Opportunity
Working college students and adults in the United States are pressured to answer work phone calls and emails after business hours due to the increase in technological trends and ease of access.
The who: Working college students and adults in the United States
The what: They are pressured to answer work phone calls and emails after business hours
The why: Technological trends have increased and access is easier
Hypothesis
I believe that most working college students and adults in the United States would like a formal system/product to prevent the pressure of answering work phone calls and emails after business hours.
Testing the who: Working adults and college students in the United States who work a job during normal business hours, or have set business hours for being on and off-call, are the people who have this need.
Testing the what: People find it difficult to say 'no' to answering work calls and emails after hours. The workers may want to uphold their reputation, or get a head start on the next day's workload. Other reasons for working after hours may also be the culprit.
Testing the why: Technological trends in recent years have allowed for workplace software to be accessed on personal computers, making it much easier for employees to work after hours. It is also possible that some people genuinely enjoy working extra hours.
Interview 1 (Mid 20s male employee)
Gaining insight from a young adult who worked a few jobs after graduating from college, he shared the pressure he felt for his sales job. His sales job required a quota, so he oftentimes found himself coming home and answering emails. He didn't want to be behind for the next day's workload, as well as ensure that he hit his monthly quota. He wished that there was a way to prevent this pressure, and suggested a computer extension that sent an automated email to anyone who contacted him after hours. The automated email would show contact information in case of an emergency, but would nonetheless relieve the pressure of conducting work outside of working hours.
He agrees that this is a problem because of recent technological advances. If employees don't have access to computer software, then they are unable to work on business tasks. Since most people have a personal computer with internet access, checking work emails and conducting business is much easier to do from virtually anywhere.
Interview 2 (Early 20s female college student currently working full-time)
She expressed the pressure of answering emails after hours more so from an academic perspective. She found herself emailing her professor at night because she was worried about a time-sensitive matter. However, she also currently has a job and is working remotely, and sometimes finds herself working after hours. Her rationale for working after hours is that she doesn't want to get behind on the following day's work, and feels pressure to check her work email to stay up to date on new information. She also experienced her dad taking work phone calls during personal hours, which she found to be slightly disruptive. She wished that there was a way to implement a "Do Not Disturb" feature on work emails or the workplace messenger.
She agrees that this is a problem because of recent technological advances. She has access to her work database because she works from her personal laptop. Lack of access is not stopping her from completing extra tasks outside of normal working hours. In fact, access to work materials is almost encouraging her to work outside of her normal business hours.
Interview 3 (Early 60s male employee)
Gaining insight from a worker who has over 30+ years of experience in the public and private sector of the United States, he stated that he felt pressure to work after hours mainly in his private-sector job. He held the title of Vice President in his private-sector job, and explained that it was expected of him to work after hours and occasionally on the weekends. Since he was compensated well as a salaried worker, he didn't mind too much when working occasionally outside of normal business hours. He currently works with the government and does not have a problem with working outside normal business hours unless it is an emergency. He is also invested in a small start-up company, and finds himself working outside normal business hours for this company. However, he explained that since it is a start-up company, he enjoys putting in the extra hours, knowing that each hour he works, the company is growing and moving in the right direction. Overall, he didn't seem too bothered about working outside normal business hours, so long as he is appropriately compensated. Though he did express a need for some government intervention about encouraging a work-life balance, rather than creating a product.
He doesn't necessarily believe that recent technological trends contribute to this problem. In the 90s when technology wasn't as prevalent as it is now, he owned a work phone and work laptop. Even though most people didn't have a personal laptop, he used his work phone and laptop to complete business tasks outside of his working hours. However, he does agree that feeling pressure to work after normal business hours is increasing for others, as most work databases are accessible from personal laptops.
Interview 4 (Early 20s female college student with a part-time job)
While attending school full-time, she works a job that does not have normal business hours. She works with kids in an afterschool program, but she still finds herself putting in extra hours at home. This includes drafting up newsletters, organizing the client's profiles, and more. She often feels pressure to put in extra hours because she works for a small business and wants to see it succeed. If she doesn't put in the extra work, she knows that tasks are going to get delayed, which ruins the reputation of the company. She genuinely cares about the company, as well as her reputation, which is why she puts in the extra hours and conducts business-related tasks outside of her normal hours. In terms of finding a solution, she thinks the problem of feeling pressured to work after hours is more so a company problem, rather than a problem that the government needs to regulate. She believes that the company should limit the worker's ability to work at home, possibly making work software inaccessible or removing the expectation of completing tasks after hours.
She believes that recent technological trends slightly contribute to this problem. She thinks that once the global pandemic is over, working after normal business hours is going to significantly increase. Because companies are finding ways to conduct business at home at different hours of the day, she thinks that the pressure to work after normal business hours will significantly increase.
Interview 5 (Early 20s female college student with a part-time job)
She expressed the pressure of completing work-related tasks after hours, and have witnessed her colleagues and middle managers doing the same thing. She works in the marketing industry, and explained that sometimes clients answer time-sensitive emails late, which makes it imperative to work outside of normal business hours on urgent matters. She finds herself working outside of normal hours about three times a week. She does this partially to stay informed, and partially to uphold her reputation of completing tasks on time. To manage a work-life balance, she refuses to complete any task that is not urgent. This ensures that she is taking time for herself to focus on school, hobbies, or other personal matters. She doesn't know how much a tangible product, such as an app, will do to fix this problem.
