4 Important Things in Implementing Digital BusinessThere are four important things in running an information technology -based business or the internet. The four things are focus, segmented, brand empowering, and client support. If the four are run simultaneously and continuously, the unexpected results will be achieved.1. Every business needs focus, meaning that it is impossible for a businessman to be able to see the potential value of the sale when not focusing on the product and product knowledge. So determining focus is very fundamental when starting a business.2. Next determine the market segment. DJM Art is smart enough to choose timeless products, namely accessories. Beads according to information are only owned by two countries as references, namely Indonesia and India.Of the two countries, beads spread to all corners of the world. The choice of this product is very profitable when DJM Art is also able to produce itself. Beads have their own market segments, ranging from certain indigenous communities to design (fashion). Evidently, until now, DJM Art has been playing a number of designers in Jakarta and even Paris.3. Empowering BrandAfter having a clear segment, brand strengthening needs to be done. Empowering brands become mandatory activities for business people. DJM Art does it in a simple way that might be unimaginable, which is only relying on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). Therefore, as a young businessman, Sofrul Mukhlis, the owner of DJM Art often said his office was only in the hand, namely a smartphone.In making promos, launching the latest accessories products, to communicating with potential buyers, can only be done through the features in the social networking site. Simple enough!4. Finally, building chemistry with prospective buyers or clients is very important. Because the products offered by DJM Art are nuanced art and not massive, so maintaining the intensity of communication in order to support prospective buyers is very important. All is done through social media until the transaction and the process of delivering goods is done through a freight forwarding service.Only by doing these four things, now the turnover of DJM Art, which is operated from the cities of Mojokerto and Jombang (as a workshop), East Java has reached tens of millions every week.Even before a certain momentum, related to customs in a number of regions in Toraja and Kalimantan, beads became mandatory. Thus orders also jumped drastically to hundreds of millions.Remember! All is done just by relying on a smartphone. If asked by DJM Art, it is an online store that does not have an office like a conventional business. So that the budget savings (office rent, electricity, water, etc.) need not be considered.The interesting lesson is that we can all do as the energetic youth, Sofrul Mukhlis, does. Indeed today, many are doing business using social networks. But has it ever occurred to sharpen the four things that are briefly described above?Conventional business models are increasingly being abandoned. Office infrastructure absorbs a small budget, therefore the choice of ‘business without office’ is a trend in the future. If you have tried it, don’t just post products but do market segment research, strengthen branding, and approach the client in a polite and friendly manner.
Critical Business Plan Disciplines and Resources
Like any major project, creating a business plan requires many different disciplines and resources. Here, four different plan considerations will be discussed. They are: 1) creation team members, 2) partitioning the plan parts, 3) assigning team member hierarchy and 4) writing and editing the plan. Each of these areas is of great importance.First, appropriate team members must be assembled that have the expertise to address the plan parts. While it isn’t necessary that every one be a skilled writer, they should possess the knowledge needed to create the plan parts. That knowledge can be explicit (e.g., accounting or business management) or process oriented (e.g., internet researcher or editor). Another very important consideration for a member is to assure they are committed to the plan process. The business plan creation process is complex, arduous, stressful and time consuming. Each potential team member must be assessed during an interview to make sure they are a willing and enthusiastic candidate and that they have the ability to work with the team to complete the desired plan.Next, once the business plan creation team has been selected, it will be necessary to partition the plan and assign parts to the various team members. Some members will be doing research (e.g., competitor analysis or internet research), others will be creating plan pieces (e.g., financials or budgets), still others will be assembling the plan pieces and finally someone will be required to write and edit the business plan package.Another important element of the business plan process will be setting up the team member hierarchy. The business plan creation process is complex and there are many opportunities to overlap, conflict and waste effort. It is necessary for each team member to understand his or her exact duties and responsibilities.At the top of the team hierarchy will be a member that is the integration manager. This function is to make sure the plan parts fit together and complement each other. Effectively, the integration manager is the master of the team and his/her skill will contribute to the quality, flow and completeness of the plan. He/she will act as dictator, conciliator and cheerleader during the creation process.The final complex tasks are the writing and editing processes. This daunting process brings together all the research, development facts, financial projections and the marketing concepts into a written document. It is a process to create a clear, unique and doable written plan for the business. It is most of all a marketing document and must talk directly to those outside entities that are to be impressed. Plans are used to obtain investors, financing and other backing. It’s carefully written to address the unique organizations and individuals that will be required to help make this business succeed. It must sell them that plan documents what is needed and how the business will succeed in the accomplishment. While the financials are important the sales and marketing aspects are essential in a positive presentation outcome.In conclusion, the business plan team must have the resources, skills and desire to create a quality plan. The quality, thoroughness and skill of the plan team will determine if the business plan presents the appropriate facts, sells the business opportunity and demonstrates a mastery of the business environment necessary to be successful. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the product or service is, someone must get it to those in need–The business plan gets this process started correctly.
