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Communication & Outreach
We view communication & outreach as a core component of our governmental consulting services. Whether the topic involves extremely technical information for scientific experts; internal communications and guidance; or general communication to the public, our team of technical translators is up to the job. Today's e-government initiative has pushed Federal agencies into the mode of seeking transparency; of trying to clearly communicate how their activities contribute to the public good. We can help you crystallize your information into crisp, clear messages, whether that information goes into a brochure, web site, or other communication product. In line with our philosophy of strategic alignment, Indtai also makes sure that all communications projects are rooted in the statutes and regulations that frame your program.
Indtai consultants are highly skilled at translating technical concepts for non-experts. We are convinced that a government program's message will be more effective and reach a larger audience if technical and unfamiliar information is presented in the right way. The test of a truly effective communication & outreach project is whether it addresses what its audience wants to hear, and not strictly what the agency wants to present. We focus our attention carefully on audience assessment. What do its members need to hear? What are their priorities, their anxieties?
Our experience covers the entire range of publications. We write brochures, pamphlets, fact sheets, analyses, user manuals, documentation, reports to Congress, annual reports, and content for electronic media. We are expert at curriculum development, trainings and training materials, workshops, and conferences. We will work with you to define your communication goal and to target and assess your audience. Together, we will decide on the best outreach tool for your message (e.g., website posting, email, brochure, report). Before we begin writing, we will consult with you on the outline, tone, and level of delivery. Once we have a draft of the communication product, we will test it with members of its intended audience and recommend a dissemination strategy. We also have experience at evaluating the success of communications initiatives and products.
Indtai focuses on key audiences for Federal government communications:
Congress and Other Oversight Entities--Whether your agency is answerable to Congress, GAO, OMB, or an inspector general, we know how to craft the response. Indtai consultants have plenty of experience in answering inquiries and/or preparing Congressional testimony and memo'd responses. We prepare well-crafted and documented information and reasoning that leave a good impression with the audience. We maximize use of program databases and information sources, but we also understand their limitations so we are always ready to suggest alternative or new sources to explore, if necessary.
The Regions and Headquarters Program Offices--Misunderstandings routinely arise between these two groups carrying out the same mission! Indtai consultants have been working back and forth between them for many years. We understand the point of view of each, and can help clarify Headquarters issues for the Regions and present Regional problems to Headquarters. We know how to write sensitive, tactful guidance documents for Regional staff, and how to shape conferences, training seminars, and pilots to effectively bring these two groups together. We make sure that all program offices are delivering a consistent, integrated message, and coordinate policy, guidance, regulations, and comment response into a "one voice" approach.
States--Some Federal statutes and programs, like the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, have a "state delegation" component. The dynamics of program delegation call for coordination, sensitivity, and good communication. If the Federal government and the states have a shared responsibility in program implementation, it's important for both parties to coordinate communication efforts with the public, especially in light of budget constraints and the risk of duplicating efforts. The Federal agency and the states must decide on clear roles and coordinated communication strategies, a challenge for which Indtai is qualified to offer expert assistance.
Interagency--Agencies can have shared domains of responsibility, but sometimes competing interests. When different agencies effectively collaborate, the result is a public good. Indtai consultants are highly expert at interagency coordination, conducting effective workgroups and conferences. This communication & outreach work is similar to that for program offices, but more complex since the communicators are not all under one roof. At Indtai, we are sensitive to shared goals across agencies as well as potentially competing or constraining elements.
Industry/the Regulated Community--When government and the regulated community are on the same wavelength, the result is, again, a public good. We know how to speak industry's language. Indtai staff conduct top-notch regulatory impact and economic analyses that help agencies make regulatory initiatives more transparent, better documented, and able to stand up to scrutiny.
Academic Community--This audience is looking for access to the data collected by Federal agencies, as well as for money. The government must make its data accessible and transparent, as well as make its grant and proposal process easy to interpret. Only by clarifying their research objectives and funding opportunities will agencies be able to capitalize on the best minds out there. The academic community wants data--across programs, across media, across years--data they can slice and dice. Indtai has information management skills and perspectives that can help programs identify, collect, and disseminate data for use by the academic and research community to innovate for the public good.
The Public--One of the core missions of any public program is to answer the question "What is this program doing for me, my family, and my community?" Through a combination of program management and evaluation, strategic planning, and communication & outreach, Indtai professionals help our clients answer this question. And then we assist in delivering the message, via fact sheets, bulletins, alerts, and websites. We can distill technical talk to a level where it is comprehensible to the average American, without homogenizing it to the point where the message is lost.
