9A - Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

Inside The Boundary	Outside The Boundary
College and potentially even High school upperclassmen with need for experience.	Non students or student without the need for experience.
Need to gain quality job, and real world experience pertaining to their major.	Do not need the experience in order to find a quality job and do not have the graduation requirement.
Experience either necessary to find a good job or Internship is required for college graduation. Looking for an internship that also allows them to get paid.	·         Already have a job that is allowing employee to get degree simultaneously. ·         Found quality experience on their own without needing help from their school. ·         Job field for some reason does not require experience. ·         Major program already has a similar program.

So far in this process I have been able to eliminate certain people groups as potential customers. In doing so I have narrowed down my potential users to High school upperclassmen and college students. The reason for eliminating young high school students is that many are not old enough to work as well as them not knowing what they want to do in the future. With that said I decided in order to get feedback it is only necessary to interview students and former students who may have loved a program like this. It is also important to interview those inside of potential companies that could help create these partnerships. In my interviews I was able to gain great information. I was able to find students with multiple reasons on why they wouldn’t be a potential consumer of this need. They are have commonalities of being students that will, in the near future, be needing a “real” job but did not need the internship idea we are trying to “sell.” Those reasons have been listed in the table below. Where my need differs from others is that it is not a profit driven product or service. Instead it is a service that would be created through partnerships between businesses and universities or high schools. This can be beneficial for both the students and the companies as a recruiting process.

8A - Solving The Problem

1. My selected opportunity is the same one I have been sticking to, creating internship programs through schools. It can be very hard to gain quality experience while also being paid by a company that can launch you into your future. As a Sport Management major I am required to take an internship to graduate. Having feeder programs could be beneficial to students.

2. My proposed solution is school creating partnerships with different businesses that will help qualified students to work, learn and get paid in a real world environment. I am creating more of a service than a product. By creating these programs students don’t have to only rely on this experience as a senior they can begin from the time they get in to college. Some individuals prefer to gain this experience independently but for those who have trouble with that can do it through the school. I know that some programs similar to this already exist but only within the university, not with outside companies and businesses.

7A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1. The hypothesis I have created is based on the opportunity of students needing internships to graduate. At times students look for internships as a necessity and don’t always find something meaningful. My idea is that through the university students can find meaningful, paying internships that provide real world experience prior to graduation.

2. The Who: Students looking to graduate and find meaningful experience.

The What: Unable to find quality experience

The Why: Internships are extremely competitive, which is expected. The problem lies within the fact that an internships is necessary for graduation in some majors.

3. Testing the Who: In this case the who remains even after pushing the boundaries. This is a need for students.

Testing the What: At first I saw this as an opportunity for nearly graduated students. This idea can be expanded to all students. With the addition of paying internships this can be a great opportunity to work while in school, and gain job experience in their desired field.

Testing the Why:  Many students only option is an unpaid internship. Although internships are invaluable it is important to get paid for doing work.

4.  While interviewing potential customers I found that many of them would love a program like this while others didn’t feel it necessary. Those who didn’t find it necessary said that they were able to find meaningful, paying internships independent from the university. When asked what would have happened if they hadn’t they were unsure if they would feel the same way, saying that they may have needed a program like this. All of the interviewees see this as a positive idea although a few would only see this as a backup plan, as they are skeptical of the quality of the program options. These interviews have definitely helped shape my hypothesis and have also kept my idea alive as a good plan.

Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

The first economic opportunity I found is equal pay for men and women with the same job title. Of course there are many factors such as experience and sometimes educational background but pay differences on average are too big. On average women, in the same position as a man, makes 77% of what the man would make. To me this is an opportunity because the pay difference is unacceptable. If an employer has the confidence to hire someone to a position the pay should be much more similar than it is regardless of gender. This is an opportunity that is very easy to exploit. Positions within a company should have a pay scale that is based on experience and position not anything else. I don’t believe I am the only person to see this as an opportunity but for some reason changes aren’t being made.

My second economic opportunity is raising minimum wage. This has been an opportunity for a while but has seen very minimal raises that don’t make a whole lot of difference. This is an opportunity because there are a lot of people who work hard to make a difference and still go home not able to pay the bills. Studies have been done that show even our standard 40 hour work week is too long for maximized production and yet some people making near minimum wage have two full time jobs. The prototypical customers are students who have low income jobs because they are in school and mostly young adults. This would be a little more difficult to change because it is a government change. Companies and employers will not make this change on their own because it would cost them more money. 

