A Quantitative & Human-Centered Approach
We judge our results solely by your success in your core missions, so our approach combines analysis, deliberation, and planning.
We flexibly apply our primary tools – creative analysis, rigorous research, economic modeling, inquisitive community engagement, and searching debate – to enhance your team and guide you to action.
Our principles of impact:
Strategy is both goals and resources
We don’t separate goals from the scarce resources necessary to implement them. We help clients understand constraints (financial, organizational, governance, human time/attention) and determine which to break and which to accept. When you work with us on strategy, you don’t then later need an “implementation plan” - how to act is baked in.
At a university everything happens through people. We help you set goals that honestly account for the people, motivations, and capabilities on your campus, so the work results in action, not a report.
Strategy must be human-centered
We measure results through action and believe a good solution you can implement is far superior to a great solution you can’t. We embrace the compounding value of marginal improvements.
A good solution you can implement wins
See the big picture and sweat the details
The understanding you seek requires both a forest-level and leaves-level view. As outsiders, we can help you balance these perspectives.
“If I asked for more analysis they’d stop me and ask, ‘Is this just interesting or is it going to change your answer?’ ”
— WORDS FROM OUR CLIENTS