Research That Benefits Participants
and Their Firms

100

projects to choose from...or create one of your own


Real-World Research

Each participant conducts a research project designed to improve the participant’s firm or profession. Working with a mentor, participants create a project of their own or select one from among the 100 described in the FOPP Research-Assignment Compendium. Each participant prepares a proposal, a draft report, and a final report. John Bachner personally reviews everything each FOPP participant writes; every e-mail, every proposal, and both research reports, critiquing each for soundness of thought and effectiveness of writing.


Just a few of the topics include:


  • Prepare a comprehensive checklist of pre-engagement-acceptance factors (go/no go) your firm’s representatives should consider.
  • Prepare an easily understood description of your firm's professional-liability-insurance (PLI) policy. Teach other members of the firm about the types of claims the policy does and does not cover.
  • Teach other members of the firm about the types of claims the policy does and does not cover.
  • Develop a comprehensive “niche-marketing” plan for your firm, relying on a new “subsidiary” or division you develop specifically for niche-marketing purposes.
  • Identify factors that influence the length of time professional employees stay with a firm.
  • Review five, client-developed contracts that your firm has recently accepted. Identify potential problems created by inclusion or omission.
  • Identify how your firm can convert clients to “clients for life.”
  • Interview three persons of different rank in each of your firm's departments. What are the top-five changes each would make to improve the firm’s productivity, professionalism, and profitability?
  • Research projects that have lost money for your firm over the past three years. Identify their commonalities; develop recommendations for improvement.
  • What are the effects of working an alternative work schedule, year-round or seasonally, versus the traditional five eight-hour days?
  • Assess the demand, competition, implementation approaches, and cost to develop a new service line your firm wants to offer.
  • Learn about rapid-response project-intervention teams and develop a plan for creating one for your firm.
  • Establish the marketing and sales organization your firm or office needs to bring in new business.