Best practices to ensure success
These practices are of relevance to both the client and research agency if the project is to be successful.
Identify the key stakeholders
Identify the formal and informal decision makers and get them involved upfront to help shape the outcome.
Ask yourself:
- Who holds the budget?
- Who will use the research findings or be affected by them?
Interview the stakeholders to identify the business issues the research must address
The real business issues are often not what they might seem from the initial brief and will only come to light in discussions with stakeholders. As an independent third party the research agency can play an important role in this process.
Ask yourself:
- What actions will be taken on the basis of the research?
- How do the stakeholders define success?
- Does the central team really understand the local needs and issues?
- Do the local teams appreciate what the program will do for them?
Make sure you can make it happen
Strong client and research agency champions are critical to the success of any global project.
Ask yourself:
- Do you have the authority to implement the program? If not, do you have the backing of someone who does?
- Global projects are significantly more difficult to implement than most people expect. A dedicated team is key to success.
- Will senior management openly support the project? If people see that a project has management support they are more likely to buy into it.
Compromise where necessary
Regardless of what you're trying to implement you inevitably end up with a compromise — this can be frustrating, particularly for the research purists among us.
Ask yourself:
- What are the "must have" elements of the research program?
- What can you adapt to meet differing needs?
- What can you afford to do without?