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UK Associations Trying Again
UK research associations the MRS and BMRA have announced another attempt to establish closer, more formal links, this time including the client side organisation AURA. The three councils are preparing detailed proposals for the creation of 'a single federated structure reflecting the needs of the whole MR sector'.
A strategic paper outlining a vision for the sector and resulting from discussions earlier in the year was presented and approved at the recent governing council meetings of all three organisations. The paper identifies two main factors as potential drivers for the future: the need to harness resources towards a common goal, and the sector's need to increase its effectiveness in external representation and marketing of MR and its standards.
The proposed new federated structure would aim to deliver:- A more unified voice for market research
- Improved leadership and direction
- Improved focus on external issues
- Equivalent or better services and representation
- Better use of resources
- Better value
The proposals will now be further developed with reference to the structure, budget and voting / governance system of the new setup, after consultations with other MR associations and other professional bodies which have undergone similar processes. Once fully developed and approved by the Councils, the proposals would be put to their respective memberships for a period of consultation before any further decisions are taken.
Ideas for closer co-operation were also discussed openly in a debate following last week's BMRA AGM on HMS Belfast, London, and afterwards even more openly - and by some rather cynically - at the ensuing Chairman's Party. As your correspondent was invited to the latter but not the former, we can only say that the debate was apparently inconclusive but the buffet excellent: if we are only allowed one next year as well, can it be the Party again please?
AURA is the Association of Users of Research Agencies and has around 130 member companies who are research clients. DRNO readers familiar with its old web site / the home page which was about all that non-members were allowed to see, should note that it is greatly improved of late, with an 'Open Access' section giving more information - see www.aura.org.uk .
Comments on the process / proposals are invited via the MRS (Jennie Beck: jennie.beck@tns-global.com ), BMRA (Peter Jackling: peter.jackling@ida.co.uk ) or AURA (Leslie Sopp: soppl@ace.org.uk ).
DRNO will shortly be publishing more on the split / potential for future co-operation between US associations CASRO and CMOR.
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