What we do
SDK partners with clients to hard stuff, not just easy wins.
Our Approach
No matter the project, we keep you aligned with your values and your realities. Some firms only talk about ideals. Others only talk about risk. SDK deliberately holds both: We help leaders pursue fair, transparent, community-benefiting outcomes by creating strategies and approaches that can succeed for the long haul.
We’re skilled at navigating new topics, policies, and projects that are emotionally charged or structurally messy. We create calm, clarity, and momentum in otherwise challenged environments.
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We respect the knowledge that’s come before us, from academic literature to past projects.
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We listen first and deeply. Whether it’s interviews, assembling stakeholder groups or intentional community engagement, we dedicate effort to crafting questions that get to the heart of client priorities and we truly listen.
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We engage and learn together. SDK takes a collaborative approach to transforming inputs into insights, and we report back to those engaged as a measure of accountability.
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We set a path forward, and support clients along the way. SDK translates insights into practical, actionable plans, and we support clients in seeing them through.
Strengths
Minnesota has made massive strides toward making government fit the lives and needs of people and our future in recent years. But that progress is not guaranteed. SDK specializes in creating calm and momentum in emotionally sensitive, structurally messy work. We help clients by providing strategies and messages that protect progress and implement change that respects their values and practical realities.
We apply that approach in:
Transportation
We bring humanity and creativity to transportation design, planning and policy.
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Technology
We help people understand technology changes, and help clients understand how digital inequity impacts programs and policy.
Health
We keep people and equity at the heart of health and social determinants policy and projects.
Environment
We help diverse groups understand each other and their impact on our natural resources.
Services
Community-Informed
Research
We weave diverse voices of communities and stakeholders to unearth game-changing insights and novel approaches. Our insights and recommendations help clients understand projects and thorny issues in new ways that lead to lasting solutions. Example services include:
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In-depth interviews
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Ethnography
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Focus groups
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Listening sessions
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Engagement processes
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Survey design, collection and analysis
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Opinion research
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Demographic mapping and data analysis
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Structure / Culture Audits (organizational assessment)
Engagement-Driven Planning
We facilitate inclusive planning that brings government, partners, and communities into shared ownership. Using human-centered tools, we turn engagement into alignment and plans that get implemented.
Example services include:
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Strategic planning
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Change management planning
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Task Force design and facilitation
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Human-Centered design
Change-Minded Management
Many firms stop at frameworks. All certifications, no results.. We connect the full chain for the public sector, where change is more complex and more public. That means providing clients with systems analysis, on-the-ground research, strategy, and story. Then we team with clients to provide day-to-day consultation and implementation help that makes change workable.
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Equitable engagement approaches
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Clear and compelling communications
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Eye-catching visuals
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Inspiring events