Research-Driven Problem Solving
The difference between an opinion and a recommendation is the number behind it. We build the number.
- KES 100K – 400K
- 4–8 Week Delivery
- Highest-Margin Service
Custom Research for Your Single Highest-Stakes Strategic Question
Research-Driven Problem Solving is IBClay's flagship custom research service. Every engagement begins by isolating one question — the single decision that, if answered well, would change your trajectory — and designing a research methodology specifically calibrated to answer it.
We work against six problem archetypes: pricing and margin problems, supply and sourcing problems, demand and go-to-market problems, operational and process problems, organisational and decision problems, and strategic choice problems. Each archetype triggers a different combination of EFIA models, a different data collection plan, and a different analytical approach.
The deliverable is not a research report in the traditional sense — it is a fully-quantified recommendation with a Profit Leakage Scorecard that reframes your engagement fee as an ROI event. By the time you see the final document, you have a defensible answer to the question that brought you to us.
“A recommendation without a KES number attached is an opinion. Our job is to build the number.”
| Dimension | IBClay | Typical Competitor |
|---|---|---|
| Scope definition | Single isolated question | Broad thematic survey |
| Methodology | Custom-built per engagement | Off-the-shelf framework |
| Analytical core | EFIA + economic modelling | Interviews + secondary data |
| Deliverable | Quantified recommendation | Research report |
| ROI framing | Profit Leakage Scorecard | Strategic implications |
EFIA Models Applied Contextually
Unlike a pure market study, a Research-Driven Problem Solving engagement may apply any combination of the four EFIA models — DFL for decision-bottleneck problems, WLP for workflow-quality problems, CEI for coordination problems, and VLCM for value-leakage problems. The model mix is selected during scoping and justified in the final deliverable. Every finding is expressed in KES per annum.
Five-Phase Delivery Methodology
Every engagement follows the same structured delivery process — designed to maximise the quality of the analysis and minimise the time to insight.
- 01
Problem Isolation
- 90-minute scoping call
- Archetype classification
- Three core questions locked
- 02
Methodology Design
- EFIA model selection
- Data collection plan
- Confidence targets agreed
- 03
Field & Data
- Structured interviews
- Operational data extraction
- Benchmark collection
- 04
Analysis
- EFIA modelling
- Scenario testing
- KES impact quantification
- 05
Recommendation
- Profit Leakage Scorecard
- Decision-ready document
- 90-minute debrief
Profit Leakage Scorecard
Every Research-Driven Problem Solving engagement concludes with a Profit Leakage Scorecard: a ranked list of recoverable value destruction, the KES impact of each line, and the confidence and priority of each finding. The scorecard is what transforms the engagement fee from a cost into an ROI event.
| Leakage Source | KES / Year | Confidence | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decision reversal rate (DFL) | 38,500,000 | High | Immediate |
| Supplier onboarding delay (WLP) | 24,000,000 | High | Immediate |
| Pricing asymmetry (VLCM) | 18,200,000 | Moderate | Strategic |
| Approval escalation (DFL) | 9,800,000 | High | Strategic |
| Channel coordination (CEI) | 4,300,000 | Moderate | Watchlist |
Illustrative sample. Actual scorecard is tailored to client data and sector.
What Does This Cost?
| Package | Scope | Fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focused Research | Single archetype, one EFIA model, 6–10 structured interviews | KES 100K – 180K | 4 weeks |
| Strategic Research | Single archetype, two EFIA models, up to 20 interviews, scenario modelling | KES 180K – 280K | 6 weeks |
| Deep Research | Multi-archetype, full EFIA suite, structured field programme | KES 280K – 400K | 8 weeks |
All engagements: 50% payment on signed Scope of Work, 50% on final delivery.
Common Questions
- What counts as a "problem archetype"?
- We recognise six archetypes: pricing and margin, supply and sourcing, demand and go-to-market, operational and process, organisational and decision, and strategic choice. Every engagement is classified into one (occasionally two) of these archetypes during the scoping call. The classification determines which EFIA models we apply and what kind of data we need to collect.
- How is this different from Economic & Market Insights?
- Economic & Market Insights answers the question "what is happening in this market?". Research-Driven Problem Solving answers the question "what should we do next?". The first is a market-level analysis. The second is a decision-level analysis with a fully-quantified recommendation.
- Do you collect primary data?
- Yes. Every Research-Driven Problem Solving engagement includes structured primary research — interviews, operational data extraction, benchmark collection, or customer research as appropriate. The specific data plan is defined in the scoping call.
- What is the Profit Leakage Scorecard?
- The Profit Leakage Scorecard is a ranked table of recoverable value destruction in your organisation, with KES impact, confidence level, and priority for each line. It is the final deliverable of every Research-Driven Problem Solving engagement. The total recoverable value on the scorecard is typically 10–50× the engagement fee — which is why we describe this as an ROI event.
Commission This Engagement.
Submit a brief enquiry and we will respond within one business day to schedule a 90-minute scoping call. The scoping call is the first analytical step of the engagement — not a sales meeting.