A one-off report answers a question as it stood on the day it was written. A standing desk keeps answering as the question returns, and keeps a source log that grows. This page is about what a delivered report becomes and what carries its findings forward; whether a need recurs often enough to justify a desk is the question on the Ongoing Research Desk page. It sets the two side by side and says what is lost by choosing the wrong one: a stale report on one side, a desk with nothing to watch on the other.
A report is a dated document: it answers the question as it stood on the day it was written and does not follow a change afterwards. A desk holds named items that are refreshed on an agreed rhythm, so each period builds on the running source log. Findings from a report can be carried into a desk as watch items; the rest stay as dated findings. The updates are made by hand; the desk does not monitor in real time or send alerts.
A one-off report can come first, with the desk added once it is clear which items are worth watching.
The scope and rhythm of a desk are agreed in advance. A report is scoped once.
| Question | One-off report | Ongoing desk |
|---|---|---|
| What triggers it | A decision with a date on it | A topic that keeps coming back |
| What you hold at the end | A report with a matrix, sources and limits | A running set of answers, updates and a growing source log |
| How questions arrive | Once, in the brief | Each period, as an intake of new questions and watch items |
| What ages | The whole report, from the day it is written | Only the items not refreshed on the agreed rhythm |
| Where it falls short | Cannot follow a change after delivery | Cannot give real-time monitoring or alerts |
| How scope changes | A new brief | A periodic review of the scope |
Automation, software and real-time monitoring are outside this service.
A single report is the proportionate choice; once the supplier is chosen the need ends.
A desk fits, because the same rivals need a fresh look on a rhythm and the earlier notes stay useful.
A desk can revisit the named suppliers on the agreed rhythm.
Research reports what can be established from public and provided sources. It is not a guarantee about a counterparty's future conduct and not legal advice.
Yes. They are separate arrangements and can run in sequence.
No. Updates are researched by hand on the agreed rhythm.
No. It covers the items and questions agreed, as far as sources allow.
No obligation. We read your request and reply with a straight answer.
Tell us what you need to find out and by when. We confirm scope before any work starts.
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