Contract Research

iterations approaches research primarily from a Weak Signal® perspective. A Weak Signal is a half-hidden idea or trend that will affect how business is done, what business is done, and the environment in which this business is done. Weak Signals often consist of new and surprising information from the receiver's vantage point, they are sometimes difficult to track down amid noise and other signals, and they are often seen as a threat to an organization. Weak Signal Research operates in the realm where uncovering a Weak Signal before anyone else does, can provide an edge in development and may allow us to witness the emergence of an entire ecosystem of interlocked, collaborating ideas, inventions, and enterprises. In a narrow sense, we're talking about tracking trends, but more generally, we're interested in spotting non-linear, hard to predict ideas long before they reach mainstream recognition.

In commenting on the value of iterations' research services, one client has noted that:

To date, iterations has provided research in 3 different modes:

1. Work with the Value Web® to provide a knowledge base for particular facilitated events (i.e., DesignShop®, PatchWorks, or RadarScreen). The results of this focused information gathering are then used during the event to build a Knowledge Wall¨ display and to generally inform the participants, sponsors and KreW.
2. Work with individuals and organizations to provide research around desired topics. Deliverables range from a list of articles to a series of white papers analyzing what the research says about emerging trends and patterns within a particular field.
3. Work with individuals and organizations for access to our extensive knowledge base which contains thousands of articles and books on a wide variety of topics, including:

Agriculture	Economics	Open Source
Architecture and Design	Energy	Optics
Aviation	Environment	Philanthropies
Biomimicry	Genomics and Biotech	Publishing
Climate Change	Health Issues	Science Policy
Complexity	Intellectual Property	Space
Computing	Internet	Transparency
Databases	Materials Science	Transportation
Digital Divide	Metaphors	Virtual Science
Distance Education	Mind and Memory	The Web
Distributed Computing	Nanotechnology	Wireless

Previous projects have included:

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the Piedmont Medical Center DesignShop®Event, May 2-4, 2002.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to create a knowledge base to support the organizational transformation program taking place within Greene, Tweed & Co. To date, two rounds of reserarch have been conducted for this client.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the World Economic Forum, Global Leaders for Tomorrow Summit in Geneva Switzerland, August 31 - September 3, 2001.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the Mendoza College of Business, Notre Dame University, 7-Domains Audit Event, August 16-17, 2001.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the Hewlett-Packard HPD DesignShop®Event, March 20-22, 2001.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the AdFlight ZoomTrax™ Event, February 15, 2001.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the Liberty - Cosmos DesignShop® Event, January 31 - February 3, 2001.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the World Economc Forum Annual Meeting, Davos Switzerland, January 25-30, 2001.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the Kaiser-Permanente DesignShop® Event, December 11-13, 2000.

A Future Views™ Weak Signal® Research Project to provide knowledge agents in support of the Educational Testing Service DesignShop® Event, October 16-18, 2000.

Contact Jeff at (650) 224-0912 to learn more about how to put iterations Research to work for you.