Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/25416
professionals to reach a policy that achieves the right balance of freedom and restriction. Users also ask for system access that is above their technological competency, or levels of authorization and business knowledge. IT expects that end users will do the wrong thing because they often actually do the wrong thing, and this has produced adverse implications. If IT needs to fix the problems that users create, then doesn’t it make sense to limit their access in the first place? IT’s answer is clear — yes. Operations and legal staff might need convincing. Another issue that can arise if IT is excluded at the higher level of decision making is that critical functions such as backup, patching and security and concerns, they feel comfortable to reason and compromise.” “When everyone has had the opportunity to express their views configuration could be done improperly, or not done at all. If this is the case, IT will feel compelled to consolidate control so they are at least the masters of their own domain. The friction created in such an environment leads to factions (IT versus everyone else at the firm) not trusting each other, and hinders opportunities for ongoing success. It is acceptable to have distributed control of systems, but this can only happen with an optimal level of interaction between IT and the operating units (i.e., legal staff, litigation support, document management/operations). In order for this approach 8 Litigation and Practice Support ILTA White Paper to be successful, IT needs to be confident that the operational unit owner (or the owner of the application or system) is knowledgeable about the product or technology in question. This is even more important as many firms are looking to insource complex technology to support firmwide electronic discovery initiatives (e.g., data processing and document review systems). The constituent parties need to develop relationships with the people who are going to make the right decisions based on what they know of the application, the organization and the particular subject matter. An additional risk concern is the installation of systems and software from third party vendors. Relationships with those vendors can be severed at any time. If IT is not properly involved in the design and build phases of a project rollout, the future use of that system or application could be in jeopardy should the vendor relationship sour. REASONABLE PEOPLE COME TO REASONABLE AGREEMENTS In many cases, IT has 75 percent technical knowledge and 25 percent business knowledge. The operational unit owner’s knowledge might be 25 percent technical and 75 percent business. It is important for these groups to come together early in the process to: