Final draft
3 posters
4SA1 Group 1 :: 4SA1 :: BAD Designs
Page 1 of 1
Narrowing the Questions Down
tavishuff Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:56 am
So... as a group we looked at the questions and narrowed down some of the repeating questions and tried to keep the questions asked what we were after the best, but our edits are not set in stone yet.
Review and see if you agree.
Those items in red we were thinking of taking out.
Understand / outline of the business organisation.
(Staff structure/ staff rolls/ outsourcing/ hierarchy/ who will we be dealing with.)
1. From what we understand, BAD Designs started as a group of 5 school friends building and spraying surfboards, have you hired any additional staff or contractors since the business was established?
2. Is there a management structure within the business?
*If YES, please describe this to us and what each person's role is.
*If NO, could you please tell us how the business operates in terms of decision-making.
**NOTE: I think we can find out ‘Who we will be dealing with’ before we even get to the interview. I think we should word the interview request email in a way to request that we speak with the person responsible for overseeing this project – that way we save ourselves a question and find out that little bit more info before we go in.
3. We understand that you're a relatively new business, Have your hired any new staff or contractors since starting?
4. Do you have a management structure or delegated roles within the business?
5. Could you tell us who each of the people are in the business and their rolls? (I know it’s a two parted question, but I think it’s okay here.)
6. Who deals with the customers and their enquires?
7. Who is able to make the decisions for the business?
8. Who deals with enquires from customers?
9. What is the legal structure of your business, company or partnership?
10. How are business decisions arrived at?
11. Do you have a business plan?
To understand how things are presently done.
(Main processes/ how they deal with customers/ surfboard design process/ sales process.)
12. Could you please give us a brief overview of your surfboard design process, from the point at which you receive the enquiry, to the point at which you receive payment and finalise the order.
13. Do you have a system in place for receiving and recording customer enquiries?
*If YES, Please give us a brief outline of this process.
*If NO, Is this something you think might benefit BAD Designs?
14. Can you briefly walk us through the process of an order from the enquiry to point of sale to the manufacture of the surfboard?
15. Do you currently have a procedure or sales pitch in place in place to handle enquiries?
**NOTE: (We could also follow up with asking roughly what percentage of enquiries turn out a sale.)
16. How do most people find out about your business? How do you market yourself?
17. How much time is spent on each stage of the business? Enquiries, design, orders, manufacture, tours?
18. What percentage of enquires turn into orders?
19. Could you walk us through the tour process?
20. How do you receive orders?
21. How long does it take to make a board / design a board?
22. Can you give a brief description of the steps you take when dealing with an enquiry with a client to the completion of the sales process?
23. How long will that process take?
24. How much time is spent on a single enquiry?
25. Do you take a part payment before making a custom board?
How/when do you take payments?
Identify current documentation.
(eg brochures/ forms/ written policies and procedures.)
26. What documentation, both internal and external, do you currently have for BAD Designs? This might include for example brochures, technical documentation, forms, sales pitches, and written policies/ procedures.
27. Do you have any written documents (e.g. brochures) that give information to prospective clients?
28. Do you have any templates of letters or sales pitches that you currently use to handle enquiries?
29. Could we please have a look at your current brochures, forms, written policies and procedures? (to heavy?)
30. How do you market yourselves?
31. Where is your biggest online presence?
32. Do you have any documentation that you give to clients about your business?
33. What is your technical documentation on board production?
34. What software, if any, do you use in manufacture?
Identify users of the system and how they interact with the system.
(Target audience/ demographic/ how do they make contact/ time spent with customers/ what are majority of enquiries about/ how is business promoted.)
35. We understand that currently you have a great reputation within your local area, however would you say that your target audience would be located state-wide, nation-wide, or world-wide?
36. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is? Do you have an idea of how many people you want to reach?
37. We understand that your business has been quite successful in your local area and is just beginning to branch out, where do you think most of your enquiries come from and how do they hear about your business?
38. How do you receive that majority of your enquiries and what are the most common?
39. How do most customers/clients get in touch with you?
40. What are most of the customers enquires about when spoken to?
41. How are orders placed?
42. How do most customers/clients learn about your business?
43. How do customers get in contact with you about queries they have?
44. What are the majority enquiries about?
45. How have you advertised your business?
46. Have you received any feedback from customers about your online presence?
What is in and out of scope?
(budget/ hardware & software/ network topography.)
47. Do you currently have a budget allowance to put towards new systems and process improvement?
*If YES, could you provide us with these details?
*If NO, how do you envisage being able to implement new processes and changes to your current working environment?
48. Do you currently utilise computers for the day to day operations of your business if so how many?
*If YES, Is there any specific software or hardware that you use and are you currently connected to the internet or a network of any description?
*If NO, would it likely be within the budget to purchase such equipment, and is this something that has been considered at all in the past?
49. We understand that you have had an influx of enquiries and are looking for a solution to handle them, do you have a budget?
50. Does your business have a computer and is it easily accessible?
51. What kind of budget do you have to invest into growing your company?
52. Does your business have a phone? Email? Computer? Internet? Office for meeting clients?
53. Do you have access to a computer and internet? If yes, how often can be spent on there without interrupting manufacturing processes?
54. Do you have someone in your employ who can handle the data management of an online system?
Identify current problems and inefficiencies as perceived by management.
(current online identity – egEbay& Facebook?/ brochures – time & cost/ enquiries – how?/ factory tours – photos?/ surfboard design – process?.)
55. We understand that you have utilised Ebay for the sale of some surfboards – has this been developed using a specific ‘BAD Designs’ profile?
*If YES, is this profile used throughout any other applications such as Facebook, or surfing networks for example?
*If NO, is creating a profile, including logo, something that you would like us to consider on your behalf?
56. You have identified that the time and cost associated with sending out brochures is an issue for you, could you please explain this process and the costs involved.
57. What methods of enquiries and contact do customers currently have available to use?
58. How are these methods currently advertised – for example have you advertised in the phone book/ internet/ etc?
59. Regarding the factory tours you offer your customers, do you have set tour times, or are tours arranged for customers as they enquire?
60. Could you please explain briefly what occurs during a tour and how long it takes for a complete factory tour.
61. Would you be interested in setting up a ‘virtual’ tour – utilising photos for example?
62. Do you have a current online identity? (e.g. facebook, email, blogs)
63. How often (if at all) do you communicate with prospective clients via the web?
64. What areas are you currently having trouble with in your business?
65. What areas are you spending the most time/money on?
66. Where is the most profit made?
67. Is the factory operational while there is a tour?
68. Does everyone do their fair share?
69. How much money is made off of a board?/ design?Are you currently making a profit?
70. Out of the many enquires you receive, how many of them turn into orders?
71. How much time and money is spent on developing and sending off brochures?
72. Do you believe there is a more efficient and less expensive way to provide customers with information?
73. Do you feel that the production process is less efficient than it should be because staff are distracted by customer inquiries? / tours?
To identify what they NEED (as opposed to what they WANT).
(What are the Urgent problems.)
74. Apart from the issues we have just discussed, are there any other urgent issues or procedures that you believe need to be addressed?
75. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is? Do you have an idea of how many people you want to reach?
76. What do you think the main priority of your business is right now in terms of moving forward?
77. Where are you finding yourselves struggling at the current moment?
78. Are you currently making a profit?
79. Are there any issues within the business that needs to be discussed and solved?
80. If there is one aspect of your business that you could change right now, what would that be?
To understand what they WANT (as opposed to what they NEED).
(What do they see as improvements?)
**NOTE: (I think this objective might be a bit similar to number 7. in clarifying the problem. Not sure if it's meant to be worded differently.)
