Public-i

We are both a technology company and a group of social researchers – a fairly unusual combination.  Our research work usually falls into two different areas.  We often take part in more technical projects, for example I2Web which is looking at how we build accessibility tools into the development process or the Open Data Widget project we are working on that is looking at how we can connect relevant data with local conversations.  We also do more social / cultural projects which look at how technology and the way we use it might change internal and external relationships.  The clients who work with us on these projects tend to want to take their use of social media or their relationship with the public further.  They are not looking for ‘consultants’ to come in and tell them what to do but they are looking for experts that can help develop their thinking and practice.  We work with them as research and development partners and this is why we work on a fixed price basis and expect to make results publicly available while remaining discrete.

Rapid changes in technology, a shifting statutory environment and unprecedented financial pressures demand that governments and citizens find ways of solving problems together. With our experience helping clients use the web to improve the interactions that matter to them, we understand how social technology can be used to engage communities and develop these new relationships.  Our approach with any work is first to understand as much as we can about the particular context for a client – both internally and externally – and use a variety of research methods to do this.  We then use an action research approach to move forward ideas as discrete projects.  We want to help develop a big vision for innovation and change but we also want to create achievable progress.  We expect technology to have a role in that big vision but we also know that internal and external behaviour and culture change is at least as important.