Think strategically as you decide who you need as part of the process. You will need to include your client (naturally), because the more involved they are, the more likely they are to stay committed to the outcome. The only downside to a high level of participation is that it can also invite a lot more advice than you need/want, and it can raise expectations about what you can deliver. However, some of this advice can create opportunities for you to do even more effective data gathering.

While you work with your client, decide how the data gathering will be achieved. Determine criteria for participants, and stay aware of any issues with candidate selection. If you aren’t getting a valid cross-section of the organization, the results will be invalid. You’ll need a selection that reflects the number of men and women and the diversity of the organization. If you aren’t getting balanced input, you’ll have to request a broader sampling of participants.