
Why Good Projects Fail and How Strategic Advocacy Can Save Them
“Every development project…is inherently political. A zoning approval or environmental review is not just a box to check; it’s a flashpoint for debate.”
Great ideas and innovative initiatives fail every day. Cynicism, distrust and NIMBYism generate passionate opposition which can dominate the discourse, derailing plans without regard to merit, benefit or need. Individuals and small groups are increasingly emboldened and empowered to act, leveraging technology to organize, amplify their voices and magnify their impact. Executing strategies that build and demonstrate support built on solid data and analysis has never been more critical.
Whether building critical support or overcoming a competitive threat, developing and executing the right strategy at the right time is essential.
Consensus Strategies specializes in strategic advocacy and survey research services for leading corporate and institutional clients. With decades of national and international experience in virtually every industry, our depth of experience and multidisciplinary approach are distinctive, innovative, and highly effective.
With decades of experience on thousands of engagements across the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom and more, Consensus Strategies has an unparalleled depth of experience and expertise. There is no one answer, no single tool and no one-size-fits-all strategy. Every situation is unique and presents opportunities and threats that must be identified and leveraged to achieve critical objectives. It takes real experience, imagination, teamwork and a multidisciplinary focus to develop and execute a successful strategy… and even more to know when to walk away.

“Every development project…is inherently political. A zoning approval or environmental review is not just a box to check; it’s a flashpoint for debate.”

Consensus Strategies is proud to have played a key role in a groundbreaking new study published in Scientific Reports, Nature Magazine’s open-access scientific journal. The

Exciting news from SSRN! My paper, “The Dynamics of Public Opposition in Land Use Politics,” has been recognized as a Top Paper and was listed on SSRN’s Top