Assignment 4A- Forming an Opportunity Belief

I believe that there is an unmet need for people who want to go to a store, restaurant, bar, etc, but only want to go when it is not crowded.  There could be an app in which businesses offer their current capacity so that customers can pick the perfect time to go.  People who have busy days and need to be quick when running errands would benefit in a big way from this app.  This need came when I tried to go get a haircut between two classes.  I went across town to the barber shop, and there was over an hour wait.  Since I didn't have enough time to wait without missing my next class, I headed back to campus and waited until the next day to try to get a haircut.  If I had known that the wait was so long, I could have spent that time being productive.  As of now I would assume most people call places to ask about a wait time.  However, you wouldn't call a place like Walmart and say "How busy is it?"  The app would tell you the average wait time of people at cash registers for stores such as these as well.

#1: Early twenties college male

• What is the exact nature of the need?
• "Many people are busy and information about the time required to go to any given business may interrupt their schedule, and this app will allow them to choose most efficiently what fits into that schedule."
• Do you experience the need all the time or only sometimes?
• "Sometimes depending on my needs at any given time of the day."
• How long have you had the need?
• "Since I began to drive and began to do more things on my own rather than depending on somebody else."
• When did you first become aware of the need?
• "I became aware of this need during this interview."
• How are you currently addressing the need?
• "Taking chances and keeping in mind the time of day when you need to accomplish these tasks."
• How satisfied are you with the solution?
• "I think that this solution would solve the need, as it would give me a better idea of how to schedule my day."

Reflection:  I now realize that this app would be affecting people from an early age.  If people start using this app as soon as they are able to start driving, then this will allow them to develop time management skills from an early age.  This interviewee is at the age range where he would benefit a lot as college classes and involvement take up a lot of time.

#2: Middle aged mom

• What is the exact nature of the need?
• "Every day during the week I have to worry about picking up and dropping my kids off at school as well as their sports practices.  It would be very helpful to know when I can squeeze in some small errands between drop offs."
• Do you experience the need all the time or only sometimes?
• "I experience this need every day, I never really have a slow schedule so I could use anything that will help me better manage my time."
• How long have you had the need?
• "Probably after I had my first child, thats when my schedule really started to get crazy."
• When did you first become aware of the need?
• "I realized the need when I picked up my son from middle school and had about an hour before I had to get my daughter from elementary school.  I tried to make a quick run into Publix but when I got in there all of the lines were at least 10 people long.  I realized I didn't have time to wait in the lines so I left and had to do my shopping after I picked up my daughter."
• How are you currently addressing the need?
• "Basically trial and error.  I just run into whichever store I need to go to and hope that I get lucky with short lines."
• How satisfied are you with this solution?
• "I like the idea a lot, I think it would really help me cut down on lost time and allow me to get more done during the day."

Reflection:  This is most likely the clientele that would benefit the most from the app.  Parents that have to juggle their schedules as well as their children's need to make sure they are taking advantage of all the opportunities that they have to run errands.  Most parents would probably prefer not having to wait in long lines if they have their kids with them, as they must be watched closely in public.

#3: Elderly, retired woman

• What is the exact nature of the need?
• "I get most of my errands done early in the day so the lines are usually short."
• Do you experience the need all the time or only sometimes?
• "Only sometimes if I decide to do my shopping in the afternoon."
• How long have you had the need?
• "I don't think I have really been in a situation since I retired where I didn't have enough time to run my errands."
• When did you first become aware of the need?
• "There was one time I tried to do my shopping after I met my grandson for dinner and the lines at the supermarket were ridiculous."
• How are you currently addressing the need?
• "I just do my shopping in the morning when most people are at work or in school."
• How satisfied are you with the solution?
• "I think that this app would help if I find myself with a busy schedule."

Reflection:  Since this woman does not have a lot of obligations throughout the week, she most likely would not have a strong use for the app.  I thought that elderly people mostly running errands in the morning was a stereotype, but it seems that this is not the case.

Summary:

My original opportunity is still at play, as the majority of the population has obligations and time restraints throughout the week.  I think there is a greater need for this than I realized, as I did not include people that just started driving in my original target.  I believe that entrepreneurs should adapt as much as possible to the needs of their customers, within reason.  Once a company has an established customer base and is profitable, then they can start to be firm in not changing their opportunities.