She believes that to relieve the pressure people feel about conducting business outside of working hours, the United States needs to experience a cultural change. Although she thinks that recent technological advances are partially to blame for this pressure, a cultural change contributes more to this problem. Part of the reason she checks her work emails outside of business hours is the societal expectation to go above and beyond to be successful. She doesn't think the government should get too involved, as many people enjoy putting in extra hours at work, but admits that minimal government regulation may be necessary.
Summarize
Given these five interviews, I found that there is a clear generational difference in terms of this problem. The third person I interviewed has way more experience than the other interviewees and justified working outside normal business hours with financial compensation. I also found that my problem cannot only be fixed with a product; government regulation or company policies will have to be put in place. Some interviewees suggested a product such as an app or browser extension, while others didn't and thought the government or society needs to make a change. Overall, it was interesting to see everyone's opinion on the matter, since overworking is becoming a problem in our society.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends
Opportunity 1 (Economic): Car owners can rent their cars through an app
a) I found this opportunity from an article about Hertz filing for bankruptcy protection.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/business/hertz-bankruptcy-coronavirus-car-rental.html?searchResultPosition=1
b) Hertz is a popular rental car company, but they are struggling because of COVID-19. They were unable to fully recover from the 2008 recession, and the global pandemic made it even harder for them to turn their business around. Since rental cars will become a popular industry again with Hertz likely out of business, and people are constantly looking for ways to make money, I thought of the idea of car owners allowing others to rent their car for a few days through an app.
c) The prototypical customer could be consumers who are unable to rent a car from a large company, such as those under the age of 25. Also, people who need to rent a car on short notice could be the prototypical customer as well.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit. This sounds like a logistical nightmare with insurance, liability, and potential accidents. I think the concept itself is relatively easy, but in reality, private rental cars would probably cause more harm than good.
Why: I believe I saw this opportunity because I am not old enough to rent a car. It is very frustrating, as I am a legal adult and have been driving for four years, but I still cannot rent a car. If I wanted to go on a trip with my friends and we needed a car, none of us could rent it because of our age. We would have to rely on public transportation or Uber/Lyft to get to places. There have been times where I wanted to plan a trip with my friends, but I quickly ignored the idea because it would be too expensive and frustrating to get around the city without a rental car.
Opportunity 2 (Economic): Universities should provide more scholarships to increase enrollment
a) I found this opportunity from an article about universities accepting students from the waitlist.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/us/coronavirus-college-enrollment.html
b) With the global pandemic going on, many students are putting off college. Some are deciding to enroll in a community college, while others are taking a gap year. Many top universities, such as Cornell and Rice, are contacting students from the waitlist and offering them a spot. These universities are struggling to hit their enrollment quota, which is why they resorted to the waitlist. If students had a financial incentive to attend these colleges during the pandemic, I think more students would enroll.
c) First-time college students are likely to be the prototypical customer. They want to get into a good college, and scholarships are very tempting. Graduate students or adults who are going back to school could also be included.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit because most colleges are struggling financially in some way. Many donors who sponsor scholarships are not donating during the pandemic, and colleges are receiving lots of pressure to provide tuition refunds. Although these universities likely have some money to spare, it is probably not enough to provide a substantial amount of scholarships.
Why: I believe I thought of this opportunity because I am currently in college. Although I am a junior, I am still frustrated that I may be paying full tuition in the Fall to take classes online. I also have friends who are now entering college, and hearing their struggles to start college during a global pandemic made me think of this opportunity.
Opportunity 3 (Regulatory): Creating a course to educate people on how to vote
a) I found this opportunity based on an article about a Florida law requiring people with felony convictions to pay off financial obligations before registering to vote declared unconstitutional.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-law-declared-unconstitutional-paving-way-for-felons-to-vote-11590366054
b) People with felony convictions who can now register to vote are likely out of touch with the voting process and political climate in the U.S. Voting is a very important constitutional right and responsibility. Voters should be informed of the process, how to find candidate information, and the different ways to vote. This led me to my idea of a course. A course would educate these people on our voting system, so that they can become productive and effective voters in society.
c) The prototypical customer could be people with felony convictions who received their reinstatement to vote. Also, new voters, such as high school students or new U.S. citizens, could be the prototypical customer.
d) This opportunity is relatively easy to exploit. Creating the course won't be that difficult, as it could be set up online. Live sections of the course could also be created for those without internet access. However, it would be harder to implement the course. It may be tough to find teachers for the course, as well as funding.
Why: I believe I saw this opportunity because I remember voting on this issue. The new law allowed felons with nonviolent crimes to have their voting rights reinstated. Once I came across the article, it reminded me of voting for the first time, and the experience I had when voting on this issue. This topic is quite interesting, as reinstating voting rights is an attempt to integrate convicted felons into society is a big deal, which is why I think I thought of this opportunity.
Opportunity 4 (Regulatory): Sales tax from e-commerce can help fund small businesses
a) I found this opportunity based on an article explaining the end of zero sales tax for e-commerce companies in South Dakota.
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7671-regulatory-issues-changes.html
b) Now that e-commerce companies in South Dakota are no longer getting away with paying no sales tax, these companies can form a partnership with smaller businesses. Potentially, the sales tax can be used to fund small, local businesses until they get back to nearly normal business conditions. The large e-commerce companies cannot keep the sales tax money anymore, so they might as well put it to good use and help local businesses. I thought of this idea from the fact that small businesses are currently struggling, and since e-commerce companies must now pay sales tax, the money can go towards helping the small businesses.
c) The prototypical customer could be large e-commerce companies and small businesses operating in South Dakota.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit. Large e-commerce companies are already mad about having to pay a sales tax; they won't want to help out small businesses because those businesses are competitors. Even if the small businesses do not directly affect them, they will most likely not want to help out. Also, this idea could be a logistical nightmare. The state will receive the revenue from the tax, and will likely choose other ways to spend the money.