My first regulatory change comes in the form of wild life protection. As an animal lover and also an avid freshwater fisherman I have noticed issues caused by pesticide sprays and other chemical substances that make our grass look better but cause runoff into lakes. In the lake behind my house, once a month they spray a pesticide on the shore to kill the weeds that also hurts the fish. Since they started there has been a decline in fish and turtles in the lake. Also when they spray the fish that nest near the shore stay away for about a week. During nesting periods this becomes a huge issue. This regulatory change states that there will be a change applied to 37 different chemical substances that have been shown to affect growth in young fish. For most people this isn’t an issue which is why it often goes over looked but every piece of our ecosystem is very important in balancing numbers. To fix this issue there would need to be many more regulatory changes but it is a step in the right direction.

My other regulatory change involves our ozone and atmosphere. So far this hurricane season we are starting to see what many experts have been talking about when it comes to a raise in storm severity. As a population on this planet it is our responsibility to do what we can to take care of it as well as taking care of ourselves. This change involves less emissions in order to improve air quality and environmental health. As a Floridian who does not want to worry about constant threat of storms environmental changes I would love to see these changes take effect. This is an extraordinarily hard thing to accomplish as it takes incredible amounts of people to make a change but would be well worth it to do so.

Local Opportunities

1.
Title: Students Protest Lost of Tradition

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166C5E8F87A9C2F0?p=WORLDNEWS

In many high schools over the years honors students have been afforded the opportunity to wear a different color robe than students that did not fall in the honors category. These honors students are also announced before the rest of the graduating class. These were some of the things that were done to allow those students to be recognized for their hard work. What has happened in a few schools, in particular Leto High School in Tampa, is the removal of the opportunity to wear a different color robe. In Leto's case this is white. The schools are pushing for equality throughout the graduating students while the students are petitioning for recognition. 

The problem is the lack of recognition of hard work.

The problem in the article lies within the students.


2.
Title: Gas Prices Likely To Remain High

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166C076BEDFA1888?p=WORLDNEWS

This article speaks to the rise in gas prices because of Hurricane Harvey and the damage it caused in Texas. Gas in Tampa Bay rose $0.37 while other areas rose $0.33. Both of these cases helping gas prices to rise to its highest price since mid 2015. An issue of its own becoming a bigger one since the expected effects of Hurricane Irma.

The problem is a rise in gas prices due to Hurricane Harvey.

It is a problem for consumers, especially those who need to evacuate.

3.
Title: Dreamers Should Not Have To Live in Fear

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166BB1CDF49C6240?p=WORLDNEWS

This is an article about those people with DACA status and the potential to lose it. DACA applies to those who were children, free of choice, who were brought to the United States by illegal immigrants. Nearly 750,000 people referred to as "dreamers" could be sent back to countries that they don't remember. DACA privileges were given in exchange for personal information with trust in the government.

The problem is taking these "dreamers", many of which students, or successful young adults having to be sent back to countries they don't remember and losing privileges that they were promised.

The problem is for those young Americans who may be forced from the country.

4. 
Title:Fire Destroys Robert E. Lee School

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166E54B51F587D88?p=WORLDNEWS

The article talks about a historical magnet school in the Tampa Bay area that caught fire and burned down during Hurricane Irma. This school was closed because of the hurricane as were all the schools in the county. The cause for concern on top of losing this historic school is that the students have been off of school for a week now, and now the students will have to be place elsewhere.

The problem is that kids will now have to adjust to new teachers, teachers adjust to new students, and friend possibly being split to different schools.

This is a problem for multiple parties, teachers, parents, students, and the county as well.

5.
Title: Trees Down, Calls Up

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/166E54B41D0ECC08?p=WORLDNEWS

After Hurricane Irma rolled through the Tampa Bay area many trees got knocked down onto cars, houses, some luckily just down to the ground. Beyond trees ruining things a big issue is that there aren't enough resources to help remove them in a quick manor. Many landscape companies have their phones ringing off the hook with people asking for help but cannot get to them fast enough. Many trees are on top of cars and roofs so these companies are getting to those emergency calls first.