Engaging Research-Focused Staff in Higher Education in a Course in Teaching and Learning
There are some broad strategies that are already in place aimed at attracting research-focused staff to various formal and informal teaching and learning courses in many Higher Education institutions. For example, potential participants are exempted from a course module based on existing qualifications they possess; using a diploma course in teaching and learning as a prerequisite to a Master’s degree and/or linking the certification received by staff after completing a course in teaching and learning to professional status and a qualification such as fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).While these are pitched at the programme level and help to make the course attractive, the main strategy for keeping staff engaged in a course of study is to create a climate conducive to learning and their needs. Firstly, creating a climate conducive to learning and participants’ needs involves a number of things. However, critical to this process is attending to the interests of the participants. As much as possible, gather information on past and present participants’ perceptions of the course and their research concerns and interests. This is important for a number of reasons. Engaging in this activity allows the teacher to
Get to know each participant and facilitate the building of relationship between teacher and participants.
Plan activities and utilise materials that are culturally and contextually relevant which makes it easier for participants to visualize learning transference in their respective contexts.
Present information on which there is some interest.
The insight participants will leave with from this data gathering exercises is that adults always appreciate being a part of their own development.Secondly, creating a climate conducive to learning and the needs of the participant also includes finding out what they hope to gain by participating in each module and /or the entire course. This is best done during the first session of each module and via open discussion where appropriate questions could be asked. A variation on this approach is to ask them what they already know about the module or topic to be explored and what they would like to know.Having gained their responses incorporate these in the lesson plans. During subsequent lessons prepare for, and discuss the areas or concerns raised by participants. What you will find is that ascertaining what participants’ would like to know and addressing these will allow them to become more attentive during the presentation. This is especially so, when their area of concern is being addressed. Also critical is involving them in developing and evaluating the curriculum by getting their feedback via feedback sheets given at the end of each module.Finally, actively involve participants during lessons. This is very important because adult learners love to participate in the learning process (Jarvis, 1996). There are a variety of methods to be used such as: Reflection-on-practice and Reflective Journaling. These allow participants the opportunity to think critically and question their goals and values which guide their work, the context in which they teach, and assumptions they make about teaching (Zeichner and Liston, 1996). Action research. Participants could design and implement potential case studies/projects/research based on their teaching situation and publish the findings in relevant reputable journals. This contributes to the development of a scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).Problem base learning. Participants collaborate in the learning process using problem-based techniques to address issues/problems. Project based learning. Participants work in groups using multi-source information and creating authentic products or solutions. Professional Portfolio development. This allows participants to examine and articulate their personal instructional theory, and can be useful in accessing fellow status such as fellow of the Higher Education, Research Development Society of Australasia (FHERDSA) or fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).ReferencesJarvis. P, (1996). Adult & Continuing Education Theory and Practice 2nd ed. London: Routledge.Zeichner, K. & Liston, D. (1996). Reflective Teaching: an introduction. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates