You would need to conduct market research for this enterprise and recommend one way or the other. It's quite simple. A research essay is an academic exercise. Teachers ask students to research topics to help them to understand ideas. Research essays benefit students.
Every large institution uses reports to function every day.
Knowledge is needed at all levels of decision making. The terms of reference are the set of instructions that you, the consultant, must follow in writing your report. The employer lists the things he, or she, would like you to do, by a specified date, and with X amount of money. The terms of reference are used in the RFP and then later when an agreement has been reached. The terms of reference are included in the contract that the client and the consultant signs before the work on the research report begins.