Table of Contents >
Chapter 31. Conducting Advocacy Research >
Section 4. Studying the Opposition >
Studying the Opposition |
Tools & Checklists | Contributed by Eric Wadud and Prue Breitrose Edited by Bill Berkowitz and Kate Nagy |
Tools
Tool 1: Investigation Worksheet
| In order to... | We need | Where to look? | When? |
|
| | | |
Checklist
Here you will find a checklist summarizing the main points of the section.
Studying your opponents:
___Gives you up-to-date knowledge of the opponent's positions on the issue.
___Tells you why the opponent is taking those positions.
___Tells you what strategies and tactics the opponent has used in the past.
Knowledge about opponents is useful to:
___Identify potential problems earlier on, and sort them out before they become bigger problems.
___Help you find ways to negotiate.
___Help you develop successful strategies and tactics.
With regard to the timing of research:
___Studying the opponent should be an ongoing process.
___Your opponents’ position may change over time; your response may need to change as well.
Studying can be either informal or formal. Informal methods may include:
___Keeping your eyes and ears open.
___Looking at your opponent's previous activities and campaigns.
___Reading their in-house publications and annual reports.
___Talking to organizations and individuals who have dealt with your opponents in the past.
Studying individuals may involve:
___Finding out where they live and work.
___Finding out how and where they manage financial transactions.
___Identifying their advisors.
Studying agencies, companies or organizations may involve:
___Finding out their past records and tactics.
___Finding out about their resources, strengths, and weaknesses.
___Identifying their principle decision makers.
___Finding out how much power they have, and why they are opposing you.
A formal, tactical investigation may be necessary:
___If the opponent is powerful.
___If the opponent may be willing to act forcefully.
A formal investigation may involve the following steps:
___Develop an investigation plan.
___Gather the information.
___Think like your opponent .
___Use the information.
Information can be gathered:
___Through informants with an interest in the issue.
___Through "freedom of information" laws.
___Through published sources of information.
Among published sources of information are:
___Business and trade publications
___Clipping files
___Reference works
___Government files on businesses
___Voting records
___Court records
Gathering information about an opponent may involve some ethically questionable tactics. Groups should balance the benefits of these tactics against:
___Their own sense of what is ethically permissible.
___The risk of getting caught.
___The risk that the opponent would also adopt hardball tactics.
Thinking like the opponent will help a group:
___Predict what that opponent will do next.
___Predict how the opponent would react to specific tactics.
Studying their opponent can help advocacy groups:
___Plan actions that will be most effective.
___Publicize the opponent's weaknesses.
___Perhaps act as whistle-blower, and seek legal redress.
Return to top