Our objective is to illuminate and provide insight into the business of electronic discovery. Our clients are senior decision-makers and key StakeHolders in the EDD marketplace -- law firms, corporations, judiciary, enforcement, regulatory and legislative, suppliers; and, while we don't claim that they are hanging on our every word, our research is designed to enable our clients to optimize tactical and strategic decision-making by delivering timely and unbiased marketplace data, insights and critical thinking. Top
What's the purpose of these Interviews?
These interactive interviews are part of our research project Electronic Discovery in Litigation: Law Firm Perspectives. Our objective in this project is to identify and benchmark best EDD practices among the nation's top law firms.
Law firms are one of six stakeholder groups we have identified as being invested in the EDD landscape; the other stakeholders are EDD product and service suppliers, global 1000 corporations, enforcement, judiciary, regulatory and legislative. Our 2005-2006 research program is designed to provide a 360-degree view of EDD by fielding primary research projects within each stakeholder group. The result is a comprehensive picture of the players, issues and metrics which informs strategy development, planning, execution and practices among the members of the community. Learn more about our unique research program.
Specifically within the law firm sector, we are interviewing senior law firm members responsible for litigation and corporate practices, litigation-practice support, and firm technology.
From our base of interactive interviews, we select a sample for personal, follow-on interviews. Top
I'm bombarded with surveys -- why is this one any different?
Yep. No question about it. It seems like every vendor, consultant, and trade group in the world has a survey, instant poll or American Idol-like vote scheme -- they all want to break through the clutter while appearing authoritative. Occasionally, it's legitimate research resulting in meaningful market insight -- mostly, it's marketing blather.
EDDix is the only independent research and analysis firm reporting on the electronic discovery marketplace. As we are fond of saying, "where you sit is where you stand." We're not consultants ... we're not vendors ... we don't have an ax to grind. That means that we are free to do real research -- ask tough questions, get real answers, analyze and report back unvarnished results to all of the StakeHolders in the marketplace.
You will doubtless notice that some of the questions are challenging ... but then, think about what you could do if you had the marketplace's answers to those questions -- the myriad ways in which really getting your arms around best practices could improve both your short- and long-term decision-making. Top
So you say ... but what's in it for me?
We like the story of The Little Red Hen -- the people who help bake the bread get to help eat the bread. The "ix" in EDDix stands for "information exchange" and, in many respects, we operate as a cooperative. Everyone who participates in our research automatically becomes an EDDix Member. Membership is free and everyone who is an EDDix Member agrees to participate in at least one of the firm's research projects. As a Member, you get the following benefits ...
45% discount on the purchase of all EDDix research. For example, in the instant case, an annual subscription to this research project is priced at $4200 but the price for Members is $2310. If you were to subscribe to all of the EDDix research, the total would be $23,400 ... as a Member the total will be $12,800. In other words, we're paying you $10,600 to participate in a single research project.
FREE Topline Report on any research project in which you participate.
Access to Member-only content at our website.
The opportunity to have meaningful input into the structure of our research projects -- from who we interview to what we ask. Top
There are a lot of questions about stuff I don't directly handle ...
Correct. Perception, as they say, is reality and we're very interested in comparing perceptions about electronic discovery practices among people in different job functions within the same law firm as well as across firms. That's why we are interviewing senior litigators AND senior corporate attorneys AND practice support managers AND litigation support managers AND CIO/CTO's. Top
OK. But if I don't know the answer to a question, do you want me to make one up?
No. Made up answers aren't especially helpful in research. Here's the deal ... if you think your answer is within 25% (+/-), then go ahead and answer the question. If not, then just skip the question. We record unanswered questions as "don't know" ... rest assured that we do not record them as "bozo" and, besides, all of your answers are CONFIDENTIAL. Top
Security
Will the information I provide in the Interactive Interview be published and attributed?
Published yes; attributed NO. In this project, responses are analyzed and reported at an aggregate level. We do not provide any party with access to firm-identified or respondent-identified information. Please review our page on Confidentiality & Security. Top
How secure is the interactive interview process?
Although nothing online is 100% secure, we have taken a number of measures to ensure the security of the interview process and the integrity of the data collected. Our security measures include the following ...
We are utilizing a secure SSL link between you and our interview software. This is the same connection methodology used to secure e-commerce transactions involving credit card data.
We are not utilizing any external parties for data handling or analysis. Your responses are being directly handled by the principals of EDDix. No one else is being provided access to the interview software or identified response sets.
Each interview session is unique. Once a participant has logged out, no one (including the participant) can gain access to the responses.
Why do you need my name, title, email address, etc. if my answers are Confidential?
We are comparing responses between law firms, cross-tabbing by firm size and specialization. We are also cross-tabbing results by job function and title both within firms and across firms. Names and email addresses enable us to vet the integrity of the data we collect; additionally we use your contact information to set up your free EDDix Membership so that you are qualified for the 45% discount on all EDDix research purchases as well as the other EDDix Membership benefits. Oh yeah -- without your email address, we can't send you the free topline report.
Like your interview responses, all of your contact information is treated as strictly CONFIDENTIAL. Please review our page on Confidentiality & Security. Top
Why do I have to fill-in the registration information for each of the interviews?
To make this easier, we have taken what is essentially one respectable-size, in-depth interview and broken it down into bite-size thematic chunks. The trade-off is that we had to treat each as a separate and unique interview. It's 5 questions -- law firm name, your name, job function, title, and email address -- you can handle it. Top
TimeTable
Is there a time limit?
We need to have all Interactive Interviews completed no later than 20 May. Top
Interactive Interview Process
Do I need to complete all of the interviews at one time?
No. We've set this up as 5 short, self-contained interviews, each addressing a single topic area. You can work on the interviews in any order you wish. However, once you begin an interview you need to complete that interview -- for security purposes, once you have logged out of a specific interview, you cannot return to complete or edit. Top
Navigation
Anything special I need to know about navigating the interview?
DO NOT use the ENTER key unless you want to move forward to a new page in the interview or to create line breaks within multi-line response questions.
To navigate within a page, use the TAB key or the ARROW keys on your keyboard ... or use your mouse to position the cursor where you want it. Top
A number of questions in the interview ask for a dollar and cents answer. What is the format for responding?
Unless specifically indicated, all responses should be in whole dollars and you do not need to put in the dollar sign. Top
You didn't provide enough room for me to fully respond ...
Give us the best answer you can given the format of the interview. Top
What do you mean when you say ...
Please take a look at the page we put together for Terms & Definitions ... if you're still confused, contact us directly. Top
You seem to be exclusively focused on big law firms -- can small law firms participate?
True -- our recruiting efforts are trained on the largest 250 law firms in the U.S. because, as Willie Sutton might have said, "That's where the EDD is." We exaggerate for effect but we're sure the point is not lost on you. That said, we welcome participation by senior litigators, corporate attorneys, litigation and practice support managers, and CIO/CTO's from U.S.-based law firms of any size. Top
Can I get a free copy of the full commercial version of the final research report?
They say that there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. This may be the exception that proves the rule. The answer is "No" ... but you do get a free copy of a participants-only topline and you do get a 45% discount toward purchase of the full commercial version of the report and you do get a 45% discount against the purchase of any EDDix research products. Top
45% discount on the purchase of all EDDix research. For example, in the instant case, an annual subscription to this research project is priced at $4200 but the price for Members is $2310. If you were to subscribe to all of the EDDix research, the total would be $23,400 ... as a Member the total will be $12,800. In other words, we're paying you $10,600 to participate in a single research project.