Technology Plan Assignment
Creating a business plan is the primary activity of BA 499 Business Planning, the capstone course required for business majors. The purpose of this assignment is for you to think about 1) how your type of business could achieve competitive advantages through the use oftechnology and 2) how information technology can be used to support your core transaction processing. To do this, you will need to find and examine two different software applications that could be used by your business. (Ifyou don't have an idea for a business plan yet, that's okay- just pick a specific type of business that you could potentially be interested in.) Note: Many classes evolve around your business idea so it will benefit you in the long run to decide on a business type and use the same business for your remaining courses.
Secondly, you will need to develop your information system that is intertwined within your marketing strategy. Information systems will aid in customer data collection and can be used to facilitate customer retention if properly used to its full potential. You will develop a strategy that uses your information system to attain and retain current and future customers.
Formatting and Content Requirements: Your report must be a minimum of three full pages (max 5) and should be professional in appearance. Specifically, include a centered title at the top of the first page, and create a page footer with your name, date, and page number (in Page x ofy format as shown in this document). The following five sections should be included with underlined headings, paragraphs should be single-spaced with double-spacing between and no extra spacing between lines. Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
Business Description:
• Provide a thorough description of your potential business: products/services your business will provide, your target market, an estimate of the size ofthe business, and where your business will be located. If you are proposing a unique type of business, be sure that your business model (how do you make your money) is evident. Copying and using an existing business is not permissible. Be able to discuss why you chose a particular target market and location for your business.
Social Media and Marketing Strategy:
• Discuss your social media and e-commerce strategies. Some possible questions to consider: What types ofWeb 2.0 strategies would you employ? Would you have a web site? What purpose(s) would it serve? Do you anticipate conducting any B2B or B2C e-commerce? How can you use social media to increase your competitive advantage? Which social media sites will you use (you must specifically name the ones you will use)?
Information System:
• List at least five different pieces ofdata (other than name, phone, email) that you will collect from your potential customers - assume you can get any information you would like such as birthdate, social security#, etc.
• Two ofthe five pieces ofdata must be unique to your industry (e.g. ifselling alcohol, you would need a birthdate). Be specific and use all five pieces of data. This is the heart of your information system so attention to detail is crucial. Specifically address what processes you will use to attain and retain your customers with your information system. For example, will you mail them a postcard on their birthday?
Data processing needs
• Look for a software solution that is specific to your type of business. General applications are available for common business tasks (such as payroll and accounting), but there is also a wide range of"vertical software applications" that address the needs of specific types of businesses, such as retail management, service management, restaurant management, fundraising, etc. Often, there are even more focused solutions within an industry type - for example, there is retail software specific to bicycle shops, restaurant management software addressing the unique needs of pizzerias, etc. Find software that is customized as much as possible to your specific business type.
• Describe why your company needs a software program and what type you are searching for.
• Find and compare two like applications (purchasable software or a web-based"cloud computing" solution) that address your core transaction processes. For example, if your business is a retail store, focus on a system that streamlines point of sale (POS) and inventory processes.
• Create a table (sample table shown below) to compare your selected programs using the format shown below. In the first column, list at least eight software requirements for your business, and indicate whether the solutions that you are considering would meet these requirements.
Example of selected software requirements for a Property Management Company. Start each requirement with a VERB - each requirement should complete the sentence: "The system will be used to
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Software Requirements
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Name of Software A
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Name of Software B
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Process Rental Income
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Yes
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Yes
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Calculate Management Fees
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Yes
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No
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Enter work orders for repairs
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Yes
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Yes
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Issue monthly owner statements Track tenant complaints
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Yes No
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Yes Yes
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Track security deposits
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Yes
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No
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Print 1099 forms
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Yes
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No
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• Choose one of the two applications that you looked into and state why you would choose that application over the other.
• In narrative form, specifically describe two business processes that are automated or streamlined through the use of your chosen software.
Operating Environment
• Your solution will determine your hardware needs. What are the specifications of the hardware/operating system needed to run your chosen software? Most web sites include specific information on system requirements. List all of the requirements in this section.
• For every piece of equipment that your business needs, you need to provide the specifications of that hardware (processor speed, memory, OS, etc.).
• If your chosen solution is a web-based SaaS offering, you will still need to supply the specifications of the hardware and operating system that you will be using to access the Saas.
• You will not get credit for this section if you merely put that you need a computer that can access the Internet.
Preliminary Technology Plan
My business idea will be opining sea food restaurant. I chose Florence Oregon to be the geographical location for my business. I chose Florence to be my geographical location because, it is near to the ocean. And a lot of people who visit Florence looking for sea food restaurants. I chose "Golden Fish" as a name of my restaurant. My marketing plan will focus on Internet and social media advertising. I will have a website and I will also call it "Golden Fish". I will put beautiful pictures for dishes that we serve. Likewise, I think it is important to have Facebook and Instagram pages for more advertising. The initial data that I will collect about my customers first their names and addresses of course. Furthermore, I will collect their E-mail addresses. This will help me reach them easily. I will also collect their ages because, older people have their own eating habits. But most of young people prefer more delicious food than healthy food. I will collect weather they are married or not. This will help me know if most of my customers have children or not, if so, I will add more kid's meals. I would like to know their average income, so that will help me put suitable prices.