Why: I believe I thought of this idea because I frequently order off of e-commerce websites. A lot of items I purchase come from Amazon, and I've always wondered how much money they are saving by not paying a sales tax.
a) I found this opportunity from an article about Hertz filing for bankruptcy protection.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/business/hertz-bankruptcy-coronavirus-car-rental.html?searchResultPosition=1
b) Hertz is a popular rental car company, but they are struggling because of COVID-19. They were unable to fully recover from the 2008 recession, and the global pandemic made it even harder for them to turn their business around. Since rental cars will become a popular industry again with Hertz likely out of business, and people are constantly looking for ways to make money, I thought of the idea of car owners allowing others to rent their car for a few days through an app.
c) The prototypical customer could be consumers who are unable to rent a car from a large company, such as those under the age of 25. Also, people who need to rent a car on short notice could be the prototypical customer as well.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit. This sounds like a logistical nightmare with insurance, liability, and potential accidents. I think the concept itself is relatively easy, but in reality, private rental cars would probably cause more harm than good.
Why: I believe I saw this opportunity because I am not old enough to rent a car. It is very frustrating, as I am a legal adult and have been driving for four years, but I still cannot rent a car. If I wanted to go on a trip with my friends and we needed a car, none of us could rent it because of our age. We would have to rely on public transportation or Uber/Lyft to get to places. There have been times where I wanted to plan a trip with my friends, but I quickly ignored the idea because it would be too expensive and frustrating to get around the city without a rental car.
Opportunity 2 (Economic): Universities should provide more scholarships to increase enrollment
a) I found this opportunity from an article about universities accepting students from the waitlist.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/us/coronavirus-college-enrollment.html
b) With the global pandemic going on, many students are putting off college. Some are deciding to enroll in a community college, while others are taking a gap year. Many top universities, such as Cornell and Rice, are contacting students from the waitlist and offering them a spot. These universities are struggling to hit their enrollment quota, which is why they resorted to the waitlist. If students had a financial incentive to attend these colleges during the pandemic, I think more students would enroll.
c) First-time college students are likely to be the prototypical customer. They want to get into a good college, and scholarships are very tempting. Graduate students or adults who are going back to school could also be included.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit because most colleges are struggling financially in some way. Many donors who sponsor scholarships are not donating during the pandemic, and colleges are receiving lots of pressure to provide tuition refunds. Although these universities likely have some money to spare, it is probably not enough to provide a substantial amount of scholarships.
Why: I believe I thought of this opportunity because I am currently in college. Although I am a junior, I am still frustrated that I may be paying full tuition in the Fall to take classes online. I also have friends who are now entering college, and hearing their struggles to start college during a global pandemic made me think of this opportunity.
Opportunity 3 (Regulatory): Creating a course to educate people on how to vote
a) I found this opportunity based on an article about a Florida law requiring people with felony convictions to pay off financial obligations before registering to vote declared unconstitutional.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-law-declared-unconstitutional-paving-way-for-felons-to-vote-11590366054
b) People with felony convictions who can now register to vote are likely out of touch with the voting process and political climate in the U.S. Voting is a very important constitutional right and responsibility. Voters should be informed of the process, how to find candidate information, and the different ways to vote. This led me to my idea of a course. A course would educate these people on our voting system, so that they can become productive and effective voters in society.
c) The prototypical customer could be people with felony convictions who received their reinstatement to vote. Also, new voters, such as high school students or new U.S. citizens, could be the prototypical customer.
d) This opportunity is relatively easy to exploit. Creating the course won't be that difficult, as it could be set up online. Live sections of the course could also be created for those without internet access. However, it would be harder to implement the course. It may be tough to find teachers for the course, as well as funding.
Why: I believe I saw this opportunity because I remember voting on this issue. The new law allowed felons with nonviolent crimes to have their voting rights reinstated. Once I came across the article, it reminded me of voting for the first time, and the experience I had when voting on this issue. This topic is quite interesting, as reinstating voting rights is an attempt to integrate convicted felons into society is a big deal, which is why I think I thought of this opportunity.
Opportunity 4 (Regulatory): Sales tax from e-commerce can help fund small businesses
a) I found this opportunity based on an article explaining the end of zero sales tax for e-commerce companies in South Dakota.
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7671-regulatory-issues-changes.html
b) Now that e-commerce companies in South Dakota are no longer getting away with paying no sales tax, these companies can form a partnership with smaller businesses. Potentially, the sales tax can be used to fund small, local businesses until they get back to nearly normal business conditions. The large e-commerce companies cannot keep the sales tax money anymore, so they might as well put it to good use and help local businesses. I thought of this idea from the fact that small businesses are currently struggling, and since e-commerce companies must now pay sales tax, the money can go towards helping the small businesses.
c) The prototypical customer could be large e-commerce companies and small businesses operating in South Dakota.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit. Large e-commerce companies are already mad about having to pay a sales tax; they won't want to help out small businesses because those businesses are competitors. Even if the small businesses do not directly affect them, they will most likely not want to help out. Also, this idea could be a logistical nightmare. The state will receive the revenue from the tax, and will likely choose other ways to spend the money.
