1. MBA PROGRAMME RESEARCH TOOLKIT
This Research Toolkit will support MBA Students to carry out their MBA Projects in public service environments. Please CTRL + Click on the sections below.
HOW WILL YOU GATHER THE INFORMATION?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
HOW WILL YOU PLAN YOUR APPROACH TO ENGAGING PEOPLE?....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
HOW WILL YOU ANALYSE THE RESEARCH?..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
WHAT TECHNIQUES WILL HELP YOU MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS?................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
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2. How will you gather the information?
Surveys Presenting Survey Data Feedback Systems
Surveys can help deliver large-scale responses to identical There are a number of tools that can help present This could include research to tap into the expertise of staff or
questions. survey data in a form that is easily understandable. customers, using techniques such as interviews/observation methods.
Participatory Workshops Open Space Events Webinars
These are meetings which enable local people to analyse, share Open space events are participant driven – Webinars are a fairly simple device for organising seminars over the
and enhance their knowledge to plan projects and programmes. participants decide on the programme and self web.
organise into groups.
Focus groups Interviews Literature surveys and reviews
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3. This helps explore a small number of people’s views in-depth, as Interviews can provide important insights, into the nature of the These bring together research evidence and identify
opposed to surveys that ask numbers of people identical questions. problem, work underway and the further work required. promising new approaches.
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4. How will you plan your approach to engaging people?
Stakeholder Engagement Matrix Stakeholder Engagement Plan Risk Assessment
This helps identify the key stakeholders, and rate them by how This should specify the approach to engaging with stakeholders and This helps identify and assess these threats to
supportive, how influential and affected they will be by the project. include details of the proposed actions and when they will take place. successful project delivery.
Stakeholders
Project Sponsor Student Kent Connects Users and customers
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5. How will you analyse the research?
Mapping Needs Identifying differential needs and capacities Mapping flows
Mapping needs to estimate the existence, nature and Identifying differential needs and capacities through market research, Mapping flows of people, goods and messages often
distribution of the actual and potential need for services. consumer categories and geo-demographic segmentation techniques. uncovers unseen patterns and possibilities.
Market Analysis Resource Analysis Cultural Mapping
This aims to provide insights into the market related to your This will help identify the quantity and quality of resources available to This helps understand how an organisation’s culture will
project and knowledge of the likely impact of various actions. the people involved in implementing your recommendations affect its ability to change and adapt to new policies.
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6. National Comparisons Benchmarking Systems Thinking
These bring together information on similar approaches to your This can include comparing the organisation’s strategy, Systems thinking models aim to analyse all the many feedback
project in other local areas & draw out relevant experience. performance, processes or functions. links.
SWOT Analysis PESTLE
It can be simply understood as the examination of an This involves identifying the political, economic, socio-cultural and
organisation’s or a strategy’s internal Strengths and technological influences.
Weaknesses, and its external Opportunities and Threats.
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7. Generative Paradigms Generative Scripts First Principles Thinking
Generative paradigms provide new ways of thinking and doing. An example from the private sector was the rise of fast food This describes challenging implicit assumptions and approaches.
Examples include the idea of disability rights, zero carbon retailing which created a new script for having a meal.
housing or lifelong learning.
Tools for visibility Issue Trees Modelling
Mapping, visualisations, storyboards, photographs and video This exercise should define the overall issue to be addressed by Modelling is a very useful analytical tool that aims to establish
interviews are all tools used to visualise complexity. breaking it down in a logical way to highlight all the sub-issues. formal mathematical relationships between variables.
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8. What techniques will help you make recommendations?
Forecasting Scenario Development Counterfactual Analysis
Forecasting identifies and tracks past trends and Scenarios are used to identify a number of possible alternative The counterfactual is an estimate of the circumstances that would
extrapolates them into the future. futures and, optionally, how we might get there. have prevailed had a new policy not been introduced.
Cost Benefit Analysis Multi Criteria Analysis Social Impact Assessments
Decisions are made by comparing the present value of This requires identifying options for analysis, identifying criteria to This captures all the dimensions of value produced by a new policy.
the costs with the present value of the benefits of the assess them, assessing options against criteria, scoring and then
strategy. weighting them.
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9. Stated Preference Method Revealed Preference Method Social Return on Investment
This monetises social value by drawing on what This focuses on the choices people have made in related fields in This helps stakeholders recognise all of the potential benefits a
people say they would pay for a service or outcome. order to estimate value. project or program might have, including wider economic benefit and
social returns.
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