Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/18157
E-DISCOVERY PROJECT MANAGEMENT: BRINGING PROCESS TO PRACTICE workflow represents a discrete task with a set of specific objectives. Each project phase can be cyclical, but the overall goal is to progress through the phases from left to right along the workflow. Breaking down each phase of the EDRM using project management principles allows for a seamless and efficient progression from start to finish. • Scoping: In e-discovery, the scope is set by the nature of the case. Determine how to manage the scope of each project phase by gathering key constituents and creating a project team, including organizational team members, law firm team members and any vendors involved. Be sure to include both legal and IT constituents. Set context, determine constraints, align teams to project goals and create a task checklist to serve as a guide through project completion. • Preliminary Planning: Establish timelines and objectives, and produce a project plan with enough detail to enable the next step — resource selection. For information management, this step might include determining requirements for a data map with asset management integration capabilities; for review, this might include reconciling the amount of data for review with budgetary constraints. For the e-discovery project as a whole, the initial planning phase would include drafting a “big picture” timeline for case development. These timelines should mark off specific projects and deadlines in the case, such as the 26(f) conference, and also list high-level goals for each phase of the EDRM. • Resource Selection: Choose internal and external resources and formalize work orders. Compare vendor pricing, availability and turnaround times, and allocate workload accordingly. There are e-discovery workflow management tools available that make vendor and resource comparisons, among other things, extremely easy. • Detailed Planning: Develop a comprehensive plan detailing how the project will be executed. Take the e-discovery checklist from step one and set up user roles and responsibilities to ensure that each step is covered. Formalize communication channels, determining who needs to communicate what to whom and when; how they will communicate (i.e., using what channels); and how this communication will be tracked. Today’s e-discovery workflow management software provides a fail-safe system for formalizing communication and project roles, monitoring compliance with job duties and tracking communications. Nevertheless, it is still important for a project manager or project team to engage in detailed planning at the beginning of each e-discovery project. • Start-up: Set up project workflows and technology, conduct user training and validate project assumptions, conduct sample data exchanges and pilot other processes. For a review project, for example, this step would include training for specific review tools as well as training for what the particular issues are for the matter so attorneys can effectively review during the execution step. www.iltanet.org Project Management 31