The problem is that these trees can effect the home and the car especially for those who need to get to work. 

This is a problem for those who need the trees removed because it is not happening in a timely manor.

Forming An Opportunity Belief

1. My belief is that there should be more numerous and meaningful part time jobs for students and young adults. These jobs much like internships should be a part of a program that will lead to more successful careers.

2. I believe that this has been an issue for a while but as a senior now in college I have started to realize it even more. There are a lot of opportunities to get part time jobs but they tend to pay close to minimum wage and don’t always give meaningful experience for the future. This causes young adults to try and find full time jobs that they may not be ready to handle since they are still in school. I noticed this opportunity when getting my resume together for upcoming internships and to send to some of the connections I have made in the sports world. I realized that most of my experience has no real world application to my future. Having the opportunity for better paying, part time, meaningful, jobs will allow flourishment of young adults. I feel 100% confident that this is an opportunity in the world.

3.  The prototypical customer would be high school and college students as well as some young adults who may not attend college after high school or even someone who has just finished college and has no job lined up.

4. Questions

Do you currently have a job while in school? Why or Why not?

Yes:

Is it full time or part time?

What led you one way or the other?

Do you feel that your amount of hours and pay supports your needs without cutting into your school?

Do you feel as though this job will help you in your future career? How?

If you could, would you prefer a more meaningful (career wise) job?

Would you be satisfied with a program or company that allows you to do meaningful work while bettering your education?

Additional thoughts on this idea?

Customer 1: Jordan Douglas

Jordan is a full time student at the University of South Florida with a part time job. He says that although a full time would be ideal when it comes to paying the bills and benefits, he says that school is most important and he wouldn’t be getting the most out of school with a full time job. With that said he enjoys his part time job working at an after school program because he plans to be a physical education teacher and working at a sports based after school program allows him to hone in his skills. Jordan agrees with this idea but it does not completely apply to him. He would love more money to pay bills just like most people but is comfortable in his situation.

Customer 2: Vince Bowers

Vince Bowers has a full time job and has been a part time student for close to seven years. After high school he decided to get a full time job and forgo college. When he realized it was very hard to find promotions and was barely getting by with bills he decided to go back to school. He couldn’t afford to take a full schedule or give up his full time job so he decided to be a part time student. He says that although he is making progress toward his goal as both an employee and a student he feel that they are a hindrance to each other. Although both are positives they still slow the other goal down. Vince said that he is content with where he is at now in his life but feels that a meaningful, well paid part time job could have pushed him along and sped up the process he finds himself in now.

Customer 3:  Wyatt Reid

Wyatt Reid is a baseball player at Edward Waters College and he is in a more unique situation than some of our other “customers”. Wyatt received a scholarship to play baseball at EWC put it does not cover all expenses, much like many baseball scholarships. As a rough average most players get less than a 45% scholarship. Wyatt is a student athlete that lives in an apartment with his girlfriend in which he cannot use scholarship money to help pay for. The countless hours to him, “feel like a full time job, and then some”, on top of focusing on his studies. Wyatt says he is in between a rock and a hard place because without his scholarship he could not afford the college he is at but without time for a job he cannot help with living expenses. He said that he loves the sport of baseball, in fact wants to get a job in baseball, but would be willing to give up the sport as a player if a meaningful job program was available.

7. This idea all came about when I was making my resume to send to the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers for my upcoming internship for school. As a student who has to pay bills I am finding myself needing to save as much money as possible as more likely than not my internship opportunity will be unpaid. I also found studies that have been done that say our work weeks should be shorter than forty hours because to many hours can lead to fatigue and low production. Many students, especially those with jobs spend much more than forty hours between work and school. Thus most likely causing a lack in production. Combing these thoughts into an opportunity seems like a great idea. More meaningful and better paying part time job programs that even have the possibility to count toward school.

I believe my original idea is still all there but has been even more enhanced and accurate with my customer interviews. Although my idea seemed to go over well with my three customers I also know that this is a small sample size. Not all interviews may go as planned and it is important to adapt with the customer needs while sticking to the backbone of your idea.

Below I have posted a link that has a short video about a shortened work week:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5l7tX4SohY