The iPol Method is the overall approach. ECS is its field and delivery engine. Social is its communication engine. Research, Strategy, Field and Digital describe workstreams; they are not competing versions of the five-stage method.
Research
Understand the starting point.
- Inputs
- Official and authorised sources, existing work, field observations and unanswered questions.
- Outputs
- An evidence brief, source register and gap map.
- Your role
- Share relevant information and help verify what is missing.
- Decision
- What do we know well enough to act on?
Strategy
Choose a practical direction.
- Inputs
- The diagnosis, public role, time horizon and available resources.
- Outputs
- Priorities, trade-offs and a scoped plan.
- Your role
- Test assumptions and agree the decisions you will own.
- Decision
- What should we focus on—and defer?
Structure
Give the work an organisation.
- Inputs
- Agreed priorities, existing people and capacity constraints.
- Outputs
- Role descriptions, responsibility map and reporting routine.
- Your role
- Appoint decision-makers and make client-side resources available.
- Decision
- Who owns each action and each approval?
Narrative
Make public communication clear and truthful.
- Inputs
- Verified work, positioning, public commitments and approved source material.
- Outputs
- An editorial brief, message hierarchy and approval process.
- Your role
- Confirm facts, personal statements and commitments.
- Decision
- What can we responsibly say, and how?
Execution
Deliver, review and adapt.
- Inputs
- The work calendar, responsibilities and evidence of progress.
- Outputs
- Completed outputs, review notes and corrective actions.
- Your role
- Participate in decisions and deliver agreed client actions.
- Decision
- What changes in the next working cycle?
Connected, without forcing every service
A project may start with research, an advisory question or a defined communication task. The method gives that work a clear purpose and connection to the wider system. It does not require every client to purchase every service.
Duration, staffing, founder involvement, review frequency and final deliverables depend on the assignment and written scope. A 52-week model can help long-term planning; it is not a universal engagement requirement.
ECS: field & delivery
Role design, work planning, coordination and reviews.
Explore the Election Command SystemSocial: public communication
Positioning, production, account operations and verified response.
Explore narrative & communication