Why: I believe I thought of this idea because I frequently order off of e-commerce websites. A lot of items I purchase come from Amazon, and I've always wondered how much money they are saving by not paying a sales tax.
Identifying Local Opportunities
The local article I chose was The Alligator. The Alligator is a local student newspaper focused on reporting events concerning UF. They also report news involving Gainesville, as well as some national news stories as well.
Opportunity 1
Opportunity 1
Title: UF international students face challenges during COVID-19
Story: International students faced many difficulties in terms of housing because of COVID-19. UF encouraged students to leave campus if possible, which put many international students in a predicament. A student from Albania could not afford the summer housing price UF offered, but she was fortunate enough to find a flight home. Another student from Nepal rejected the summer housing offer but isn't sure if he can return home. Nepal closed its borders, and he is hoping that the borders will open in May. Finally, another student from Kosovo planned to return home, but had to stay at his friend's off-campus apartment when his flight was delayed after his housing contract ended for the spring semester.
Problem: The problem presented in this article is that international students are struggling to find concrete housing during the pandemic. Some students simply can't afford or didn't plan to stay at UF during the summer. Others cannot return to their home country because of the borders being closed. International students in this predicament have a lot of uncertainty surrounding housing, all whilst trying to keep up with their academics.
Problem: The problem presented in this article is that international students are struggling to find concrete housing during the pandemic. Some students simply can't afford or didn't plan to stay at UF during the summer. Others cannot return to their home country because of the borders being closed. International students in this predicament have a lot of uncertainty surrounding housing, all whilst trying to keep up with their academics.
Who: According to the article, international students at UF who are unsure about their housing situation have this problem.
Opportunity 2
Title: UF’s food pantry stays open despite decreased pickups
Story: The UF Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry chose to stay open, despite a significant decrease in checkouts. Before spring break, the pantry had more than 600 checkouts. Once UF went online the week of March 16, the pantry only had 168 checkouts that week. To combat the limited flow of checkouts, the pantry limited its hours and is providing an option for students to order online and pick up their premade bag of food at a specific time.
Problem: The problem presented in this article is that the UF Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry is receiving very little business. Since most students went home, they don't have as many checkouts per week.
Who: According to the article. The UF Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry, which is an organization, has this problem.
Who: According to the article. The UF Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry, which is an organization, has this problem.
Opportunity 3
Title: Gainesville's undocumented immigrants navigate COVID-19 without federal aid
Story: Undocumented immigrants in Gainesville are struggling to navigate COVID-19 without a stimulus check. A specific person referred to as M.J., revealed the struggles of not receiving federal aid and having to continue working at a hotel while taking care of her young son at home. Undocumented immigrants do not have a Social Security number, making them ineligible for federal financial aid. M.J. talks about how she wants to protect her son from the virus by not working, but financially, she must keep working. Although there are some nonprofits based in Gainesville that are aimed to help these undocumented immigrants, the fear of unemployment, deportation, and COVID-19 are still present.
Problem: The problem presented in this article is that undocumented immigrants in Gainesville cannot afford to stop working because they do not receive federal aid. While some nonprofit organizations are trying to help them, the fear of homelessness and deportation is still present.
Who: According to the article, undocumented immigrants, specifically located in Gainesville, have this problem.
Opportunity 4
Title: County threatened with lawsuit over face mask order
Link: https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/alachua-county/county-threatened-with-lawsuit-over-face-mask-order/article_fe6c8ac8-920e-11ea-9957-4bab19afb241.html
Story: A Gainesville attorney threatened Alachua County with a lawsuit over the mandated face mask order. Multiple people have filed complaints about this order, citing discrimination as the reason that the order is unconstitutional. The order exempts people who have preexisting medical conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask, as well as children aged 6 and under. However, the article points out that this order pressures people to explain their medical conditions to random business owners. The county's spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit but believes that the order is completely legal. The attorney stated that if the order is not rescinded shortly, she will move forward with the lawsuit.
Problem: The problem presented in this article is that Alachua County is being threatened with a lawsuit over a mandated mask order. Residents are not happy with the order, and the county must figure out a solution, or else the county will be in legal trouble.
Opportunity 4
Title: County threatened with lawsuit over face mask order
Link: https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/alachua-county/county-threatened-with-lawsuit-over-face-mask-order/article_fe6c8ac8-920e-11ea-9957-4bab19afb241.html
Story: A Gainesville attorney threatened Alachua County with a lawsuit over the mandated face mask order. Multiple people have filed complaints about this order, citing discrimination as the reason that the order is unconstitutional. The order exempts people who have preexisting medical conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask, as well as children aged 6 and under. However, the article points out that this order pressures people to explain their medical conditions to random business owners. The county's spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit but believes that the order is completely legal. The attorney stated that if the order is not rescinded shortly, she will move forward with the lawsuit.
Problem: The problem presented in this article is that Alachua County is being threatened with a lawsuit over a mandated mask order. Residents are not happy with the order, and the county must figure out a solution, or else the county will be in legal trouble.
Who: According to the article, the Alachua County government has this problem.
Opportunity 5
Title: Student mothers struggle to find balance in quarantine
Link: https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/student-mothers-struggle-to-find-balance-in-quarantine/article_b30276bc-92e3-11ea-8850-b772b0d2b2f1.html
Story: Many UF students who are also mothers, are struggling to complete their academic obligations whilst caring for their children. Many students utilized UF's daycare service, but once it closed due to COVID-19, the students had to find other alternatives. One student, in particular, was able to get her mother to move in with her, which eased the stress of studying and taking care of her daughter. Despite the different methods these students are using to take care of their children, all of them experience some sort of guilt. All of the children presented in the article are young, so they are not old enough to understand why their mothers are sitting at a desk for so long, instead of playing. The children want attention from their mothers, and all the mothers feel guilty about ignoring them. Nonetheless, these mothers are figuring out ways to balance their academic life with their young children.
Opportunity 5
Title: Student mothers struggle to find balance in quarantine
Link: https://www.alligator.org/covid-19/student-mothers-struggle-to-find-balance-in-quarantine/article_b30276bc-92e3-11ea-8850-b772b0d2b2f1.html
Story: Many UF students who are also mothers, are struggling to complete their academic obligations whilst caring for their children. Many students utilized UF's daycare service, but once it closed due to COVID-19, the students had to find other alternatives. One student, in particular, was able to get her mother to move in with her, which eased the stress of studying and taking care of her daughter. Despite the different methods these students are using to take care of their children, all of them experience some sort of guilt. All of the children presented in the article are young, so they are not old enough to understand why their mothers are sitting at a desk for so long, instead of playing. The children want attention from their mothers, and all the mothers feel guilty about ignoring them. Nonetheless, these mothers are figuring out ways to balance their academic life with their young children.
Problem: The problem presented in the article is that due to COVID-19, UF's daycare center is closed. Students who utilized this service have to find alternative ways to take care of their children and study.
Who: According to the article, UF mothers with young children who are also students have this problem.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Forming an Opportunity Belief
Beginning Point: Belief
I have a belief that college students are struggling to motivate themselves to study at home during the global pandemic.
Describing My Belief
The unmet need is motivating college students to study and complete their assignments with as much effort as they would have exerted in a semester with access to the typical resources offered at college, such as a library, coffee shop, or private office area in an apartment/rental house. While I am not sure as to how many students currently have this unmet need, I would confidently say that at least 50% or more of college students are currently struggling to motivate themselves to complete assignments and study. As mentioned before, college students, including both undergraduate, and graduate/professional students have this need. The desire for a way to motivate college students recently came from the COVID-19 global pandemic. Before the pandemic, libraries, coffee shops, and other resources were fully operational with no restrictions. Students could work in outside areas without at-home distractions.
In order to attempt to meet this need, students are forcing themselves to complete their assignments or study, often doing the bare minimum to pass the class. Other students are creating a routine for themselves, hoping that a sense of normalcy will motivate them to put the required amount of effort into studying and completing assignments. However, many students are not attempting to meet this need, as it may seem too hard to meet, or the effort required to meet the need is not worth the hassle.
Prototypical Customer
The prototypical customers are undergraduate and graduate/professional students. These are the types of customers I interviewed.
Interview 1
I interviewed a senior in college who attends UCF locally and commutes every day from her home.
Interview 2
Next, I interviewed a first-year law student who attends law school in New York and commutes to school from his apartment.
Interview 3
Finally, I interviewed another senior in college who attends UF away from her hometown. She lives in student-affiliated housing near her school.
Reflect
I learned that my opportunity is very situational. College students are lacking motivation significantly because of the global pandemic. Once the pandemic is over, college students may not struggle as much with finding the motivation to complete assignments and study. The most surprising thing I learned about my opportunity is the different motivators college students would enjoy. The UCF student liked the idea of an app that provided some sort of reward or a way to lock the phone and prevent distractions. The law student said he wouldn't use an app at all, but rather suggested a supplement that increased motivation. The UF student suggested getting paid to increase her motivation, rather than use an app or a supplement.
I also learned that not as many students as I expected are affected by the closure of libraries and coffee shops. The UCF student prefers to study at coffee shops, but because she attends college locally, she is very used to studying at home with her family. The law student mostly studies in his apartment, so the closure of coffee shops and libraries only affected him when he returned to his home. The UF student however, was greatly affected by the closure of libraries. She usually studies at libraries, and has found it quite difficult to motivate herself to study at home.
Summarize
I believe that some of my original opportunity is still there. It is plausible to create a product, whether it is an app or a supplement, to increase motivation and help college students study better. However, I am unsure of how effective this hypothetical product would be at fulfilling that need. After all, having the motivation to complete assignments varies greatly from person to person. A product might not do well enough to increase a student's motivation due to the individualization of motivation.
I believe that my new opportunity is more accurate than when I started because I received insightful consumer feedback. When I thought of this belief, I based it off of my perception of motivation during the global pandemic. When I interviewed three prototypical customers, I began to see the perception of people who could potentially use the product. College students study differently, and depending on their academic program, they will vary in the amount of motivation necessary to succeed. A law student will likely benefit more from extensive amounts of motivation compared to a freshman student taking general classes. Nonetheless, the insight I gathered from the three interviews led me to a more accurate opportunity.
Entrepreneurs should adapt some aspects of their opportunities based on customer feedback. At the end of the day, consumers will not buy a product if the product doesn't fit their unmet needs. Customer feedback allows the entrepreneur to understand current unmet needs, and adapt their opportunities without wasting resources on a product that won't sell. However, the entrepreneur shouldn't completely change their opportunity because customer feedback varies widely, and some customer feedback is not useful or suitable for particular opportunities.
I have a belief that college students are struggling to motivate themselves to study at home during the global pandemic.
Describing My Belief
The unmet need is motivating college students to study and complete their assignments with as much effort as they would have exerted in a semester with access to the typical resources offered at college, such as a library, coffee shop, or private office area in an apartment/rental house. While I am not sure as to how many students currently have this unmet need, I would confidently say that at least 50% or more of college students are currently struggling to motivate themselves to complete assignments and study. As mentioned before, college students, including both undergraduate, and graduate/professional students have this need. The desire for a way to motivate college students recently came from the COVID-19 global pandemic. Before the pandemic, libraries, coffee shops, and other resources were fully operational with no restrictions. Students could work in outside areas without at-home distractions.
In order to attempt to meet this need, students are forcing themselves to complete their assignments or study, often doing the bare minimum to pass the class. Other students are creating a routine for themselves, hoping that a sense of normalcy will motivate them to put the required amount of effort into studying and completing assignments. However, many students are not attempting to meet this need, as it may seem too hard to meet, or the effort required to meet the need is not worth the hassle.
Prototypical Customer
The prototypical customers are undergraduate and graduate/professional students. These are the types of customers I interviewed.
Interview 1
I interviewed a senior in college who attends UCF locally and commutes every day from her home.
Interview 2
Next, I interviewed a first-year law student who attends law school in New York and commutes to school from his apartment.
Interview 3
Finally, I interviewed another senior in college who attends UF away from her hometown. She lives in student-affiliated housing near her school.
Reflect
I learned that my opportunity is very situational. College students are lacking motivation significantly because of the global pandemic. Once the pandemic is over, college students may not struggle as much with finding the motivation to complete assignments and study. The most surprising thing I learned about my opportunity is the different motivators college students would enjoy. The UCF student liked the idea of an app that provided some sort of reward or a way to lock the phone and prevent distractions. The law student said he wouldn't use an app at all, but rather suggested a supplement that increased motivation. The UF student suggested getting paid to increase her motivation, rather than use an app or a supplement.
I also learned that not as many students as I expected are affected by the closure of libraries and coffee shops. The UCF student prefers to study at coffee shops, but because she attends college locally, she is very used to studying at home with her family. The law student mostly studies in his apartment, so the closure of coffee shops and libraries only affected him when he returned to his home. The UF student however, was greatly affected by the closure of libraries. She usually studies at libraries, and has found it quite difficult to motivate herself to study at home.
Summarize
I believe that some of my original opportunity is still there. It is plausible to create a product, whether it is an app or a supplement, to increase motivation and help college students study better. However, I am unsure of how effective this hypothetical product would be at fulfilling that need. After all, having the motivation to complete assignments varies greatly from person to person. A product might not do well enough to increase a student's motivation due to the individualization of motivation.
I believe that my new opportunity is more accurate than when I started because I received insightful consumer feedback. When I thought of this belief, I based it off of my perception of motivation during the global pandemic. When I interviewed three prototypical customers, I began to see the perception of people who could potentially use the product. College students study differently, and depending on their academic program, they will vary in the amount of motivation necessary to succeed. A law student will likely benefit more from extensive amounts of motivation compared to a freshman student taking general classes. Nonetheless, the insight I gathered from the three interviews led me to a more accurate opportunity.
Entrepreneurs should adapt some aspects of their opportunities based on customer feedback. At the end of the day, consumers will not buy a product if the product doesn't fit their unmet needs. Customer feedback allows the entrepreneur to understand current unmet needs, and adapt their opportunities without wasting resources on a product that won't sell. However, the entrepreneur shouldn't completely change their opportunity because customer feedback varies widely, and some customer feedback is not useful or suitable for particular opportunities.
Saturday, May 16, 2020
My Entrepreneurship Story
A time I was exposed to entrepreneurship was during the Spring 2019 semester. I was attending my first meeting of an organization I was interested in. I was a freshman at the time and had no idea what to expect. I saw the flyer about a speaker I've never heard of and decided to listen in.
I'm not part of the organization anymore, but I am so glad I decided to stay and listen. The speaker was Brandon West, the CEO and Founder of PHOS. According to its website, PHOS is a "digital agency helping businesses identify opportunities for growth through strategic consulting, branding, web design, and marketing solutions. However, Brandon wasn't at the meeting to solely talk about his journey, rather he was there to share the wisdom he picked up about how to become a person everyone wants to hire.
I recognize that most entrepreneurs work for themselves, and Brandon's talk wasn't exactly targeted towards entrepreneurship. However, he explained how his tips and tricks helped him become the successful entrepreneur he is today. For example, his tip of being people smart can easily be applied to entrepreneurship. Brandon was smart enough about people to recognize the demand for a local digital marketing agency, and by acting upon his observations, he created a successful business. I was intrigued by his talk, and I still have the notes I wrote down from his talk on my phone. He gave us many tips, but the few that stuck out to me are below.
I enrolled in ENT3003 because I needed an upper-division elective, and I have never taken an entrepreneurship class before. I also like learning about new topics and exposing myself to areas I haven't discovered before. By taking this class, I hope to look at problems from a new perspective, as well as gain insight into how famous entrepreneurs achieved a monumental level of success.
I remember Brandon taking this picture with all of us and found it on the company's Instagram!
I'm not part of the organization anymore, but I am so glad I decided to stay and listen. The speaker was Brandon West, the CEO and Founder of PHOS. According to its website, PHOS is a "digital agency helping businesses identify opportunities for growth through strategic consulting, branding, web design, and marketing solutions. However, Brandon wasn't at the meeting to solely talk about his journey, rather he was there to share the wisdom he picked up about how to become a person everyone wants to hire.
I recognize that most entrepreneurs work for themselves, and Brandon's talk wasn't exactly targeted towards entrepreneurship. However, he explained how his tips and tricks helped him become the successful entrepreneur he is today. For example, his tip of being people smart can easily be applied to entrepreneurship. Brandon was smart enough about people to recognize the demand for a local digital marketing agency, and by acting upon his observations, he created a successful business. I was intrigued by his talk, and I still have the notes I wrote down from his talk on my phone. He gave us many tips, but the few that stuck out to me are below.
- Be humble
- Avoid bulldogs (past haters)
- Avoid boredom and low integrity
I enrolled in ENT3003 because I needed an upper-division elective, and I have never taken an entrepreneurship class before. I also like learning about new topics and exposing myself to areas I haven't discovered before. By taking this class, I hope to look at problems from a new perspective, as well as gain insight into how famous entrepreneurs achieved a monumental level of success.
I remember Brandon taking this picture with all of us and found it on the company's Instagram!
Bug List
Here is my list of twenty things that bug me.
1. People who cough or sneeze into their hands instead of their elbow.
This bug exists because some people were taught to cover their cough/sneeze into their hands to avoid spreading their germs to others. However, this is counterintuitive since the germs from their hands are transferred to other surfaces when touched.
2. People who are constantly on their phone when I am around them, but don't answer my texts/calls.
This bug exists either because people choose to actively ignore my incoming calls and texts, and then stay on their phone during a boring situation, or because people don't recognize the appropriate times to be on their phone and when to answer calls/texts.
3. Wasps that won't leave me alone when I am exercising outside.
This bug exists because wasps mostly exist outside. They are flying around for whatever reason, but their presence hinders my ability to exercise when nearby.
4. The cops in my hometown constantly set up speed traps on Lockwood Blvd.
This bug exists because Lockwood is 35 mph, and people generally speed on this road. Lockwood has many residential neighborhoods and a high school on the road, so cops see it as the perfect place to give someone a ticket.
5. Ordering my food in advance and when I am supposed to pick it up, it is not ready.
This bug exists due to the misuse of time or a lack of proper resources. Workers may be understaffed, so they aren't able to have my order ready at the pick-up time. It's also possible that the workers ignore the order until it is time to pick it up, causing a delay in receiving my food.
6. People who don't move forward a few seconds after the light turns green, even if other cars are honking behind them.
This bug exists because people are on their phones or distracted by something else and not paying attention to the light.
7. Putting in new contacts that are already ripped.
This bug exists because contacts are mass-produced. Some contacts that are ripped unfortunately make it out to the packaging and sale stage, causing for some faulty contacts in my order.
8. Many pairs of pants will fit my legs but are too big for my waist and vice versa.
This bug exists because the pairs of pants I buy are sold by a large company who produces clothes based on a specific sizing chart. They don't have the option to alter pants for petite people due to mass production.
9. Consistently receiving the wrong drive-thru order at Popeyes in my hometown.
This bug exists because the workers are pressed for time in a drive-thru and they don't always check to make sure the order is correct. It is also possible that miscommunication occurs in terms of what meals are already in the bag, causing me to not receive my food.
10. The plastic packaging used to enclose scissors and other products is almost impossible to open.
This bug exists because hard plastic is very durable and keeps the product safe. However, it is very hard to open without scissors, which is counterintuitive if the product you are trying to open is scissors.
11. So many delicious foods (like granola bars or desserts) contain nuts.
This bug exists because nuts are a very popular food, and many people love to eat nuts with dessert or in granola bars. The manufacturer of these products recognize the popularity and make many foods with nuts in them.
12. When I get hangnails, they pull off my skin when I try to get rid of them.
This bug exists because I tend to get a lot of hangnails, and when I try to gently pull them off, a whole part of my skin rips off. It's also possible that I am not doing anything actively to prevent hangnails.
13. People who jaywalk at the corner of University Ave. and 13th St in Gainesville.
This bug exists because some people don't have the patience to wait for the crosswalk to open up. They ignore the cars who have the right of way and proceed to walk anyways.
14. People who smoke on a patio that is outside, but is slightly enclosed so the smoke stays in the air.
This bug exists because some people still smoke, and they may think that because they are on a patio outside, the smoke will easily go away. However, many patios are slightly enclosed, causing the smoke to take longer to disappear.
15. When I write with a pen, it smears the ink all over the paper.
This bug exists because the ink isn't dry when my hand grazes over the paper.
16. During certain times of the year, lovebugs swarm in one area or constantly follow me.
This bug exists because lovebugs invaded Florida, and when it is lovebug season, it is miserable to go outside without getting swarmed by them.
17. The traffic is so bad on 13th St in Gainesville at 5pm, it takes me 15 minutes to drive .5 miles.
This bug exists because 5 pm is usually rush hour, and everyone is traveling on 13th St. to go home. The road isn't big enough for the number of cars that use it.
18. My neighbors in my hometown have kids who scream very loud every day in the afternoon.
This bug exists because my neighbors have young kids. The kids either don't understand that they shouldn't scream so loud that the whole street hears them, or the parents decided not to correct their behavior.
19. Some hair ties break when I try to use them for the first time.
This bug exists because some hair ties I use do not stretch that far, causing them to snap when I try to stretch them.
20. When I paint my nails, some nail polish will chip right after, even if I use a topcoat.
This bug exists because either the nail polish I use is not that good of quality, or after I paint my nails, I participate in activities that ruin my nails.
