Services

Custom Field Research, Analysis and Strategy Development

Every day around the world, large organizations deploy huge financial and human resources in corporate citizenship programs and international market development initiatives. They typically share dual goals: to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions of communities where they do business while furthering strategic objectives. But with operations in remote corners of the world and local partners harboring their own priorities, it's not easy to document progress – let alone judge effectiveness or assess impact. With a background in business journalism and management in North America, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia, I conduct extensive field research with stakeholders to solicit unbiased feedback and perspective.

With that vital foundation, I provide independent program analysis and develop strategies to help clients in corporations, NGOs and governments maximize benefits for beneficiaries as well as their organizations. These services can be applied during or after completion of a program, or to lay the strategy and identify partners in advance. When appropriate, I work with the your team or bring in colleagues in other specialties – such as statistical analysis, cause marketing, multimedia production – to customize the approach and deliverables to meet your specific needs. Clients use my services for any or all of four distinct phases:

Document > Evaluate > Innovate > Communicate

1. Document
Through in-depth interviews, case studies, surveys and other information-gathering techniques, I thoroughly research and synthesize input from managers, employees, partners, government authorities, beneficiaries and other stakeholders. I also analyze the local political, cultural and socio-economic conditions critical to success. This essential initial stage captures the dynamic landscape of the market, program mission, objectives, structure, history, activities, relationships and status of your program. Clients use this documentation to:

• build institutional knowledge of existing programs
• report progress to management
• provide credible research for public social reporting
• define new projects
• identify and solicit partners

2. Evaluate
With additional benchmarking and best-practices analysis, I assess the relevant social, economic and environmental impact of your program against original objectives, beneficiary needs as well as other industry efforts in the field. Both qualitative and quantitative assessments, where possible, are used to identify lessons learned, goals met and missed, and actionable recommendations for improvement and future development. This allows you to:

• build the business case
• monitor field progress of partners
• assess impact
• increase program efficiency
• effectively allocate future funding

3. Innovate
Based on prior field research, assessment and stakeholder feedback, I work with program management, business managers and partners to evolve strategies and tactics to maximize benefits, by advising you on:

• modifying existing processes or structures
• identifying additional partners and resources
• capitalizing on new business or community-engagement opportunities
• improving organizational effectiveness

4. Communicate
Research findings and analysis are packaged in appropriate formats – case studies, corporate reports, white papers, in-person presentations, video documentaries, media articles – to be as accessible as possible to target audiences (management, partners, activists, government, employees, customers…). These communication tools provide a solid basis for feedback from stakeholders and optimize future collaboration as you:

• educate employees
• align CSR strategies with business-unit objectives
• engage activists, local communities and other outside groups
• conduct advocacy and awareness campaigns

Deliverables
Depending on the objectives in the phases above, the results of my research and analysis are customized in any number of formats:

• program impact evaluations
• research reports
• case studies
• management and stakeholder presentations
• media-ready articles, photography* and video
• partnership brokering services
• best practices analyses
• feasibility studies
• white papers
• benchmarking studies
• competitive analyses
• strategy development facilitation

* All of the photos on this site were taken and edited by Jonathan Levine.