Requirements

1. Add a “Creative Solutions” header just below the summary.
2. This section is written with bullet points, so it is easy to digest.

Depending on the data that you were able to find, here are the requirements for the creative solution section:

• Data is Available

  • Do not include this section.

• A Proxy or Assumption is Used

  • If the proxy or assumption is logical and has a direct link to what the client wants, simply explain the proxy or assumption to the client and state that more information may be found in the Research Strategy section. This is where you will then explain that we tried to locate the information directly but instead had to use a creative strategy.
  • Example:
    • Data surrounding the number of people that buy dog food was unavailable.
    • Therefore, we used the number of dog owners as a proxy.
    • More information on the logic is contained in the Research Strategy.
  • You will still need to prove that you tried to locate the requested information with a creative strategy, but this will be put in the Research Strategy section. More information is shared here. As you can see, if we work through the steps, strategy one is looking directly for the answer, strategy two is looking at a relevant database, industry website, etc., and strategy three is attempting to triangulate. So, using an assumption or proxy is actually your FOURTH strategy!
  • If your assumption or proxy is not a logical, direct assumption, you will proceed with a partial or full client update. More information may be found here.

• Partial Client Update

  • Explain the challenge of the unavailable data.
  • Provide an overview of the alternative course/path of research.
  • Tell the client they can find further details on the logic in the Research Strategy section.
  • You will still need to prove that you tried to locate the requested information with a creative strategy, but this will be put in the Research Strategy section. More information is shared here.

• Full Client Update

  • Explain the challenge of the unavailable data.
  • Provide an overview of the alternative course/path of research an what was included as Helpful Findings.
  • Tell the client they can find further details on the logic in the Research Strategy section.
  • You will still need to prove that you tried to locate the requested information with a creative strategy, but this will be put in the Research Strategy section. More information is shared here.

  Dealing with Unavailable Information in Teammate Jobs

  • With less and less research having presearch and data availability statements, we will inevitably encounter unavailable information more frequently.
  • We still must prove we did our due diligence in locating the information, but we also see how time-consuming and potentially repetitive that we would use three creative strategies for each piece of missing information.
  • Instead, we will only require three creative strategies per research path.
    • For example, the client comes in wanting biographies for five different people, but we can only locate three of these people. It makes sense that we use the same creative strategies for the missing biographies.
    • Let’s say the client wants market shares for 10 companies, but we can not locate the revenue for three of them. Again, it makes sense that we would use the same creative strategies for all of the missing companies.
  • This also applies to spreadsheets!
    • Remember, you are the architect of this research. There was no RM to add in a rule that you only needed to put N/A with a sentence to explain. We will still do our due diligence and let the client know we uncovered every stone.
      • Remember, if you can’t find the market share for 10 different companies, you don’t need THIRTY unique strategies! You just need 3.

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  What Doesn’t Belong in This Section

  1. A full explanation of our logic.
  2. An outline of what we are providing. This will be in the summary section.

  <aside> 💡 This section lets the client know that there were data availability issues and also shares how we overcame the roadblock. We can use this section to manage the client’s expectations for what is to come, especially when sharing a Client Update.

  </aside>

  Why is a Creative Solution important? This lets the client know something was not available. It also lets them know that we got creative and were still able to answer their question!

  Overview

  The Creative Solutions section makes it easy for the client to understand where we encountered difficulties with data availability and how we overcame them.

  Using Bullet Points:

  1. Let the client know what data had issues.
  2. Then, let them know what we did to overcome the issue.
     1. Here is where we will tell them that we used an assumption, proxy, or triangulated the information.
     2. In some cases, we might have to tell the client that none of the above methods worked and that we have pivoted to helpful findings instead.
  3. Let the client know that more information on the logic may be located in the Research Strategy.

  Examples

  Creative Strategy- Triangulation

  • A direct answer was not publicly available that stated how many times people flush their toilets daily.
  • Therefore, we switched research strategies and were able to triangulate the answer. Notes have been added in the corresponding sections to explain the triangulations.
  • Please refer to the Research Strategy for additional information surrounding the research process.

  Creative Strategy- Assumption

  • A direct answer was not publicly available that shared how many people buy dog food regularly.
  • We were able to locate the number of dog owners in the US and made the assumption that this group would be the group that is most likely to purchase dog food regularly.
  • Please refer to the Research Strategy for additional information surrounding the research process.

  Creative Strategy- Proxy

  • While we were unable to publicly locate the demographics of cereal buyers, we were able to locate the demographics of Kellogg's and General Mill’s most popular cereals.
  • We have combined these two demographics and used them as a proxy for the demographics of cereal buyers.
  • Please refer to the Research Strategy for additional information surrounding the research process.

  Creative Strategy- Partial Client Update

  • Information pertaining to serosurveillance, serosurveys, or serological testing investments was limited in the public domain.
  • Therefore, we provided helpful findings that detail the most relevant antibody surveillance initiatives in Africa.
  • Please refer to the Research Strategy for additional information surrounding the research process.

  Creative Strategy- Full Client Update

  • Information pertaining to high-protein milk market size is unavailable in the public domain.
  • Therefore, we have provided helpful findings that explain the milk protein market, brands that are driving growth in the high-protein milk market, and consumer desires regarding high-protein milk.
  • Please refer to the Research Strategy for additional information surrounding the research process.

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