From Fragmented Planning to a Unified Strategy: Coordinating Stakeholders, Vendors, and Leadership to Build a Scalable Research Program

Impact at a Glance

A national membership organization undergoing rapid growth and internal transitions needed to establish a structured research strategy to support its advocacy priorities.

The organization lacked the bandwidth to coordinate stakeholders, define a clear research agenda, and manage the process of identifying and onboarding specialized external research partners. FLEX stepped in as an extension of the internal team, working alongside leadership to convene stakeholders, define priorities, build a comprehensive scope of work, and help manage the vendor selection. 

Key Metrics

• Three internal stakeholder planning sessions facilitated
• Five initiatives prioritized and scoped for the annual research calendar
• Three vendor proposals analyzed and compared
• One vendor onboarded with defined scope and implementation plan

The Challenge

The organization was expanding its policy and research footprint during a period of leadership and staff transition. Leadership recognized the need to scale research output and develop a structured annual research agenda. Executing this initiative required:

• Coordinating input across multiple internal stakeholders
• Translating priorities into a clear research scope and calendar
• Identifying specialized research vendors capable of supporting the work
• Managing the vendor selection process without overwhelming internal staff

The organization did not need a full-time research or communications executive. Instead, it needed experienced leadership to oversee the process, coordinate moving parts, and ensure internal teams and external partners could work effectively together.

Scope of Work

FLEX integrated directly into the organization’s internal workflow, operating as a strategic partner rather than an outside vendor. Working alongside the organization’s leadership, FLEX led the process from internal planning through vendor onboarding.

Stakeholder Engagement and Research Strategy

• Convened leadership and internal stakeholders to solicit input on research priorities and organizational needs
• Facilitated discussions to identify gaps, opportunities, and desired research outcomes
• Synthesized insights into a structured research strategy and planning framework

Scope Development and Research Planning

• Built a comprehensive scope of work outlining research initiatives, deliverables, and timelines
• Developed a coordinated annual research calendar aligned with policy priorities
• Identified which initiatives required specialized external expertise

Vendor Prospecting and Evaluation

• Identified and vetted prospective research vendors with relevant expertise
• Managed outreach and coordinated vendor pitch calls
• Evaluated proposals across scope, methodology, timeline, and cost

Vendor Recommendation and Onboarding

• Delivered proposal analysis and strategic recommendations for vendor selection
• Supported leadership decision-making throughout the selection process
• Facilitated onboarding and coordination between the organization and the selected vendor

The Result

The organization gained:

• A structured annual research strategy aligned with leadership priorities
• Stronger coordination between policy, communications, and operational teams
• A vetted research partner prepared to execute priority initiatives
• A repeatable process for managing research projects and vendor partnerships

FLEX provided experienced strategic leadership at a critical moment, functioning as a trusted extension of the organization’s team rather than an external vendor.

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