How it actually works on the ground
Step 1 – Exploration/Validation
Fieldwork is central to SolutionSync’s collaborative approach, where exploration, discovery, validation and making sense of people’s perceptions take place.
To be in the field means to have direct, personal contact with people in their own environments. It allows for contextualizing research questions in their natural settings. The natural setting becomes the direct source of data and the skilled researcher is the key instrument.
Our qualitative data analysts thoroughly work on largely descriptive data from interviews and observations to generate major themes, categories and case examples.
By paying close attention to detail, descriptive vocabulary and direct quotes which people actually use, a sense of a story emerges.
Systematic comparisons, deductions and thematic organization are carried out to better understand the underlying meanings of expressed ideas, beliefs and attitudes and to extract key findings from a wealth of detailed data about a defined number of people and cases.
Open-door policy and knowledge sharing
We work closely with our clients to engage all relevant stakeholders (e.g. marketing, business development, technical, R&D, production, risk management, finance, public relations, communication experts) in articulating the study objectives to ensure that existing gaps in knowledge are clearly identified.
The results and effects assessed through this approach are difficult to capture through standardized quantitative methods, which typically fit people’s ideas into predetermined response choices.
Making sense of a given situation without imposing pre-existing expectations on the setting allows observations, comments and expressed views to drive towards the construction of general patterns and a picture that takes shape as the parts are collected and examined.
Step 2 – Concept Design or Improvements
Our interactive ‘Charrette‘ process is applied that fully integrates acquired in-depth understanding of consumers’ pains and need and which incrementally builds on the outcome of contextual research and input from key stakeholders to define and develop unique value propositions and/or concept designs or modifications in an iterative way of rapid prototyping.
This participatory, results-oriented team process is focused on problem-solving and is based on intensive brainstorming, rapid prototyping and feedback loops. The outcome of this step is a novel prototype solution (e.g. concept, experience, and communication package or physical prototype) that is both consumer-driven and consumer validated.
Step 3 – Implementation support and project management
As unbiased, neutral players, we draw on our network of expertise in design, communication, engineering and project management to assist clients in:
- Transformation of concept and hardware prototypes into functional prototypes.
- Supervision of concept implementation and/or production of functional prototypes.
- Overlooking manufacturing to ensure user-led, needs-based development of solutions.
- Monitoring timelines, milestones, and outlined activities to ensure efficient execution of projects.
- Ensuring quality consistency of solution development.
We serve as liaison between client, communication agencies and manufacturing to ascertain manufacturing is led by the relevant consumers needs and business strategy in a consistent and sustainable manner.
Case Study:
Crafting a culturally-sensitive Value Proposition based on consumers’ perceptions and needs.
