You need to know the major patterns of claims risk and the most cost effective responses. If you don't have this information already then you need to go looking for it. Management as well as legal work requires research and investigation. Decisions on appropriate courses of action, and allocation of responsibility, timetable and resources Collecting information is a means to an end, not an end in itself. The 'end' is appropriate action which means decisions have to be made and implemented.
Many firms come unstuck here.
The way to break out of this cycle of indecision and inactivity is to take a small step, any step, without thinking about it too much. Doing something can be better than doing nothing. So if you have been wondering about a particular claims prevention activity, then try it out. Often what is needed here is for someone to simply take the lead and make decisions and act unless and until others object. Wherever your firm is in the risk management cycle of generating commitment, gathering information or implementation some of the following activities might be able to play a part in your 1997 risk management program.