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Initiated in January of 2016, the eDiscovery Business Confidence Survey is a non-scientific quarterly survey designed to provide insight into the business confidence level of individuals working in the eDiscovery ecosystem. The survey consists of nine multiple choice questions focused on factors related to the creation, delivery, and consumption of eDiscovery products and services. The survey is open to legal, business, and information technology professionals operating in the eDiscovery ecosystem and individuals are invited to participate via the ComplexDiscovery blog, via social media, and via direct email invitations. To date, the survey has been administered six times since January 2016 with 641 individuals responses. The latest survey was administered in the Spring of 2017.
One of the questions in the survey asks participants to select from a listing of six issues the issue they view as potentially having the most impact on their eDiscovery business during the next six month. The issues presented include:
- Budgetary Constraints
- Data Security
- Inadequate Technology
- Increasing Types of Data
- Increasing Volumes of Data
- Lack of Personnel
While not all inclusive, the listing of issues provides a realistic overview of potential areas that appear to have a direct and ongoing impact on the business of eDiscovery.
Based on the aggregate results of past surveys, the following findings and charted overviews of responses to the question of issues impacting business may be helpful in understanding the collective mindset of many industry experts regarding these issues and their impact over time on the business of eDiscovery.
Seven Key Findings
- In the Spring of 2017, over 40% of respondents viewed resources (budgetary constraints and lack of personnel) as potentially having the greatest business impact on their business in the next six months. (Chart 1)
- Budgetary constraints appear to have less of an impact now on business than at any time since the initiation of the eDiscovery Business Confidence surveys. (Chart 2)
- The percentage of respondents viewing the impact of data security as a top business issue has more than doubled since the Summer of 2016. (Chart 3)
- In the Spring of 2017, the impact of inadequate technology on eDiscovery business performance appears to be the least concerning issue amongst presented issue choices. (Chart 4)
- The percentage of respondents viewing the impact of increasing types of data as a top business issue decreased markedly over the last quarter. (Chart 5)
- The impact of increasing volumes of data continues to be one of the top issues impacting business performance, and the leading issue in the Spring of 2017. (Chart 6)
- The impact of lack of personnel on eDiscovery business performance is the greatest now since the initiation of the eDiscovery Business Confidence surveys. (Chart 7)
Survey Charts
(Charts Can Be Expanded for Detailed Viewing)
Chart 1: An Aggregate Overview of Issues Impacting eDiscovery Business Performance
0 – Issues for Business
Chart 2: An Overview of the Percentage of Respondents Viewing Budgetary Constraints as the Top Issue Impacting eDiscovery Business
1 – Issues – Budget
Chart 3: An Overview of the Percentage of Respondents Viewing Data Security as the Top Issue Impacting eDiscovery Business
2 – Issues – Security
Chart 4: An Overview of the Percentage of Respondents Viewing Inadequate Technology as the Top Issue Impacting eDiscovery Business
3 – Issues – Technology
Chart 5: An Overview of the Percentage of Respondents Viewing Increasing Types of Data as the Top Issue Impacting eDiscovery Business
4 – Issues – Data Types
Chart 6: An Overview of the Percentage of Respondents Viewing Increasing Volumes of Data as the Top Issue Impacting eDiscovery Business
5 – Issues – Data Volumes
Chart 7: An Overview of the Percentage of Respondents Viewing Lack of Personnel as the Top Issue Impacting eDiscovery Business
6 – Issues – PersonnelRunning Listing of Survey Results
- Spring 2017 Survey (14 April – 1 May 2017)
- Winter 2017 Survey (20 January – 6 February 2017)
- Fall 2016 Survey (11 October – 1 December 2016)
- Summer 2016 Survey (1 August – 31 August 2016)
- Spring 2016 Survey (1 May – 31 May 2016)
- Winter 2016 Survey (15 February – 29 February 2016)
Chart 8: Survey Participant Overview
ParticipantsSource: Original Research