Illustrative engagement. A representative scenario showing how we approach this kind of work in professional services. It does not describe a specific client; outcomes are described qualitatively.
Industry overview
What is shaping professional services
Consulting, legal, accounting and advisory firms win on reputation and relationships. Client feedback, thought leadership and steady lead flow keep them growing.
- Thought leadership builds credibility
- Client feedback improves retention
- Lead generation is becoming more digital
Client background
An HR consulting firm, working in India. This is an illustrative engagement: a representative scenario showing how we approach this kind of work, not a named client project.
- Organisation
- An HR consulting firm
- Sector
- Professional services
- Team engaged
- Market Research
- Services
- Market sizing and competitive intelligence, Business panel
Client challenge
The consultancy considered launching a new service for mid-sized firms.
Research objectives
- Deliver on the brief: market research for an HR consultancy.
- Understand the views, needs and behaviour of HR heads.
- Produce results that can be compared across groups and locations.
- Give the client evidence it can act on within 5 weeks.
Target audience
The work focused on 300 HR heads.
- HR heads300
Audiences we typically reach in professional services
Clients and former clientsProspectsBusiness leadersPartners and referrersProfessionals and staff
Geographic coverage
Coverage: India. Market: India.
- India
Research methodology
A structured analytical design combining desk research, modelling and primary evidence.
- 1Brief
- 2Employer survey
- 3Insight
We surveyed HR heads about needs, budgets and current providers.
Market sizing and competitive intelligenceBusiness panel
Sampling strategy
- HR heads
- 300
- Business respondents were screened on role, company size and involvement in the decision before being invited.
- Online respondents were drawn from verified panel members who matched the screening criteria, with quotas on key profile attributes.
Data collection
- The online survey was mobile-friendly and offered in respondents' languages.
- Secondary sources and client data were compiled and cross-checked before modelling.
Data quality & validation
- Digital fingerprinting and duplicate checks
- Attention, speed and straight-lining checks
- Review of open-ended answers
- Logic and range checks on the final data
- Work carried out under our ISO 20252 quality procedures
Data analysis
- Cross-tabulation by key groups and locations
- Significance testing on the differences that mattered
- Market model built from secondary data and primary evidence
Key findings
- Demand for outsourced payroll compliance was strong.
Validate demand before building a service.
Recommendations
- Build on the core insight: validate demand before building a service.
- Focus effort where the evidence was strongest: demand for outsourced payroll compliance was strong.
- Re-measure after the changes to confirm the effect.
Business impact
- The consultancy launched that service.
What changed in the business as a result of the work. Impact is described qualitatively.
Deliverables & next steps
- Cleaned data file and data tables
- Repeat the measure after changes are in place to track progress.
- A natural follow-on question: how is our brand perceived?