Friday, September 28, 2018
9) Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2
Who: When conducting my interviews there are several businesses that share a lot in common with others in my business opportunity. In four of my interviews, I just so happened to be interviewing people who are and have worked for small local restaurants. In smaller local restaurants, they do not have sanitation pumps near grills and where food is prepared. To wash hands employees must walk all the way to the bathroom. All four agreed that smaller restaurants do not have as big of a budget as more profitable stores. So, a low-cost sanitation product is something they would consider. It would be especially useful to employees in the store.
What: The one sole interviewee, said they wouldn’t necessarily need it because they have their own hand sanitizer and would not trust hand sanitizer at gas stations. This is something I never thought about if people do not trust gas stations for food and their gas pumps. Why would they trust gas stations for hand sanitizer purposes? Gas stations have a negative association as something that people think is dirty so they may not want to use the hand sanitizer.
Why: I think the needs are the same, it is just repurposed for a different setting. I initially thought of a product that would be good for gas stations and customers who use their gas pumps. I had no idea that employees in small restaurants were going through sanitation issues at work. This opens another avenue for low-cost sanitation products.
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Inside the Boundary
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Outside the Boundary
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Gas stations and people who want to clean their hands after pumping gas. Smaller restaurants and their employees who prepare food
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People and businesses who do not care about keeping their customers and employees safe from health risks
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To help reduce the spread of germs and bacteria.
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The need is not to increase the risk of the germs and not for people who do not care about their overall health
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The need exists because the government and gas stations are not doing their part in including important public health products
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The purpose of the product is for the overall improvement of the health in society. This product will not be used or purchased by businesses or governments that want to reduce the risk of germs and bacteria
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Friday, September 21, 2018
8) Solving The Problem
1) Selected Opportunity
In exercise seven, I chose a public health opportunity. I think customers do not know the magnitude of the bacteria and viruses that accompany gas station pumps. But I believe that if customers were given a means to clean their hands after pumping, they would if sanitation products were conveniently placed. Also, if people were educated about the health risks of gas pumps then sanitation products would be more widespread. I think that gas stations have hesitation to include sanitation products on gas pumps, because they feel as though it could be expensive. Furthermore, gas stations may feel that the responsibility of sanitation products should be the government’s and not theirs. Also, some gas stations might have a mindset that if customers want to clean their hands they can come inside to wash them.
2) Product:
A low-cost sanitization product that would be sold to small-medium sized gas stations. The sanitation product will be approximately 16oz and placed by the card reader on the pump. It will be a small black box in which a customer can push the top of the box and sanitizer will be dispensed. To prevent allergic reactions, there will be a sign above the box that instructs customers to clean their hands as well as a warning and a list of ingredients. These hand sanitizer boxes will benefit gas stations because it will allow customers to have a clean gas fill up experience. Thus, customers will be more likely to come back to the gas station. My strategy would be to meet with local gas stations and start a small rollout of sanitation products. This way I would be able to see the pros and cons to make changes in the design or efficiency of the product.
7) Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1
1)
Small to medium size gas stations in Gainesville are not providing their customers with a way a cleaning their hands after pumping gas, because they are unaware of the health risks and because they cannot afford it. As a result, people are more prone to getting sick. This is a public health opportunity that health companies need to take advantage of.
2)
The Who: Gas stations in Gainesville
That What: They are not providing sanitation to customers after they pump gas
The Why: They are unaware of the health risks and they cannot they afford it
3)
Testing the Who: I believe there are other gas stations in different cities that could benefit from getting educated on the health risks of gas pumps and low-cost sanitation.
Testing the What: Even if a gas station has sanitation that does not mean customers will use it. As a result, gas stations may waste money on a product customers may not use. Will gas stations care to buy customers sanitation? How could the gas stations benefit?
Testing the Why: Gas stations may say that they should not have to buy sanitation for customers it should be provided for free by the government. In addition, a small number of customers could have an allergic reaction to the ingredients of sanitation. However, society as a whole could still benefit drastically.
