Online learning

IMA members have exclusive online access to our detailed best practice material, including 47 Insight leader guides and a growing library of best practice videos. Together these summarise the key principles of Insight transformation and the ideas discussed at Insight forums over the last 17 years.

The number of online licences provided to your organsation depends on the level of corporate membership which you choose.

Everyone is welcome to browse the topics, but please remember that you will need to log in before you can actually watch the videos and read the guides. You can request a new password by clicking 'member login' at the top right corner, and then 'request new password'.

If your organisation is not yet a member or you don't have an online licence, please contact us and we will be able to help you.

Please click on the quick links below or scroll down to the full library:

Insight generation guides and videos

An introduction to successful Insight generation

IMP101: Most If your organisation has a corporate membership with the IMA, and you have an online account to access member content, then you can read the guide now by clicking on the link below....

How to create joined-up Insight

IMP102: If our organisations are to perform well, they need joined-up insights. This guide introduces the IMA's 'MADE in Insight' model which Insight teams can use as a framework for creating more contextualised observations.

How to make up the numbers

IMP103: Does your Insight team make up the numbers? Of course not! We're all professionals aren't we? But the reality is that corporate Insight teams have to balance our natural desire for perfect data with our stakeholders' need to take quick decisions

How to nail the business issue

IMP104: Research and analysis projects are most likely to go wrong at the very start. In this 10-page guide, we take you through the IMA's 3-step RED process designed to ensure that Insight teams nail the underlying business issue at the start of every project

How to approach Insight investigations

IMP105: Are you a Columbus or a Columbo? Once we have nailed the real business issue, how should corporate Insight professionals approach the investigation itself? This Insight leader guide will explore 4 key stages

How to manage research agencies - video

IMV106: Many Insight teams, especially those working in sectors where there is relatively little customer data, have a heavy reliance on agencies to collect and interpret survey data. However it is rare for Insight teams to have been trained in supplier management so how can we manage agency...

When should we do DIY research? - video

IMV107: Smaller organisations have always done more of their research themselves and ESOMAR have reported on a growing trend for larger organisations to bring more of their research in-house too. So how should we decide whether to do DIY research?

Segmentation: why? - video

James Wycherley provides an introduction to segmentation and the business purposes to which it can be used. The key message? It's a business tool, and we should first make sure we understand why it migth be useful and only then consider which approach is appropriate

Segmentation: how? - video

In this video, Tim Downing, IMA adviser and marketing lecturer at Coventry Business School, looks at the four main approaches to segmentation, and which is currently most popular with IMA members

Segmentation case study - video

In this video, James Wycherley and Emma Jones provide a segmentation case study from the world of retail banking - why it was needed, how it was developed, the effort that went into communicating it around the organisation, and whether it was ultimately considered a success

Insight knowledge guides and videos

An introduction to farming Insight knowledge

IMP201: Does your Insight team hunt for data or farm insight? This 10-page Insight leader guide will make the case for the evolution of Insight teams, and introduce 5 key aspects to explore if you want to reap the benefits

How to sow the seeds of Insight knowledge

IMP202: How to sow the seeds of Insight knowledge looks at the importance of crystallising new insights and documenting them for future use

How to cultivate customer knowledge

MP203: How to cultivate customer knowledge will look at the importance of cultivating joined-up insight by investing time codifying learning and then encouraging Insight team members to discuss new findings

How to adopt knowledge systems

Coming soon! IMP204: How to adopt knowledge systems will propose that your Insight team's purpose, roles and ways of working should drive the adoption of knowledge systems, not vice versa

Insight influence guides and videos

An introduction to influencing decision-makers

IMP301: To change our companies’ behaviour, and for the insights our team produce to really make a difference, we need to transform our Insight team's ability to influence. This guide outlines the 5 key aspects to consider.

How to understand decision-makers

IMP302: We cannot influence if we don't understand, and yet many Insight teams have relatively little insight on the audience for their own insight. In this 10-page guide we explore what it feels like to be a senior decision-maker in today's corporate environment.

