Category: Principles

A Principled Approach to Legal Tech Adoption

[A previous version of this article appeared in Legal Business World,  the LAC Group, and ILTA's Peer to Peer Magazine] “Ironically, the popular business press, focused on hot, emerging industries, is prone to presenting these special cases as proof that we have entered a new era of competition in which none of the old rules … Continue reading A Principled Approach to Legal Tech Adoption →

Are Law Firms as Profitable as They Could Be?

[This article previously appeared on Slaw.ca] It is pretty clear that, in the past, lawyers did a great job disrupting themselves. The term “disruption” comes from Clayton Christensen’s observation that the ability of a company to make a higher and higher performing product always outstrips the ability of customers to make use of these performance improvements. … Continue reading Are Law Firms as Profitable as They Could Be? →

A detailed comparison of technology adopter types

Everett Rogers developed the now-standard framework for how an innovation diffuses throughout society. Geoffrey Moore went into greater detail on the adopter types. I understood conceptually that these various groups are based on certain differences, but it wasn't until I mapped these out (based on Moores book) that I realized how distinct these groups really … Continue reading A detailed comparison of technology adopter types →

Principle #5: Own your customer’s success

Note: for the full essay click here. Recall Principle #1: people do not like to feel “owned” or told what to do. But they do like to be “owned” if what that means is a vendor (or change agent) taking ongoing responsibility for the success of their joint ventures. Especially with newer products, there is … Continue reading Principle #5: Own your customer’s success →

Principle #4: Until you break into the mainstream, focus your efforts on a single user group

Note: for the full essay click here. From Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Gregg McKeown Despite the number of times he repeats the importance of focus in his materials, the number one question Geoffrey Moore gets about crossing the chasm is Can’t we go after more than one target? His answer is unequivocal: “Just … Continue reading Principle #4: Until you break into the mainstream, focus your efforts on a single user group →

Principle #3: Focus your efforts on the immediate challenge

Note: for the full essay click here. You must move linearly through the market segments of innovators, then early adopters, then pragmatists, and finally conservatives (see below). If there is new technology involved, “Do not go straight to mass deployment: if you try, you will not pass Go, and you will not collect $200.” Mainstream users (pragmatists … Continue reading Principle #3: Focus your efforts on the immediate challenge →

Principle #2: Pair the right products with the right users

Note: for the full essay click here. Your adoption efforts are most effective when you pair the maturity of a technology with the right demographic. You can either bring a product to the relevant group; or pick a group and see what products would be the best fit. Either way, the viewpoint of the segment … Continue reading Principle #2: Pair the right products with the right users →

Principle #1: Put relationships first

Note: for the full essay click here. If you build long-term relationships, you will have more influence than any amount of short-term relevance will get you. Bill Henderson, a very influential legal innovator himself, has modelled this rule exceptionally well. One of the foundational articles on his website reminds us that “the change agent is … Continue reading Principle #1: Put relationships first →