Reduce Fieldwork Project Costs by Being Actively
Engaged vs. A Passive Client

Few people bother to look at their own engagement level in a typical research project as they are so well-rehearsed. Perhaps you should - as people scratch around looking for ways to reduce cost, there can be considerable savings to be made in streamlining decision making, processes, eliminating bottlenecks and taking out a few corners.

Larger AFS clients generally appoint their own client side fieldwork manager, as they yield financial benefits from making sound decisions while the research project is in field – I'd estimate their calls they reduce their per project field costs by 10 per cent to 20 per cent or more.

Contrast this to those who set-up and stay silent, even though hints and options are being provided daily. These disengaged clients, though rare – are often the ones who experience needless cost and time over runs, mostly from simple to fix items.

There is no doubt an active participant gets the attention, however for some the opportunity cost of working to make good tactical field decisions is not viable or at all important to the end client. That said clients should be aware of the performance improvement prompting AFS provides.

Good communications, good documentation and timely supervision lie at the heart of the most efficient data collection operations, and this is the approach that AFS versions of the ISO20252 quality tools, actively encourages.

In each project there are three core functions AFS performs, each supported with different frameworks and tools. There is the set-up and request for quotation activity, where new jobs are defined and then mapped out with all their time lines, documentation, risk profiles and agreed deliverables. The better buyer revise their quotation assumptions at least three times. Once to get a ballpark, second after a clarification meeting with the client and thirdly once the sample/quotas/final questionnaire timings are known. There are some clients who will have AFS requote and revise upwards of 5 times, although tedious, it shows prudence, forethought and preparation. Invariably their projects work like clockwork in field.

Secondly, there is the 'in project' communications, which is based around a daily reporting and consultation. Here, there is a vast array of management reports and views to consider. There would be at least 5 different tactical moves one can make in any CATI field project to reduce time and generate better results (all have been discussed in earlier pieces/ and simply ask your field manager); for example, a simple expert trick would be to look at your holecount and pilot data, it will indicate which questions are working well, which will be confidently answered quickly and can be turned off early.

Finally at data processing, table creation and coding can be very straightforward if directions are strong in the step up phase. Research has a habit of tossing up new elements to analyse as more knowledge is absorbed. Early conversations with DP team on initial result enables them to 'get their head around' your objectives, and often they have seen similar research before. If asked, they can be very adept at pointing out new ways to view and prioritise data, with more than 20 years experience - Nadine is considered one of the best and Vishal is a Captain of suggesting further views. But they are time poor, so unless you invest the time to talk and discuss – you may only receive high quality output, not a partner who could help to you to leverage greater insight, in a shorter time.

Above all, if you are unable to be truly active, communicate this strongly to the AFS team. Consider passing some decision rights to the field manager to toggle your project, they are professionals with years of experience. This happens far more than you may realise as clients can testify and being on the spot they can make the resolving choices immediately saving time and money.

AFS guarantees the fieldwork choices made by its team, so ultimately you should consider how active you can be in managing your field decisions in a timely way, if you can, talk extensively with AFS as to what you maybe able to entrust to the experienced team (if anything it may save you some valuable time passing by some of the load to them to work on your behalf.

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