When the automobile was first conceived at the edge of the 20^th century, the drive train of most “cars” were only able to power them ahead. The concept of a propelled “reverse” would not be a feature until after several prototypes. On the gearbox of these new vehicles, it was inevitably decided upon that “D” would represent the movement of the car with the hood as the lead. However, when cars gained the ability to move in two directions (forward & reverse) the concept of “D” for “Drive” seemed somewhat muddled – after all, one is still “driving” even though they could be traveling in reverse. “R” seemed to be a logical choice, however the “D” persisted and was never changed. Examining the situation critically, what was once referred to so easily as “D” could have later been re-considered as “F” for Forward.

There are a variety of things in life, both related to the legal profession and not, that are greatly impacted by our perceptions and capacity at any given point in time. What was once so common to be considered simply “Drive” changed over time, just as many legal solutions have evolved, burgeoned, or ceased altogether – what seems to be our “Drive” of today will probably not be our “Forward” of tomorrow. Knowledge management has, in large part, been one of the most significant forces and factors that impact how professionals manage everything from their time to critical data, and selecting the most appropriate solution requires both hindsight and forethought to move forward. Read the rest of this entry »