Research Readiness & Framing 

Research Readiness & Framing is an advisory, preparatory, and procurement-safe service designed to help public-sector teams clarify what research is needed before formal research activities begin. 

This work supports early thinking and internal alignment. It does not involve participant recruitment, data collection, tool procurement, or execution of research. 

The goal is to help teams move from vague or high-risk requests (“we need research”) to a clear, defensible understanding of: 

  • What decision needs to be informed 

  • Whether research is appropriate at this stage 

  • and what an appropriate, proportionate approach could look like 

What this looks like in practice 

In many cases, this work takes the form of a single 30-minute advisory conversation. 

This conversation is a legitimate, standalone, and allowed engagement intended to support planning, scoping, and internal decision-making. It is appropriate to undertake before seeking approvals, initiating procurement, or committing to a full research effort. 

During this conversation, we help teams: 

  • Clarify the real question or decision the research should support 

  • Narrow overly broad or ambiguous mandates 

  • Identify common risks related to scope, timing, privacy, or accessibility 

  • Sense-check whether research is needed now, later, or at all 

  • Avoid unnecessary cost, complexity, or approvals downstream 

What teams typically gain 

Depending on the situation, teams often leave with: 

  • A clear research problem statement (not just a topic) 

  • Defined decisions the research will and will not inform 

  • Early assumptions, hypotheses, and non-goals 

  • Guidance on feasibility, sequencing, and next steps 

This framing is often reused internally in: 

  • Briefings to leadership or governance bodies 

  • Approval or decision decks 

  • Procurement language and statements of work 

  • Research plans and initiation documents 

When this is most useful 

Research Readiness & Framing is especially useful when: 

  • Expectations to “do research” exist, but the scope is unclear 

  • Teams need to brief decision-makers before committing to an approach 

  • There is concern about starting research too late to influence outcomes 

  • An external, experienced perspective is needed before locking in direction