Ten Questions to Guide the Development of Communications Tactics for Research Projects

This 2006 practice note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a framework for developing communications tactics for research projects. It argues that communications planning must begin at the project design stage to ensure research results are utilized, rather than just published. The guide outlines ten strategic questions to guide planning and provides an inventory of communication tools categorized by their interaction model: group processes (many-to-many), dissemination (one-to-many), and restricted communications (one-to-one or few-to-few).

• Communications planning should be integrated into a research project from the design stage, before funding is secured, and implemented simultaneously with the research to ensure results are used rather than merely published.
• Effective communications planning requires a shift in focus from specific deliverables, such as case studies or consultations, toward desired mid- to long-term outcomes, such as changes in government policy, company practice, or awareness levels.
• Project planners are encouraged to identify 10–20 specific individuals they wish to influence, rather than using general categories like 'government' or 'civil society,' and to target specific roles such as Assistant Deputy Ministers.
• The guide recommends a continuous delivery of products throughout the project cycle—including preliminary reports, blogs, and briefing sessions—rather than waiting until the end. It suggests that every project should produce a full research report, a policy brief, and a press release.
• Communications tools are categorized into three interaction models: 'many to many' (group processes like C4D and e-conferencing), 'one to many' (dissemination tools like RSS feeds, blogs, and social marketing), and 'one to one' or 'few to few' (restricted communications like Intranets, Extranets, and groupware).
• The document identifies 'Communications for Development' (C4D) as a practice focused on horizontal communications at the community level to help grassroots stakeholders explore solutions and bring their views to others.

APA

-1, & Creech, H. (2006). Ten Questions to Guide the Development of Communications Tactics for Research Projects. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_10q_comm_planning.pdf

Chicago

-1, and Heather Creech. Ten Questions to Guide the Development of Communications Tactics for Research Projects. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2006. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_10q_comm_planning.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=-1 |last2=Creech |first2=Heather |title=Ten Questions to Guide the Development of Communications Tactics for Research Projects |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2006 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_10q_comm_planning.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{12006ten, author = {-1 and Creech, Heather}, title = {{Ten Questions to Guide the Development of Communications Tactics for Research Projects}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2006}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_10q_comm_planning.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }