The Challenge
A national research centre, active on issues of safety, prevention, and societal change, wanted to strengthen its positioning and internal identity. While the organization was highly valued for its knowledge, independent research, and societal relevance, the team struggled to express a clear, shared story. Employees described difficulties in:
- Defining a common identity across diverse projects.
- Communicating their unique value to municipalities, NGOs, and other societal partners.
- Bridging individual expertise with a collective sense of belonging.
Our Approach
We started with intake and preparation, listening to the needs of team members and stakeholders. Through qualitative interviews and team sessions, we explored underlying cultural patterns and blind spots. We facilitated interactive workshops, dialogue, and campfire-style conversations, focusing on:
- Discovering each member’s qualities and roles.
- Exploring collective dreams and inspiring future cases they would love to work on.
- Sharpening the team’s mission, values, and societal contribution.
- Building a clear, shared brand identity for internal and external communication.
Cultural Insights
Our anthropological analysis revealed key cultural dynamics:
- The team takes pride in its independence, analytical sharpness, and creativity.
- Members are motivated by societal impact but lacked a common narrative.
- Dialogue revealed the importance of trust, recognition, and collaborative ownership.
- A unifying brand story helps position the centre as both knowledge partner and societal guide.
The Outcome
The centre now has:
- A shared identity expressed in a strong and recognizable narrative.
- A clearer positioning toward municipalities, entrepreneurs, and social partners.
- Stronger team cohesion, with members energized to contribute their expertise within a collective story.
- A renewed mission to help society with knowledge, advice, and cultural insight, ensuring prevention, justice, and fairness remain central.
