Adapting to win

“Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.”

Max McKeown, the author of the preceding quote, is an English writer, consultant and researcher specializing in innovation strategy, leadership and culture. He likely knows nothing of the PRISM International Annual Conference, yet his writings on change and adaptation provide a good context for a discussion that took place in Palm Springs, California, in May.

At PRISM International’s Annual Conference, a panel of international CEOs discussed growing trends and the management of change in the records and information management (RIM) industry. Tom Adams of Flourish Press Inc. moderated the discussion. The panelists were Dennis Barnedt of Oasis Group, Philip Britton of Crown Worldwide Holdings Inc., Guy Kimble of MetroFile, Jerry Glatt of GRM Document Management, Victor Hernandez of Safe Data Resources and Michael Hyland of Grace Records Management.

Some of the most interesting dialog emerged from one of Adams’ first questions: What do you consider the most dramatic change you have seen in the industry?

Several panelists noted that the industry has grown more sophisticated, moving from box storage to managing information. “We now are becoming more of a genuine service partner that is tailored to our customers’ needs,” said Britton.

Barnedt said that in the 1990s, box storage proliferated with little help on the sales side. “Today, we have to find alternative services for our clients,” he says.

Another question from Adams promoted more thought-provoking dialog: This industry has built itself on four pillars—record storage, data protection, scanning and imaging and destruction. Will a new way of thinking change how we think about the four pillars?

Glatt said that although GRM continues to go after core business, it also is focused on electronic offerings.

Kimble said the number of pillars have expanded to include software and consultancy. To help sales staff migrate into these areas, training and coaching are needed.

Those of you who attended the PRISM International Annual Conference could participate in this discussion. I now invite those who did not attend the conference to participate. What do you consider to be the most dramatic change in this industry? Will we change how we think about the four pillars? Please share your thoughts on the PRISM Member Community. Go to www.prismintl.org, click on Member Center, then PRISM Community. We want to hear from you.

Dave Bergeson is the executive director of PRISM International, Chicago, and can be reached at dbergeson@prismintl.org.