.
“How 4G LTE Can Turn Your Vacation Spot into a Remote Office.” (CNET.com)
“Some New Ideas to Make Travelling Easier.” (Chicago Tribune)
“Tech Tools Helped Business Flow During Snowy Winter.” (Worcester Business Journal Online)
“Pros and Cons: Three Types of Remote Access Methods.” (WSOL Blog)
“Home Network Tips” by submitted Jeanne Marie as part of Maritta Terrell’s ILTA Tip of the Week.
Better yet, if you need tips on how to disconnect on your summer vacation read Money’s instructions on “How to Disconnect from Work (Without Getting on the Boss’s Bad Side).”
Outsourcing
Trends in outsourcing continue to change with the economy and new technologies. If your organization turns to outsourcing for afterhours Helpdesk support or other work, look at the Global Guide on Outsourcing from the Practical Law Company (PLC). ILTA has an agreement with PLC to make some Global Guides available free to members. To learn more about outsourced work functions and trends see:
"Deloitte’s 2014 Global Outsourcing and Insourcing Survey."
“IT Outsourcing Expenditures Falling as a Percentage of Budget.” (Computer Economics)
“4 IT Outsourcing Trends to Watch.” (Information Week)
A Well-Designed Intranet
A member expounded on the benefits of hiring a user experience expert for the redevelopment of the firm’s intranet. In “Why You Shouldn’t Hire a UX/UI Designer,” you learn about the expertise of User Experience designers and User Interface designers and why both roles play a key part in good design.
Is investing in your intranet worthwhile? Read “Why Your Employees Hate Your Intranet” from Phase2Technology to determine if your intranet needs updating. Seek out your library department to help too. In an ILTA white paper, learn about library department initiatives for intranets at “Driving Resource Usage Through Sharepoint Customization.”