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PensEra launches TimeKM™, the simplest way for lawyers to capture time and knowledge
Montreal October 24, 2001 PensEra Knowledge Technologies Inc. announces the release of TimeKM™, a time tracking and knowledge management system designed specifically for the legal profession. The browser-based system allows a lawyer to quickly log time charges while work is being done, to improve accuracy and recover more billable hours.
At the same time and from the same screen, a lawyer can jot down case notes, practice tips, insights, client development opportunities and other "knowledge notes" while the thoughts are still fresh in the lawyer's mind. As these notes accumulate, they become an organized database of valuable knowledge assets for reference, re-use and leverage by the contributor and other members of the firm.
TimeKM's "jot-it-down" time tracking and knowledge note feature is designed to match the way lawyers think and work. "When we studied how busy lawyers record time, we discovered that few have time or patience to complete 7-10 fields of information," said Peter Zver, President of PensEra, "Instead, they need to note what they did as quickly as possible while they remember it, and move on. Later, the lawyer can review, revise and revalue the list of entries before submitting it to accounting. We designed TimeKM to parallel and enhance this natural time notation process."
With as little as three mouse clicks in a browser, the lawyer can instantly jot down the essence of an action or activity. TimeKM's Collaboration Workspace lets a lawyer share access to his records with a trusted assistant, so both can add, revise or complete time entries in whichever way they best work together. Simplicity and flexibility is key. Early TimeKM tests have demonstrated that even non-computer users quickly adopt the jot-it-down method to increase recovery of time. TimeKM is compatible with most major law office time and billing systems.
"The biggest obstacle to knowledge management in a law firm is finding an effective way to capture the vast experience, expertise and wisdom in the lawyer's head," said Dan Felean, Director of Business Relations at PensEra. "Lawyers are willing to help others in the firm, but they must have a simple and convenient way to contribute without adding to their already overloaded schedule. TimeKM embeds knowledge management in the path of the lawyer's daily work process, so a lawyer can contribute and draw upon fresh insights while immersed in the work. This leverages the collective knowledge of the firm."
By providing a quick and painless way to contribute expertise, experience facts and insight when work is being done, TimeKM creates a practical means to build collective knowledge in the firm. Each lawyer benefits from re-using his own personal knowledge notes or sharing knowledge with his team for better collaboration and leverage. The TimeKM knowledgebase can be searched and referenced from within the system or exported to the law firm's central KM repositories.
"The response from lawyers has been extremely positive," adds Mr. Felean. "They quickly recognize TimeKM's practical advantages over current time or knowledge capture methods. Lawyers have been seeking a simpler, less disruptive means to capture both time and knowledge, and TimeKM answers the need."
TimeKM is a completely browser-based system. The user only requires Microsoft Internet Explorer (4.0 or above) to get started. It can be connected to any law firm intranet to enhance the value of the firm's information portal. TimeKM server requires Microsoft Windows 2000, IIS and SQL for managing the data.
PensEra's SoloConnect option also allows lawyers to capture time or knowledge notes on a PDA (Palm™), Blackberry™, and other mobile devices, without installing separate software on the devices.
About PensEra Knowledge Technologies
© 2001 PensEra Knowledge Technologies
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