15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Segment: I have chosen UF students who have cars or associates with someone who has a car and tries to park on campus.

Andrew Reynoso: Junior who lives within walking distance to campus, no scooter but has car

• I asked Andrew about the possibility of a parking app, and if he would use it if it had a monthly subscription of 99¢ to use. He said he would not since most of his current apps do not allow him to pay. Then I proceeded to ask him if he would use it if the app were poorly designed and not update frequently, but free. He said he would only use the app if it were efficient, free, and would be updated frequently. I later asked what determines a great app in his opinion. He proceeded to tell me that they have to be great at what they advertised to be. For example, right now he has an app that allows him to play a thinking game with puzzles and mazes. If the app were to always be defaulting or shutting down, maybe even not challenging enough or hard to maneuver, he said he would delete the app and move onto another one, since there are hundred and thousands of games he can play.

Jacob Stephens: Sophomore, lives on campus, has a scooter and car

• I asked Jacob about there being a parking app and if he would use it for a monthly subscription of 99¢ . He would not since most apps are free that he has. Then I asked if he would use the app if it were poorly designed and not updated frequently, but free. He said no he would not if it had defaults within it. He then told me that he would use an app if it ran smoothly and could be easily navigated, very straight forward and simple. I asked what determines a great app in his opinion. He told me that it needs to be appealing to his eye and that it is what it says it is and does what it says it does. He told me he downloaded a terrible app to try and get deals online, some sketchy app. He then said that it was horrible, messy, and he did not easily understand how to navigate it. Since then, he has deleted the terrible app.

Hannah Myers: Sophomore, lives off campus, no scooter but has a car

• I asked Hannah about my idea of creating a parking app and if she would use a monthly subscription of 99¢  for it. She said no because paying for it does not sound appealing for an app that should be free. I asked if she would use it if it was free, but poorly designed. She said she would download it to see how bad it was and try to use it. She ultimately wants a great app. I asked her what determines a great app to her. She said that it needs to be free, she can easily do what she wants without being a hassle, and it is useful to her. 

Conclusion: I would assume most, if not all, students would not be willing to pay for a parking app. I certainly would not want to pay for a parking app, unless I could somehow reserve a spot for myself that way. All my interviewees said they would use it if was free and ran efficiently and had done what it was supposed to do

14A – Halfway Reflection

1) Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course? 

• To keep up with the requirements of this course, I usually start looking at what is due several days before the due date. This way, if there is an assignment that is going to take longer than expected, I can start to work on it, or if I have a busy week ahead, I will start the assignments immediately. I keep an agenda for school and I plan out everything, from my sorority events, my work times, school assignments, and more.

2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?

• This year on Valentines Day, I felt like giving up. It was my first finance exam and it is one of the hardest business classes to take here at UF. Of course the first exam, which the class average is an F, is on Valentines Day. I wanted to give up from studying countless hours to only realize, there is too much information that I cannot retain for the exam. I took an "L" and that is the closest I came at UF to "giving up". What pulled me through was that I was going to go out with my friends and have a nice dinner then go home and away from Gainesville. I believe this semester has brought many unexpected challenges and that I am becoming more independent and focusing on positives in my life. One being that I recently broke up with my boyfriend of four years, and another being that I am now hunkering down on my school because classes are more challenging and now graduation is just next year.

3) Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset' ?

1. There are plenty of reasons to get overwhelmed at UF, but, "life goes on".
2. Stay ahead and stay positive, especially since it is very easy to not.
3. Always try to improve yourself, weather it be going to the gym more, studying more, or going to more social events. You will only benefit from it.

   


 

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

1) You read about an entrepreneur: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

• What surprised you the most? I was most surprised about Steve Job's interest in LSD. I had already known some-what about him experimenting with it, but I had no idea about how fascinated he was with it. I do understand though, because back then, it was more socially normal to be doing drugs such as LSD as supposed to now.
• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire? I most admired Steve's ability to still continue what he was passionate about, no matter the obstacle. He dropped out of college and then created his company out of his parent's garage. I know I could not be able to do such a thing.
• What about the entrepreneur did you least admire? While reading the book, it mentioned how he went to juvenile detention for creating a fake bomb. It is not acceptable to make light of that type of topic. We have been through so much recently regarding horrific shootings killing innocent students, that him doing something like this, is really disappointing. 
• Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it? Yes, from the beginning Steve Jobs had already faced family separation. His mother gave him up for adoption. But, his adopted parents loved him so much. Next, his attendance at Reed College, but felt he should drop out. Then his company first fell to face setbacks and failures. 

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? Steve Jobs is definitely an entrepreneur, he would always be ready to learn, experiment, and never quit.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you. Something confusing to me was the fact that he never let his parents visit him in Reed College. Since my family helps me financially, I would definitely let them come and visit. Especially since they are the ones supporting everything I do. I just thought that was weird of Steve Jobs to do.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why? 

• How did you find the motivation to keep going, against the odds?
• Did you ever have self-doubt about dropping out of college?
• Were you ever nervous that what you were creating would become a flop and you dropped out of college for nothing?

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion? I believe his opinion of hard work is that it is necessary to be successful. He has done hard work out of his garage and persisted through other obstacles. I agree, hard work is necessary in order to be successful. 

12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Segment: I have chosen UF students who have cars or associates with someone who has a car and tries to park on campus.

Interviews:
1)  Jacob Johnson

• Jacob is currently in the graduate program for dentistry and lives off-campus near Shands hospital. He drives to school with a car. I asked him if he has ever had an issue parking on-campus and he said yes, almost every time he needs to go to class. Jacob has a Green decal and often has to leave early enough to find a spot and walk to class. I asked him if he would be interested in using a parking app that would allow him to know how many spots are available in garages. He said that would be very useful, especially since he is very busy. He later said how UF is very crowded near Shands and there are so many people that go in and out and parking can be a big concern at time. 

