Research Enablement & Readiness
Helping public-sector teams get research-ready before approvals, procurement, or risk slow things down.
Public-sector teams rarely struggle with whether research is valuable.
They struggle with how to start: safely, defensibly, and in a way that survives governance, procurement, and shifting priorities.
Common challenges we see:
A mandate that’s too broad (“test the site”, “validate the design”, “get feedback”)
Multiple stakeholders with competing expectations
Unclear success criteria or decision points
Anxiety about privacy, accessibility, or procurement implications
A sense that “we’re not ready yet” even when timelines are tight
We help teams move from uncertainty to clarity before committing to a full research effort.
How we help
This service is advisory and preparatory. It does not require procurement of tools, participant recruitment, or data collection.
It is appropriate for public servants who need early guidance before initiating formal research activities.
In many cases, a single 30-minute conversation is enough for us to:
Identify the real decision the research needs to support
Spot common risks or pitfalls we’ve seen across similar government initiatives
Recommend an appropriate research approach (or confirm that research may not be needed yet)
Help you avoid unnecessary scope, cost, or approvals later
We've supported dozens of public-sector teams facing these challenges across policy, programs, service delivery, communications, and digital.
What you’ll walk away with
Depending on your needs, this may include:
A clear research problem statement (not just a topic)
Defined decisions the research should inform
Early hypotheses and non-goals (what not to test)
Guidance on feasibility, timing, and sequencing
Practical next steps your team can act on internally
This framing often becomes the foundation for:
Internal briefings
Approval decks
Procurement language
Statements of work
Research plans
When this is most useful
You’re being asked to “do research” but expectations are unclear
You need to brief leadership or governance bodies
You want to avoid running research too late to influence outcomes
You want an external, experienced perspective before locking in an approach
Not sure where to start?
A short conversation is often enough to point teams in the right direction.