Client Challenge
Moodle, a global education technology company serving 500+ million users across universities worldwide, required a comprehensive strategic assessment for a commercially sensitive business initiative. The engagement presented multiple complexities: confidential commercial positioning, the need to engage with multiple external third parties simultaneously, and an extremely compressed timeline driven by board meeting schedules.
The organisation needed a decision-capable document that would enable sound board governance rather than a generic strategic overview.
The Approach
Middle Z employed a human-centred design methodology to understand the core tensions and stakeholder requirements rapidly. Rather than starting with solutions, we invested time upfront to gain a deep understanding of what success looked like from multiple perspectives: the board's decision-making needs, management's operational constraints, and the information requirements of external third parties.
This stakeholder empathy proved critical in structuring the engagement. We recognised that external parties needed specific information to provide meaningful responses, yet premature disclosure could create competitive disadvantages. We developed a phased information-sharing approach that allowed rapid market engagement whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality controls.
The methodology emphasised speed without sacrificing quality. We established clear workstreams, coordinated across multiple time zones with stakeholders in Australia, Barcelona, and the UK, and maintained momentum through daily touchpoints and rapid iteration cycles.
Execution Under Pressure
Working to a 72-hour delivery window, Middle Z:
- Conducted comprehensive market research across multiple potential solution providers and strategic partners
- Engaged directly with 8-10 external organisations to assess appetite and obtain indicative responses
- Developed positioning materials that presented the company's strategic narrative compellingly to external parties
- Coordinated with internal teams across multiple jurisdictions to gather required information
- Synthesised complex commercial and strategic considerations into clear, actionable recommendations
- Delivered a board-ready memorandum with detailed comparative analysis, risk assessments, and implementation timelines
The engagement required managing multiple parallel conversations with external parties whilst maintaining competitive tension and ensuring all stakeholders received appropriate information simultaneously. Our ability to empathise with external parties' requirements whilst protecting the client's strategic interests proved essential to achieving meaningful feedback within the compressed timeframe.
The Outcome
The delivered board memorandum enabled informed decision-making with:
- Comprehensive assessment of multiple strategic options and approaches
- Detailed evaluation of responses from external parties with actual market feedback
- Clear shortlist of viable options with comparative analysis
- Implementation roadmap with realistic timelines
- Risk assessment and contingency considerations
Critically, the output was truly decision-capable rather than merely informational. Board members could assess trade-offs, understand implementation requirements, and provide clear direction to management on next steps.
"Working with Daniel was exceptional. He delivered a comprehensive, board-ready strategic analysis in 72 hours whilst managing multiple external stakeholder relationships and navigating commercially sensitive requirements. His human-centred approach, combined with deep strategic thinking and remarkable speed of execution, resulted in us being able to make an informed strategic decision despite significant time pressure."
What Made It Work
Human-Centred Problem Solving: Rather than imposing predetermined frameworks, we invested time understanding the specific tensions and constraints facing all stakeholders. This allowed us to structure solutions that addressed real needs rather than theoretical best practices.
Stakeholder Empathy: Success required understanding what external parties needed to do their work effectively. We approached third parties as collaborative partners rather than adversarial counterparties, which facilitated more open and productive conversations despite the compressed timeline.
Rapid Iteration: The tight timeframe demanded agility. We maintained constant communication with stakeholders, adjusted approach based on feedback, and refined analysis as new information emerged.
Quality Under Pressure: Despite the 72-hour window, the delivered work maintained rigour and professionalism. The memorandum demonstrated thorough research, clear strategic thinking, and appropriate caveating of preliminary findings.
Holistic Perspective: We balanced the immediate strategic need with longer-term relationship building and institutional credibility. Recommendations considered not just the current requirement but future organisational needs and capability development.