Evaluation

One thing I learned from the reading is that they need to do a better job of proofreading the material before posting it, particularly if you are talking about evaluating.

I received the customer survey that was taken by my contact. The results show that there is an interest in their having a website, and some even included a few suggestions for it. I have a different survey that I am planning on having performed in regards to a portion of their content, and that's whether or not artists who have showcased their work would like to participate in the website and just what form would that be - links, inclusion of samples of their works, or if they would allow sales of either the works or prints of it. I know that they have had postcards of some work available in the business, but the site would potentially help them reach more people.

Proposing Solutions

Hmm. How do you do a causal analysis for a website? I'm not really sure. Anyway creating a future wheel sounds kind of fun and could still be useful for my strategic planning, so I am considering it. Fishboning, as strange as the name is (and I keep thinking about how I hate to eat fish) also seems interesting. I can see how it would be useful in some cases.

I finally decided on three questions that I could use in creating a customer survey about the need of a website for the business that I am helping. I have also been considering the scope of the survey. One day is not long enough to get a good sampling of the customers, but about a week's worth of gathering responses would be better.

On another note, I'm very happy with the Presidential election and unhappy about other results in this state and in others. I shouldn't have said though last week that there will be an end to discussion on the news. They never stop talking about elections as they are already talking about potential candidates for 2012 elections.

Resources

So I had to compile a resource list. I sent a list of what I had come up with, but unfortunately I did not hear back in time from my contact before I needed to submit the assignment. Which meant I had to think a bit more about what I already knew. Unfortunately there were certain areas that I could not cover. I don't think I will have a problem with the next part of the assignment though.

November is here, so time is running out. Hopefully I will be able to complete everything in time. And thankfully the election is almost over. I'll be glad for the end to the ads and talk on the news, etc.

Tech evaluation, surveys, and more

What can I say about the readings? It was hard to fit them in with creating an instructional design model for one thing. Some of the group processes were eliminated partially because of the number of people that might be needed for them or the time involved in using them.

I am still considering possible questions for a customer survey. I don't want to make them all strictly yes and no questions because that may not be enough information. I think the questions may be done with a scale instead, so that they can figure out how they feel about the web site and the content. I may limit it to three questions and then provide space for the responders to add comments and/or suggestions regarding the web site.

Project so far

There is always so much information to remember from the readings. Data - types and sources, methods of gathering. In the cultural factors, I knew there would be differences, but I never thought about how time is viewed. It's funny how some view being on time as very important and that being late is rude, and how others view it the opposite way.

Still I'm not sure how much I can apply to my current project in regards to IS, since it is used for appointments, client mailings, and other daily business, but it is not a very big component of what they do.

I had assigned a mini-project for investigating web sites to figure out what they like about them and what they don't like. Now I've got to create a questionnaire for them to use with their customers about what they would think about a web site. I already know that the people I am working with do not want people to be able to see their schedule online, so that won't be part of it. They did like the idea of customers being able to use a web site as a way of contacting them if they need to cancel or ask to reschedule. And I know that they would like to be able to sell some products through the web site.

SWOT

Questionnaires, surveys, interviews, and more. But how much data can there be for a business that has only been around for two years? Not a whole lot. But the SWOT should be very good for any business no matter how long it has been around. Understanding your current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is very important whether you're just starting a business or have been in business for 100 years or more. And with the way things have been going in the economy, I'm wondering which of them have conducted one recently. There seem to be quiet a few who haven't.

The mini-projects are going pretty well. They're going to have a list of web sites that they've reviewed for me soon for likes and dislikes. They've also been thinking about ideas for their video scripts.

And so far I think the project is going fairly well, although I may have to think a bit about other mini-projects I can have them work on.

How much IS can a salon need?

The answer, not much. They have computers, which do need upgrading. They have software specifically designed for salons, but they would know more about using it then I would. No servers are needed, there is no data center, and the network is small. Right now as far as IS is concerned, they're mostly interested in creating a better web site for their business.

I do know that they have some big plans for the business that they'd like to work on for the next five years. I hope that by helping with their strategic planning for their web site they'll be able to make those things happen.

So far, much of what I read does not really apply.