2) Hannah Martin

• Hannah is a sophomore who lives on-campus. She does not own a scooter and relies on her car for transportation.  She has a Red 1 decal and usually parks at Norman since other garages become full at night. I asked her if she was interested in a Parking app that would allow her to see the availability in each garage is. She said that would be helpful especially on Sunday nights when everyone is back home from the weekend.

3) Omar Bass

• Omar lives just off of campus, near Community Lot #2, across the street from SW Rec. He has a car and scooter, but prefers to scoot to class. He told me that he only had a car for his first year and hated trying to find a spot for it during his freshman year. So he bought a scooter his sophomore year and says it is much easier and cheaper to scoot to class. He does not like relying on the bus system because it wastes his time too much. I asked him if a parking app would benefit him in any way and he said that it would especially when he has to drive with his friends and or family over to campus.

Conclusion: 

• These interviews showed me that there is a segment out there that does have a need/want for a parking app, and that there are too many students and too few parking spots. By bettering the school experience, this app could make the University of Florida students have a better quality time for these short years. 

11A – Idea Napkin No. 1

1)      You: My talents include being patient, organized, friendly, and being compassionate. My experiences include being a hostess for two years, a volleyball coach for little children, and being a Technology Consultant. My skills include good interpersonal skills, communication skills, and technology skills. My aspirations are make a career out of my job and to be happy with my life. This app would hopefully come to life in the near future and I would be the CEO of it.

2)      What are you offering to customers: I am offering an app that would communicate with students, faculty, and those who need to find a parking spot near campus, a resolution to find those parking spots. This would cut down on time wasted looking for spots and prowling around the garage for one.

3)      Who are you offering it to: I am offering it to those students, faculty, and those who need to find a parking spot near campus, a way to find parking spots and cut back on time searching for one. My targeted demographic are those who have a car, specifically those who want to park on campus when it is busy or parking is not lifted yet.

4)      Why do they care: Those who have class, an exam, or a meeting might all need to find a parking spot during hours that either enforce decal or do not. It could be exam season and the parking lots are filled to the max capacity. Bottom line, they care to make the most out of their time. To cut back on searching for parking spots could mean a few extra minutes getting ready at home, or getting early to that class, exam, or meeting.

5)      What are your core competencies: My qualifications may set me apart from others is how I have great communication and interpersonal skills from my times as a hostess and volleyball coach. Along with my technology skills being an Information Systems major and now working as a Technology Consultant. With both of these skills I manage a business in the technology realm.

These elements do fit together and make my new business become in unison. I am concerned with how to make a profit, most likely by sponsorships because no one is going to buy this app. It has to be made free and available for the public that way. Another concern would be if I could figure a way to make scooter parking on this app as well. Maybe give an estimate of how full scooter parking is throughout the UF campus.

10A – Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Interview 1: Michaela Poitevien, sophomore, lives on-campus, has no car

Me: Do you believe parking is an issue at the University of Florida?

Michaela: Not really, I do not have a car and live on campus.

Me: Do you think having a parking app would benefit you in any way?

Michaela: Yes, sometimes I go with my friends out and when we try to get back to Broward our spot is gone and we have to hunt for a new one.

Me: Do you think this need differs from other needs in finding a parking spot?

Michaela: Yes because I do not need it that often but other people would rely more heavily on it.

Interview 2: Robert Fleming, junior, has no car, lives off-campus

Me: Do you believe parking is an issue at the University of Florida?

Robert: Umm.. yeah it is for some but not really for me.

Me: Do you think having a parking app would benefit you in any way?

Robert: Not really because I have no car.

Me: Do you think this need differs from other needs in finding a parking spot?

Robert: Yes, for those that commute to campus and park I feel those would benefit a lot.

Interview 3: Gabrielle Schofield, has a car, recent grad, lives-off campus

Me:Do you believe parking is an issue at the University of Florida?

Gabrielle: Yes it is but not really for me anymore since I do not have classes.

Me:Do you think having a parking app would benefit you in any way?

Gabrielle: Yes it would if I ever needed to go back on campus before parking is lifted.

Me: Do you think this need differs from other needs in finding a parking spot?

Gabrielle: Yeah since I no longer am a student I do not need it but those that do need it would definitely benefit from it.

Interview 4: Scott Tolzman, freshman, no-car, lives on-campus.

Me: Do you believe parking is an issue at the University of Florida?

Scott: Yes my friends all struggle with it when we go out and they have to find one when we get back.

Me: Do you think having a parking app would benefit you in any way?

Scott: Once I get my car I would want an app.

Me: Do you think this need differs from other needs in finding a parking spot?

Scott: Well like I do not need it right now but later I would.

Interview 5: Alex Caballero, senior, lives-off campus, has a car

Me: Do you believe parking is an issue at the University of Florida?

Alex: Yes it is but not really for me, I take the bus

Me: Do you think having a parking app would benefit you in any way?

Alex: No because I do not need to park on campus, I drive a scooter

Me: Do you think this need differs from other needs in finding a parking spot?

Alex: Yes for those who need to drive their cars on campus.

My Findings: Based on my interviews, I found out there is a section of people/students that do not have a demand in the parking app. I did not realize how many situations cause for someone to not need the app as much as I anticipated in.

Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who is In: Those who need to park on campus and use a car	Who is Not: Those who do not have cars or do not need to park on campus with a car
What the Need Is: Parking on campus	What the Need Is Not: Not parking on campus with a car
Why the Need Exists: Not enough parking spaces and too many students needing to park their cars	Alternative Explanations: Those who do not need cars to park or do not have a car do not need a parking app for campus.