FMI Research Philosophy

The Research Services Group supports all areas of FMI consulting and investment banking through client-specific primary research, database management, market modeling and forecasting. Our professional researchers have extensive experience in research design and implementation, including electronic searches, financial modeling, survey and interview techniques.

Our approach to research is based on certain core values:

Recognizing the Difference Between Data and Information
Simply put, data can be very misleading. We think there is an important difference between providing data and providing useful information based on experienced interpretation. The FMI consulting team will carefully review and analyze the data, drawing strategic inferences from experienced interpretation.

Industry Access
FMI’s exclusive focus within the construction industry provides unmatched access to the most appropriate thought leaders. The group maintains an extensive construction industry database with more than 110,000 current records. Our consultants are in the field every day with owners, contractors, subcontractors, labor and government officials. Better contacts lead to better information, information that often lies somewhere below the surface.

Collaboration
Our experience has been that research is most effective when the consulting team and client are highly collaborative. Research often takes mid-course “turns”. Answering one question raises another. By keeping you informed and engaged throughout the process, we ensure that the key issues are addressed, even those that may not have been originally foreseen.

Trust
We understand that our success in collaborating with clients and developing industry contacts must be based on trust and confidentiality. FMI has long subscribed to the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Management Consultants and the World Association of Management Consultants. We take this very seriously. Information either shared by clients, or collected on behalf of clients, is held in strict confidence on a “need to know” basis.

Value
Because FMI research consultants are focused on the construction industry, you can be assured that your research investment is going toward true research; not teaching the consultant about the industry.