In qualitative studies, focus groups are typically used in conjunction with other research techniques (Marshall and Rossman 2011: p.142). They are closely related to the interview method which is selected as the primary data collection technique for this research. A focus group essentially involves interviews / discussions with a small number of participants, ranging from four to 15 people (Marshall and Rossman 2011: p.149; Babbie 2007: p.308). They are undertaken with the expectation that participants will yield new insights into the topic through discussion (Blaxter, Hughes and Tight 2004: p.172). The purpose of using a focus group for this research is to provide an opportunity for selected participants (from the Phase 1 interviews) to comment upon a penultimate iteration of the proposed integrated partnership, risk and performance management model. The advantage of using a focus group is that it will allow any previously misunderstood or unanticipated issues to be resolved (Berg 2007: p.148; Marshall and Rossman 2011: p.149), and generate thinking into previously unexplored areas (Berg 2007: p.148).