How to improve stakeholder relationships

IMP303: In this guide, we distill the skills involved in becoming a trusted adviser. We look at how these skills can be applied in practice in order to move from transactional and service-based relationships with decision-makers towards more trust-based relationships.

Influencing skills for introverts

IMP304: Most Insight teams have a mix of introverts and extroverts, but our workplaces tend be designed to suit extroverts. How can can Insight leaders make the most of introverts' strengths, and make sure they are not inadvertently discriminating against them?

Behavioural economics for Insight teams

IMP305: Behavioural economics represents a fantastic opportunity for Insight teams over the coming decade. This guide explores the core essentials Insight teams need to know in order to influence both consumer decisions and internal corporate decisions.

How to nudge decision-makers

IMP306: A key challenge for Insight teams is how to effectively influence their internal stakeholders. This guide provides hints and tips on how to use behavioural economics to engage decision-makers with insights, providing a greater opportunity to ‘nudge’ their behaviour.

How to successfully influence remotely

IMP307: Do the best practice principles on Insight influence still hold true now that our Insight teams are working from home? Yes they do, but the way we apply them requires more structured thinking and effort

Influencing decision-makers - video

IMV301 - In this video James Wycherley introduces the concept of influencing for Insight teams. He talks about the importance of influencing key decision-makers and breaks the approach down into 3 key steps.

Insight communication guides and videos

An introduction to successful Insight communication

IMP401: In this guide we introduce you to the 6 characters of Insight communication - professionals from whom Insight teams can learn if we want to share knowledge and ideas more effectively.

How to plan an Insight communication programme

IMP402: Corporate Insight teams need to move away from a piecemeal approach to communication, and instead start to plan a top-down communication programme which considers key audiences, content and channels.

How to structure Insight communications

IMP403: Thinking like an Insight consultant not only helps communicate projects more effectively, it also shapes the thinking throughout all the stages which lead to the final recommendations

Storytelling for Insight teams

IMP404: Storytelling is probably the most widely used and effective communication tool in human history. This guide aims to demystify the process of developing an Insight narrative ,giving practical guidance on the skills to borrow from authors, journalists and editors

Visual communication for Insight teams

IMP405: When it comes to designing the look and feel of their communications and data visualisations, Insight professionals need to ‘think like a designer’. This guide outlines some practical approaches

Insight strategy guides and videos

An introduction to Insight strategy

IMP501: If we want Insight to transform our organisations' performance, we first have to transform our Insight teams. But very few companies have a comprehensive plan for making this happen. This 12-page guide sets out the reasons for having an Insight strategy and the key steps involved

How to identify the opportunity for Insight

IMP502: A key part of having a successful Insight strategy is having a well-articulated vision for how Insight will make a difference within your organisation. This guide outlines the 6 key steps that will help you to first understand the lie of the land.

How to define your ambition for Insight

IMP503: To develop an Insight strategy you need to understand the lie of the land, but then it is time to reflect on your ambition for Insight to change your organisation. The IMA's Insight Participation Matrix will help frame your vision for the role you want Insight to play in your company

How to identify options for your Insight team

IMP504: Like any other department, an Insight team will operate within certain parameters, for example carrying out work of a certain type, within a certain budget. This guide lays out the 7 key choices that effective Insight teams make explicitly to define those parameters.

How to execute an Insight strategy

IMP505: This is where the rubber hits the road - you can formulate a brilliant strategy, but unless you can execute it, you might as well not have bothered. This guide shares best practice for what is essentially organisational change management.

How to prioritise an Insight team's work - video

IMV502: How do you prioritise your Insight team's work and resources? This is really important as it reflects the type of team you are and helps determines the role you will play this year

Insight people guides and videos

An introduction to developing successful Insight people

IMP601: As Insight leaders we are heavily reliant on the talent of our people, but relatively few companies take a really comprehensive approach to recruiting, managing and developing Insight specialists. This 10-page Insight leader guide provides an introduction to 5 key areas of focus

How to lead an Insight team

IMP602: To successfully lead an Insight team, Insight leaders need to think like small business owners. In this guide, we examine the broad range of responsibilities of Insight leadership and present a tool which can help all who lead Insight in their organisations

How to identify key Insight skills and attributes

IMP603: Are the right people on the bus? Successful Insight leaders make this their primary concern as for an Insight team to perform well, the calibre of its people is crucial. This guide outlines the four main categories of skills and attributes required in an Insight team.

