Key
Strengths
- in-depth
knowledge of sources, published and unpublished, giving clients the
benefit of the best available information
- strong
socio-economic research and quantitative analytical skills, ensuring
that client decisions are based on rigorous factual analysis
- extensive
experience of working with many other disciplines, ensuring that problems
are addressed in a suitably holistic inter-disciplinary manner
- close
involvement in a wide range of Irish policy-making, bringing this wide
range of contextual knowledge to our client's decision-making
- a
flair for innovative approaches to difficult issues, and for achieving
a high degree of analytically based consensus among apparently conflicting
perspectives
- excellent
verbal and written communication skills, ensuring that the outcome of
our work is communicated effectively
- appreciation
of organisational cultures and stakeholder interests, ensuring that
issues and differing viewpoints are dealt with sensitively and constructively
- track-record of solid delivery, ensuring that what you are promised is what you get.
In our work we bring to our clients' issues a breadth of research, consulting and analytical skills. For each project, the mix of techniques used is tailored to the task at hand and agreed with the client in advance.
This involves locating and systematically assembling relevant information on the topic or issue at hand. Techniques include:
- identifying
existing published and unpublished data
- individual
key informant interviews
- workshops
and focus groups
- case
studies
- surveys.
Quantitative or qualitative analysis
This involves rigorous analysis of all relevant information, ranging from statistical data to stakeholder views. Techniques available include:
- matrix
and spreadsheet analysis
- correlation
and regression analysis
- comparisons
of groups, eg of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries
- other quantitative statistical techniques.
Formulating conclusions and making judgments
This involves use of systematic approaches for drawing out conclusions and recommendations regarding the decisions that our clients face. Examples are:
- benchmarking
against best practice elsewhere
- multi-criteria
analysis
- socio-economic
cost-benefit analysis
- independent expert views and panels.
Our consulting experience and judgment means that we are highly aware
of the need to involve our clients in this aspect of the project. This
ensures recommendations are grounded in the client's real situation and,
crucially, that they can be implemented after we have finished our work.
