Market Research
MARKET RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
As a potential business owner, having an idea for a business venture is just the first step before your idea becomes a worthwhile business. Before you start, it is important for you to do your research; you need to find out if your idea is worth pursuing.
A great idea or having a ‘feeling’ to start a business or a venture is not enough; you need to do solid research and meticulous planning in order to be successful. Researchers have always advised that it is not wise to invest your time and money into an idea without doing your research.
At DPBA, we have a long history of providing in-house, up-to-date, market and economic research to SME and public and private corporations.
The following represent areas of research:
Competitive Intelligence Research 1.We help capitalize on emerging opportunities and identify areas for improvement; 2.We help define your top competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses to help your business gain new customers and increase market share; 3.We identify opportunities for your organisations and create strategies that will result in sustainable and long-term competitive advantages in your industry.
Research on your Customers
- We help define your customer segments, needs, and behaviors in order to identify their needs and/or opportunities for business growth;
- We help uncover the precise needs of customers, how these needs are currently being fulfilled, and what is required to better satisfy these customers;
- We help determine receptivity of new products or services;
- We show you how to get new customers.
Research on Industry Analysis
- We deliver in-depth industry analysis, data, trends, market share and forecasts to help start and grow your business;
- We help you better understand and predict market conditions and supply and demand within your specific industry;
- We provide valuable industry insight and trends to help determine marketing and growth strategies.
Feasibility study research
- We provide in-depth analyses to help determine how sound the current business ideas are and evaluate the project’s potential for success;
- We uncover the strengths and weaknesses of an existing business or proposed venture, as well as the opportunities and threats;
- We assess economic, technological, legal, and scheduling factors to determine potential positive and negative outcomes of a project.
Other types of Analyses conducted by DPBA
Impact analysis
This is an economic and sectoral-level analysis resulting from the effects of a change in regulation. For example, assume certain tax credits are withdrawn from the technology sector. Impact analysis would estimate how those companies’ profits would change. Next, the subsequent impact on input sectors for example semiconductors would be determined.
Macroeconomic analysis
This refers to an independent and propriety forecast of sectors, national or regional economies. It is the ability to generate and analyze customized scenarios of interest to policymakers. For example, how would changes to a regional trade agreement affect certain economies?
Cost-benefit analysis
This is a rigorous technique, which considers all (both direct and indirect) costs and benefits to determine whether a particular venture will be a net benefit to its relevant stakeholders. Of particular interest, is our ability to conduct valuations of intangibles: the value of time saved from reduced congestion, the value of a reduction in the probability of serious injury or death from new safety regulations, rules, etc.
Cost-effectiveness analysis
This is similar to a cost-benefit analysis except that the project’s benefit is not monetized. Instead, the focus is on assessing the cost to achieve a non-monetary objective. For example, often used in healthcare, a common scenario would be: ‘What is the most cost-effective way to deliver 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines to a rural area of Haiti?
Valuation of businesses
The valuation of a business is useful if a Government wants to monetize (sell-off) one of their state-owned enterprises. In the second half of the 20th century, for example, the airline industry in many countries was privatized to raise funds for national governments and create competition in a monopoly sector. Another example is the valuation of a business in natural resource-abundant countries, contemplating Initial Public Offering (IPO) of a part or a whole of a state-owned enterprise.
Pilot testing and experiments
Pilot testing and conducting research experiments are used to assess program ideas of SME and large organisations. These piloting experiments usually employ a full range of valuation techniques to assess the implementation of an intervention and to measure its impact through state-of-the-art scientific methodologies such as randomized assignment and quasi-experiments.
Some of our piloting testing include areas such as: questionnaire development, survey development, academic testing, skills assessment and development.
Tracer Studies
DPBA has had several years of experience conducting Tracer Studies for client’s vocational education landscape. This knowledge come from unique ability to contact students and past participants through our extensive database of Students and Migrants in the diaspora. DPBA uses a verity of long-term tracking software programs, Artificial Intelligence, and Labour Market intelligence of the skilled professionals who are trained and certified either through formal institutions, on-the job training, and Prior Learning assessment initiatives, to determine the extent of their inclusion as a working individual of the productive labour force.
Capacity building & institutional strengthening
Through the expertise of Directors and the network of its Associates, the Company has the ability to build capacity and strengthen institutions, which enable them to deliver better quality services in a more cost-effective manner. DPBA has the competence to assess the strengths and weaknesses of companies along multiple dimensions of management including strategic direction, organizational structure, planning, monitoring and evaluation. Using the results from research and institutional assessments, the Company is able to build capacity through a variety of means including education and training reform programmes, professional development, strategic and long-term planning, financial management, policy dialogue and transition to implementation.
Quality management
Quality management is the act of overseeing all activities and tasks needed to maintain a desired level of excellence. This includes developing and implementing quality planning and assurance, as well as quality control and quality improvement systems that are not only focused on product and service quality but also the means to achieve it. DPBA has had many years of experience in quality management, accreditation, and quality assurance. Its Directors and Associates have conducted quality audits, developed and established Accreditation Councils, and are trained in quality management systems. As a result, we identify key performance outcomes of projects and measure the impact of service on key stakeholders towards continuous improvement and delivering exceptional products and service.