4)
Interview Summary: After looking at all the information from my interview, 4 out of 5 people said they would directly benefit from this need. However, one person said they would not be directly impacted by this need only because they carry hand sanitizer with them in their car all the time. However, the individual who did not need the resources saw the great potential that a sanitation product could have. In addition, the same individual said they could save more money on hand sanitizer if a sanitation product was implemented at gas stations
5)
Reflection: From the interviews, I have now realized the people who will use this product are individuals who have lower hygiene standards compared to people who higher standards. Some people feel the need to carry hand sanitizer, while some don't. I have also learned that gas stations can really benefit from a sanitation product because customers can assoicate a clean feeling with that particular gas station which could increase revenue in the long run.
Friday, September 14, 2018
6) Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends
Economic Trend #1: E-Waste Offers an Economic Opportunity
b) I believe an opportunity exists because as technology gets faster the faster we will be getting rid of our older devices. Also, throwing away electronic devices is bad for the environment so if we remain proactive on this opportunities then future generations won’t have to deal with this as much.
c) The customer in this will be individuals who take environmental safety seriously. Also, governments will be customers because they will have to invest in these opportunities
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit because we must get people to convert from throwing all their trash in one place. We have to now add another bin for electronic devices on top of the recycle bin. Getting people to convert from the norm is hard, but not impossible.
Why Did I See This: After seeing a lot of videos about what is happening to our environment I take things like this seriously. I believe we need to act now because climate change is real and we need to be prepared to deal with the effects. Therefore, I saw an opportunity in electronic waste and how we can create a process that properly disposes of it.
Economic Trend #2: A Massive Increase in the Working Population
b) An opportunity exists because as the world population increases there will be an increase in demand for highly skilled and educated workers. Developed countries need more skilled workers for the economies and this in effect benefits the world.
c) The customer will be companies around the world looking for educated and trained workers. Governments will also be likely customers as well because they want to attract top talent around the world to fill the roles. Countries that have more skilled workers will have more potential to benefit their economy.
d) This opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit because many countries do not want to fix their labor practices that allow for people from other countries to come work there. Many people also believe that foreigners are stealing their jobs when the reality is that together we can benefit the global economy.
Why Did I See This: After taking a class on the global economy this particular opportunity stuck out to me. As I learned more about why a strong global economy is better for everyone this opportunity makes sense to and I believe others would understand if they learned more about it.
Regulatory Change #1: Endangered and Threatened Species: Revision of Regulations
b) I believe an opportunity exists here for the environment. We as a society need to protect endangered species. Some of the endangered animals play a crucial role in wildlife and their elimination could have long-term effects
c) The customer is in this situation is society. We will benefit from having diverse species on our planet. This allows animal species to stay in balance because some are predators of animals that could overpopulate our planet.
d) This opportunity is relatively hard because there are people who don’t care about the laws in place and will still hunt these endangered animals until there aren’t any left.
Why Did I See This: I think regulatory changes like this makes it easier for others to see the good opportunities that exist with limiting the hunting of endangered animals. After researching regulatory changes, I picked this one because I believe issues for our environment are important
Regulatory Change #2: Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children
b) I believe a social opportunity exists here with introducing new regulations when taking custody of foreign children and minors. ICE has gotten out of control when detaining illegal immigrants. They took children to different facilities and separated them from their parents, which isn’t humane. Furthermore, the facilities that they were detained in are comparable to prisons.
c) The customers in the situation are individuals who are detained would have to be treated fairly by ICE and can stay in facilities that are up to date. This new regulation would keep families together instead of separating them.
d) This opportunity should be relatively easy to accomplish. ICE is funded by the federal government so when a new regulation is handed down by the federal government then they must follow the new rules in place. It may take some time, but it should be quick because of federal laws.
Why Did I See This: I saw this opportunity because I think
that socially we must become better people. I believe that others can see this
opportunity because as humans we know that the conditions that the parents and
children were put in were not humane. This new regulation is an opportunity that
will help keep families together, but hopefully in the long run we can
introduce new laws that can help them stay in the country.
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