Reflection
When coming up with this list, I initially found it quite challenging. The first day was the hardest, and I came up with about five bugs before I couldn't think of anymore. To combat this, I wrote three things that bugged me every day until I came up with a list of 20. By breaking down the assignment, it was much easier to come up with a list. Some days I could think of more than three, so the assignment took me about 4 days to complete. I think I found this assignment difficult because I don't normally think of things or instances that bother me, so it was hard to recall 20 items or events that bothered me. However, once I came up with the strategy to write down three bugs every day, the assignment wasn't as difficult.
1. People who cough or sneeze into their hands instead of their elbow.
This bug exists because some people were taught to cover their cough/sneeze into their hands to avoid spreading their germs to others. However, this is counterintuitive since the germs from their hands are transferred to other surfaces when touched.
2. People who are constantly on their phone when I am around them, but don't answer my texts/calls.
This bug exists either because people choose to actively ignore my incoming calls and texts, and then stay on their phone during a boring situation, or because people don't recognize the appropriate times to be on their phone and when to answer calls/texts.
3. Wasps that won't leave me alone when I am exercising outside.
This bug exists because wasps mostly exist outside. They are flying around for whatever reason, but their presence hinders my ability to exercise when nearby.
4. The cops in my hometown constantly set up speed traps on Lockwood Blvd.
This bug exists because Lockwood is 35 mph, and people generally speed on this road. Lockwood has many residential neighborhoods and a high school on the road, so cops see it as the perfect place to give someone a ticket.
5. Ordering my food in advance and when I am supposed to pick it up, it is not ready.
This bug exists due to the misuse of time or a lack of proper resources. Workers may be understaffed, so they aren't able to have my order ready at the pick-up time. It's also possible that the workers ignore the order until it is time to pick it up, causing a delay in receiving my food.
6. People who don't move forward a few seconds after the light turns green, even if other cars are honking behind them.
This bug exists because people are on their phones or distracted by something else and not paying attention to the light.
7. Putting in new contacts that are already ripped.
This bug exists because contacts are mass-produced. Some contacts that are ripped unfortunately make it out to the packaging and sale stage, causing for some faulty contacts in my order.
8. Many pairs of pants will fit my legs but are too big for my waist and vice versa.
This bug exists because the pairs of pants I buy are sold by a large company who produces clothes based on a specific sizing chart. They don't have the option to alter pants for petite people due to mass production.
9. Consistently receiving the wrong drive-thru order at Popeyes in my hometown.
This bug exists because the workers are pressed for time in a drive-thru and they don't always check to make sure the order is correct. It is also possible that miscommunication occurs in terms of what meals are already in the bag, causing me to not receive my food.
10. The plastic packaging used to enclose scissors and other products is almost impossible to open.
This bug exists because hard plastic is very durable and keeps the product safe. However, it is very hard to open without scissors, which is counterintuitive if the product you are trying to open is scissors.
11. So many delicious foods (like granola bars or desserts) contain nuts.
This bug exists because nuts are a very popular food, and many people love to eat nuts with dessert or in granola bars. The manufacturer of these products recognize the popularity and make many foods with nuts in them.
12. When I get hangnails, they pull off my skin when I try to get rid of them.
This bug exists because I tend to get a lot of hangnails, and when I try to gently pull them off, a whole part of my skin rips off. It's also possible that I am not doing anything actively to prevent hangnails.
13. People who jaywalk at the corner of University Ave. and 13th St in Gainesville.
This bug exists because some people don't have the patience to wait for the crosswalk to open up. They ignore the cars who have the right of way and proceed to walk anyways.
14. People who smoke on a patio that is outside, but is slightly enclosed so the smoke stays in the air.
This bug exists because some people still smoke, and they may think that because they are on a patio outside, the smoke will easily go away. However, many patios are slightly enclosed, causing the smoke to take longer to disappear.
15. When I write with a pen, it smears the ink all over the paper.
This bug exists because the ink isn't dry when my hand grazes over the paper.
16. During certain times of the year, lovebugs swarm in one area or constantly follow me.
This bug exists because lovebugs invaded Florida, and when it is lovebug season, it is miserable to go outside without getting swarmed by them.
17. The traffic is so bad on 13th St in Gainesville at 5pm, it takes me 15 minutes to drive .5 miles.
This bug exists because 5 pm is usually rush hour, and everyone is traveling on 13th St. to go home. The road isn't big enough for the number of cars that use it.
18. My neighbors in my hometown have kids who scream very loud every day in the afternoon.
This bug exists because my neighbors have young kids. The kids either don't understand that they shouldn't scream so loud that the whole street hears them, or the parents decided not to correct their behavior.
19. Some hair ties break when I try to use them for the first time.
This bug exists because some hair ties I use do not stretch that far, causing them to snap when I try to stretch them.
20. When I paint my nails, some nail polish will chip right after, even if I use a topcoat.
This bug exists because either the nail polish I use is not that good of quality, or after I paint my nails, I participate in activities that ruin my nails.
Reflection
When coming up with this list, I initially found it quite challenging. The first day was the hardest, and I came up with about five bugs before I couldn't think of anymore. To combat this, I wrote three things that bugged me every day until I came up with a list of 20. By breaking down the assignment, it was much easier to come up with a list. Some days I could think of more than three, so the assignment took me about 4 days to complete. I think I found this assignment difficult because I don't normally think of things or instances that bother me, so it was hard to recall 20 items or events that bothered me. However, once I came up with the strategy to write down three bugs every day, the assignment wasn't as difficult.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
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