Synergia brings together systems thinking, innovative research methods and extensive stakeholder and consumer engagement to provide insights to support strategic, service and policy development.
Our research is tightly focused on client and stakeholder needs to inform decision making and create a foundation for spreading learning and innovation across organisations and sectors.
Our systems orientation explores the complexity of communities, organisations and networks, and develops insights that are tailored to the needs of diverse stakeholder interests.
Synergia’s research projects have included use of stakeholder focus groups and interviewing, survey questionnaires, health impact assessment, scenario planning, literature reviews and social network analysis. We combine the insights emerging from these research tools with robust analysis to support decision-making and focused action.
Examples of Synergia's research and evaluation assignments
Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement Social Impact Assessment (2010-11)
Synergia undertook a qualitative social and economic impact assessment of key policies in the Bay of Plenty RPS. A focus of the SIA was water policies, particularly the potential impacts of the RPS on Māori and high deprivation communities. Synergia interviewed community stakeholders from across the Bay of Plenty, identifying issues of concern and potential mitigation strategies.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here and a case study can be found here.
Be.Welcome Business Assessment Programme (2011)
The Be. Institute has a vision to make NZ a truly 100% accessible nation for people with disabilities. Be. Welcome is a national initiative, which began with assessments of a range of businesses and organisations in all twelve host cities in the lead up to Rugby World Cup 2011 (see http://www.beaccessible.org.nz/ ).
Synergia led a rapid evaluation of Be.Welcome, to explore experiences of businesses, assessors and people with disabilities. Qualitative interviews, online surveys and site visits were employed to help Be. refine its delivery model for wider rollout.
The research was highlighted by Be.'s Chief Executive, Minnie Baragwanath, as being "pivotal to our future planning and success".
CM Active Evaluation (2008-11)
Synergia led an evaluation of a three-year community programme to
• raise levels of physical activity, sport and recreation in south Auckland,
• expand the capability and capacity of the local physical activity workforce, and
• improve organisation partnerships and collaboration.
The evaluation used key informant interviews, focus groups, case studies and participant surveys, working with Māori, Pacific and South Asian communities.
The evaluation process, through regular reporting and feedback cycles, has critically informed the development of the programme throughout its implementation.
A case study on CM Active can be found here.
Manukau Community Capacity Building Evaluation (2009-10)
Synergia led an evaluation of a mentoring programme for community organisations to sustain their activities and achieve greater financial viability.
The evaluation drew on a community evaluation framework workshop, interviews with community stakeholders on experience of the project, KPI analysis, and working with council staff. The report provided directions to inform council NGO support policies.
Waipa District Council Strategic Plan Implementation (2011-12)
Synergia has worked with the Chief Executive and the senior executive team at Waipa District Council to help implement their long-term strategic vision.
This work involves helping the Executive team refine their work and develop tangible measures and action plans to take the plan forward.
To support performance improvement and staff engagement, Synergia designed and facilitated the implementation of a team-based and organisation-wide quality improvement programme.
Synergia has used dynamic modelling expertise to develop a simulation model alongside the development of their Long Term Plan. This model enables Councillors and staff to rapidly test changes to their baseline plan such as changes to Capital and Operational projects over the planning period, changes to funding patterns ,as well as underlying assumptions.
The Future of Fitness (2008-09)
Synergia delivered a wide-ranging analysis of the published and grey literature of how macro trends in the future could impact on the fitness industry. Issues explored included international social and demographic trends, fitness trends, health, sustainable development, entertainment, business and technology.
Synergia's work provided the foundation for an extensive qualitative research programme with international experts and fitness industry leaders.
The project culminated in a 'White Paper' for the fitness industry, published by Les Mills International, and co-authored by Nielsen and Synergia researchers.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here.
Tuatua Tika (Pacific Smoking Report, 2009-10)
Synergia compiled, for the first time in New Zealand, an analysis of Pacific tobacco smoking trends and behaviours, drawing on existing sources, as well as specifically-commissioned data. The report included national, regional and Pacific ethnic data, and geographic mapping of smoking patterns.
The report provides an important resource for all working in Pacific smokefree activities.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here from Tala Pasifika, the Pacific health arm of the National Heart Foundation.
Developing Regional Workforce Training Hubs (2011)
Synergia worked with Health Workforce New Zealand to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of post graduate training.
This involved developing regional hubs to coordinate and integrate current training offerings, collaborate on making the best use of resources, and determining ways that Health Workforce NZ can influence thinking and action within the hubs.
The Synergia Network Analytic was able to help implement this strategy by identifying influence points, important individuals, and change implementation pathways by surveying over 1000 people across regional and national networks.
Manukau and Wiri Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessments (2008-10)
Manukau City Council asked Synergia to lead a health impact assessment (HIA), focusing on how health and wellbeing issues can be incorporated into the plan's implementation. The HIA informed the development of the Manukau city centre over the next 50 years, with the aim of transforming a car-dominated retail area into a liveable people-friendly space.
The HIA had immediate impact in the planning for public space in the city centre area, and was an important opportunity for forging closer links across local government and health sectors.
Following the success of the initial HIA, Manukau City engaged Synergia to work alongside its Healthy Cities staff in a second HIA, with the primary aim of building internal HIA capability. Synergia supported the process through guidance on organisation and facilitation, support with writing draft reports and extensive peer review.
Copies of the Manukau and Wiri HIAs, together with other HIAs that Synergia have led or supported, can be downloaded here at the Ministry of Health's HIA Support Unit site.
Synergia’s experience spans the continuum of the health and social service systems, including national policy development, population and public health, primary and community care through to specialist hospital
Whether your task involves policy development or management of service delivery, Synergia’s capability in the collaborative development of dynamic simulation models, to support more effective decision-making, can help you think and plan more effectively.