How to develop an Insight perspective

IMP604: According to Hans Rosling, "People constantly and intuitively refer to their worldview when thinking, guessing or learning. If your worldview is wrong, you will systematically make the wrong guesses". So how can we develop an Insight perspective to improve our organisations' worldview?

How to recruit and develop an Insight team

IMP605: If Insight is to deliver competitive advantage, then our organisation must be at least as able as its competitors to recruit, develop and retain really good Insight people. This guides sets out the approaches which Insight leaders have found effective.

How to develop successful Insight teamwork

IMP606: What matters most - how well you perform as an individual within an Insight team or how well the Insight team performs overall? In this guide we focus on what excellence looks like in terms of how the individual members of an Insight team work together to maximise their collective impact.

Prioritising an Insight leader's time - video

IMV602: At the January 2022 online Insight forum we discussed the ways in which Insight leaders can prioritise our own time and energy. If we can't manage our own diaries, we're in no position to lead our Insight team

Insight positioning guides and videos

An introduction to successful Insight positioning

IMP701: Is your Insight team in any position to drive change? To be effective, Insight teams have to strengthen their position in the hearts, minds and processes of their organisations. This 10-page Insight leader guides introduces the topic and the 4 key paths we can all explore

How to develop the Insight team brand

IMP702: Our Insight brand is our promise to our internal customers. It tells them what they should expect from the Insight team, and what they shouldn't. This 8-page guides provides advice on how to develop the Insight brand in your organisation

How to promote awareness of Insight

IMP703: Building awareness requires a promotional and opportunistic mindset, and Insight leaders need to look for every opportunity to highlight their team and its work. This guide helps Insight teams to be more proactive, and provides tips on how to grab people’s attention.

How to improve your Insight team's reputation

IMP704: Reputation is the reality of the experience you deliver to your internal customers; whether you actually 'walk the talk' and do what you say on the tin. This guide discusses the importance of creating a positive reputation for your Insight team.

Insight's role in key processes

IMP705: In order to impact key business decisions, it is important to ensure Insight is available in the 'right place at the right time' in our organisations. This guide discusses the importance of identifying key processes and aligning our Insight accordingly.

Insight commerciality guides and videos

An introduction to Insight commerciality

IMP801: Does your Insight team get criticised sometimes for not being sufficiently commercial? If so, you're not alone. But it's time we reframed Insight teams' approach to commerciality, and put it right at the centre of our daily work so that we can guide our organisations

How to build a commercial foundation for Insight

IMP802: Insight teams need a commercial foundation in order to help improve their organisation’s performance. This guide explores the 4 corner stones crucial to establishing a solid commercial foundation for all the work the Insight function does.

How to identify commercial value

IMP803: If Insight is to have the influence it should with decision-makers, Insight teams need to become “fluent in finance” – even in not-for-profit and public sector organisations. This guide lays out simple valuation techniques to help Insight teams to analyse and think in commercial terms.

How to apply commercial thinking in Insight

IMP804: To really make an ongoing difference, an Insight team has to adopt a commercial mindset in its everyday activities, applying the understanding it has developed to the way it operates. This guide lays out the 3 key ways in which Insight teams make this business as usual.

An introduction to Insight return on investment

IMP805: Putting a value to Insight has been a kind of Holy Grail for the industry for a long time, with the view that it can’t really be done. However, the IMA strongly believes that you can, and this guide will show you why the IMA believes so, as well as how to go about it.

The Value of Insight

IMP806: Early in 2021 the IMA launched the Value of Insight challenge, inviting members to put a value on their Insight. We provided workshops to share the best practice principles followed by tutorials to provide help and support along the way. This guide shares the journey that we went on