April 2005 Circle Update
None of the Boomer Technology Circles™ met in the month of March (imagine why not!) but that doesn’t mean the Circle program was dormant or that members didn’t continue to derive value from their participation in the program!
Instead of meeting face to face, member firms turned to the Boomer Knowledge Network (BKN) to stay in touch with one another. To focus on only a single example, members posted 14 new questions or requests for information to the FEEDBACK section of the BKN and received back 47 total responses, averaging over three responses for each question.
Some of these questions were technical in nature, dealing with scanning problems, the security encryption and certification of PDF documents, and the use of webcasting for training and remote meetings. Other questions were addressed to issues about the management of technology, including seeking advice on software selection and how to manage telephone systems within the firm. The telephone management discussion sparked a particularly lively exchange of ideas. Training and education was another area which drew several questions. Included in these were the use of Learning Coordinators, learning programs for niche practice areas, and allowable per diem expenses while attending training. Firm management issues were also popular, as members posted questions concerning HR related software systems, project management software, billing processes, outsourced bookkeeping, and the use of chargeback costing or technology surcharges. Perhaps the most interesting exchange came when a member firm polled the other members for interest and availability to assist in a specialized type of client engagement. Judging from the responses provided it looks likely that two or more member firms may partner up to deliver this service to the mutual benefit of everyone concerned!
This FEEDBACK feature continually rates as one of the most popular features on the BKN, and this month’s activity is typical of what routinely happens month to month on the website. If you’re a Circle member, be sure to check the FEEDBACK archives periodically to see the responses which have been compiled for the questions posted. Of course, if your firm is not yet a member of the Boomer Technology Circles™ and doesn’t have access to this great resource, you can solve that problem by calling Eric Hunt at 888-266-6375 or emailing him at erich@boomer.com. Don’t miss out on the information sharing that’s happening daily in the Boomer Technology Circles™.