The OR Way
A Service Philosophy Built From Real Projects
Tens of thousands of projects delivered.
Over $100M in sample managed.
US teams. Remote teams. Every methodology. Every audience. Dozens of countries fielded every year.
With that kind of experience, we had a choice.
We could focus on everything that did — and can — go wrong.
Or we could synthesize the wins, the mistakes, the fixes, and the hard client conversations into a repeatable way of working.
The OR Way is that system.
What We Learned… the Hard Way
We spent months inside our operations team logging and debating everything that goes wrong on survey projects. We identified 99 unique failure points just in field.
When we analyzed them, three insights became clear:
Most project issues are predictable
They aren’t isolated mistakes. They follow patterns.
Risk escalates with information drift
Expectations are implied. Handoffs rely on memory. Decisions live in conversations we had “before.”
Late detection is what turns issues into killers
The problem isn’t the issue itself. It’s discovering it too late to do anything about it.
The OR Way exists to put first things first — before projects break.
The Question That Guides Every Project
Before any work begins, we ask you one question:
What would great look like on this project?
Everything that follows — our process, communication, strategy, and what we measure every day — is built backward from that answer.
The OR Way Framework
Six Functions. One System.
The OR Way isn’t a list of services. It’s a coordinated system built around how research actually gets done.
Feasibility
What should actually be possible for these specs, with the best blend of vendors available — within this budget?
Hope is not a strategy. We built a population database and feasibility formulas that ground projects in reality from day one. This gives clients honest expectations and prevents downstream surprises.
Survey Programming
How do we execute complex designs quickly — and give clients a strategic advantage?
We combine expert survey programmers for execution with full-stack developers for innovation. That means:
- Faster delivery of complex designs
- Better respondent experiences
- Surveys that don’t look like everyone else’s
- New opportunities unlocked when development talent meets research design
Project Management
How do we deliver in full, on time, within budget — without sacrificing quality?
Our project management balances daily execution with strategic counsel. Clients get competence they can rely on and guidance that helps them make better decisions along the way.
Data Quality
How do we protect data in a high-tech world without slowing research down?
We built the only holistic data quality strategy designed for how researchers actually work:
- Educating clients where judgment matters
- Automating the no-brainer blocks
- Applying nuanced quality controls across audiences and vendors
It’s not about catching more issues. It’s about catching the right ones early.
Schedule Management
How does this project fit into the client’s real team constraints?
A research project is an orchestration of functional talent inside an MRA. We plan and deliver with the full ecosystem in mind — not just our piece of the work.
Budget Management
How do we protect MRA margins without compromising outcomes?
Scope creep kills profitability. We’ve built techniques to exhaust every option before introducing upcharges — using sample expertise, smarter design choices, and early planning to deliver on time and on budget.
The Principles Behind the System
These principles guide every OR engagement:
Deep Client Understanding
Org structure, customer needs, decision paths, financial controls, tools, and talent — all matter.
Measure What Matters
Leading indicators over lagging ones. Labor required. Timelines demanded. Risk signals surfaced early.
Applied Experience
Insider sample knowledge. Programming done smarter. Technology that doesn’t require gutting the budget.
Embedded Quality System
Audience-level insight into vendor strengths and weaknesses, with automation where obvious and expertise where nuance matters.
AI Co-Pilots
AI that assists researchers and unlocks capacity — without replacing judgment.
Why the OR Way Feels Different
Most service models react to problems.
The OR Way is designed to anticipate them.
By aligning teams early, surfacing risk fast, and working backward from a clear definition of “great,” projects stay on track — and clients stay confident.
The Navigator, our holistic quality system, AI co-pilots, and managed services all exist to support this way of working.
The OR Way, in One Sentence
A service philosophy built to deliver great projects by detecting risk early, aligning teams clearly, and delivering research the way experienced operators know it should be delivered.
Ready to work the OR Way?
Let’s talk about how this approach can stabilize your projects, protect your margins, and give your team room to breathe again.