Public affairs and communications management

"Research - defined by that “bastion” of 21st century research tools, Wikipedia - as the “search for knowledge”, is all too easily conducted at the click of a button in our social media fuelled internet age. Less a quest, more the briefest of sojourns into the vast world of knowledge.

This is a far cry from the depth of knowledge possessed by many company leaders, and hard won through years of experience, that could prove powerful in the world of communication.

Answers to questions as obscure as “what if the earth had two moons” and “how can I mend a broken heart” gain thousands of web pages of coverage, with many individuals posting answers to others’ queries.

However, in a world of information overload the challenge remains to root out the “killer facts” and then to make them stand out from the crowd of statistics, reports, comments and blogs.

I am currently working with clients on a research project that aims to blend rigorous academic research with real life examples and in-sector expertise and have been struck once more by the value of the knowledge that good businesses have at their disposal.

An ordinary research project can become a powerful piece of work when the vast practical knowledge of business leaders is combined with compelling policy argument.

The job of the communicator is not only to search for knowledge but also to draw out of the findings the necessary elements to construct a watertight case. Additionally, helping businesses to harness the expertise at their disposal is a thorough task requiring a comprehension of the political, business and economic context in which that organisation works.

Good research is so much more than a click of a button."