Commission a report
Clear findings for decisions, publication and public scrutiny.
Commissioning is not currently open.
Structural Account produces commissioned reports that assess, compare or explain. Each report sets out its findings, the evidence and reasoning behind them, and what they mean for your purpose.
You receive two versions of the same substantive findings, reasoning, sources and qualifications:
- A written report for decisions, publication and public scrutiny.
- A companion data file for use by software, including AI systems, in a format agreed before work begins.
How a report can help
A report from Structural Account can address one task or combine several of the following. The work may be your own or another party’s, whether proposed, in development, published or already in use.
Assessment of a policy, plan or strategy
The assessment examines a policy, plan or strategy: its aims and reasoning, the evidence supporting it, what it depends on and its possible consequences. The findings identify what is sound, where further evidence or change is needed, and what this means for adopting, implementing or revising it.
For example, a report can assess whether a policy’s promised results are supported by the evidence, resources and delivery arrangements before you present it for scrutiny.
Assessment of material you need to rely on
The assessment examines a report, analysis, statistic or other material to identify what it supports and whether it is suitable for your intended use. It identifies significant assumptions, weaknesses and unanswered questions, with their implications for the claims or decisions you want to base on it.
Analysis of another party’s case
The analysis identifies which claims are supported, which objections can be substantiated and what remains unresolved. The findings provide a basis for your response, including what to acknowledge as well as what to contest.
Comparison of alternatives
The comparison examines proposals, approaches, frameworks or explanations against your purpose and the relevant criteria. It sets out their material differences, assumptions, advantages and disadvantages, what the evidence and reasoning support, and which choices remain.
Explanation of a situation or outcome
The report examines what is happening, how an arrangement works or why an outcome occurs. It considers relevant decisions, rules, resources and their combined effects, alongside competing explanations, and sets out what the findings mean for possible responses.
What is in the report
- Main findings: The answer to the agreed question and its implications, including what is supported, what remains uncertain and any further evidence or choices needed.
- Analysis and sources: The reasoning behind the findings, important alternatives considered and the evidence used. Assessments of existing material identify the relevant passages.
- Recommendations or revised material: Recommendations where agreed and supported by the findings; revised text where it is included in the brief, with an explanation of the changes.
The companion data file carries the same substantive content in the agreed format. It is not merely a summary or a list of metadata.
How commissioning works
1. Starting point
An existing document, a settled question or a formal brief is not required. You can begin with material, a question, a decision or a situation.
2. Discussion and agreement
An initial discussion establishes what needs answering, how the report will be used and who will read or scrutinise it. It also checks whether the work is suitable and whether the necessary expertise, evidence and access are available. Questions, scope, deliverables, fee and delivery date are agreed before work begins.
3. Research, analysis and assessment
AI contributes substantially to research, analysis, drafting and assessment. The brief identifies how the report will be assessed and how your material will be handled.
4. Delivery and completion
The engagement ends with the agreed delivery and any included clarification or revisions. Errors in delivered work are corrected; new questions or further development can be commissioned separately.