81. Ideally, how would you like to see this business in the future?
82. What are your mid-to-long term goals?
83. Do you have a ‘wish list’ of improvements that you would like to see implemented at some point in the future, that may not necessarily be urgent issues right now?.
84. What would you like to see improve within the business functionality?
85. What are some goals for your business?
86. If costs were not an issue, what technological solutions would you wish to implement?
Identify future opportunities for the business.
(Expanding product range/ have they considered a website?)
87. Do you have an idea of what you want the business to look like in the future? e.g. branching out into other products.
88. Have you thought about using an online store to handle orders once the business expands further?
89. Have you thought about expanding your products into other areas?(e.g. shirts, wax, stickers, gear)
90. Would you eventually like to expand upon your factory?
91. Have you thought about selling your boards though established online surf retailers?
92. What is your current product range and do you have visions of adding to this in the future?
93. In the future, are you wanting to extend your product range? (clothing, footwear, accessories)
94. Are you wanting to eventually increase your business size?
95. Have you considered a website / online store for your business?
96. Have you considered employing an enterprise consultant?
Understand how the system should look in the future.
(How do you see your business evolving in the short and long term?)
97. Considering the growth rate of your business so far, roughly how many enquiries and orders do you predict you will receive per week in the near future? (say one years time?)
98. With your current staff, equipment and procedures, how well will your business cope with this amount of customer enquiries?
99. What would you eventually like your business to look like?
100. What do you believe is the next step in growing your business?
101. How do you see your business evolving in the short and long term?
102. Do you think a website will make your business more efficient and decrease the number of enquires when dealing with your customers?
103. Do you think a website describing manufacturing processes and answers with questions often asked will decrease the number of people to call you?
104. Can you see a long term solution to the problems you are currently facing?
To identify if all relevant information has been disclosed.
(to check that there isn’t something we’ve missed – that we now know ALL relevant information.)
105. Is there anything else you want to add in regards to what you want to see improved in your business?
106. Do you have any further documents or brochures we can look at that we haven’t already?
107. Do we have all of your company’s documentation?
108. Is there anything else that you believe we should know that is relevant about your company?
109. Is there any more information we should know about your business regarding improvements?
Review and see if you agree.
Those items in red we were thinking of taking out.
Understand / outline of the business organisation.
(Staff structure/ staff rolls/ outsourcing/ hierarchy/ who will we be dealing with.)
1. From what we understand, BAD Designs started as a group of 5 school friends building and spraying surfboards, have you hired any additional staff or contractors since the business was established?
2. Is there a management structure within the business?
*If YES, please describe this to us and what each person's role is.
*If NO, could you please tell us how the business operates in terms of decision-making.
**NOTE: I think we can find out ‘Who we will be dealing with’ before we even get to the interview. I think we should word the interview request email in a way to request that we speak with the person responsible for overseeing this project – that way we save ourselves a question and find out that little bit more info before we go in.
3. We understand that you're a relatively new business, Have your hired any new staff or contractors since starting?
4. Do you have a management structure or delegated roles within the business?
5. Could you tell us who each of the people are in the business and their rolls? (I know it’s a two parted question, but I think it’s okay here.)
6. Who deals with the customers and their enquires?
7. Who is able to make the decisions for the business?
8. Who deals with enquires from customers?
9. What is the legal structure of your business, company or partnership?
10. How are business decisions arrived at?
11. Do you have a business plan?
To understand how things are presently done.
(Main processes/ how they deal with customers/ surfboard design process/ sales process.)
12. Could you please give us a brief overview of your surfboard design process, from the point at which you receive the enquiry, to the point at which you receive payment and finalise the order.
13. Do you have a system in place for receiving and recording customer enquiries?
*If YES, Please give us a brief outline of this process.
*If NO, Is this something you think might benefit BAD Designs?
14. Can you briefly walk us through the process of an order from the enquiry to point of sale to the manufacture of the surfboard?
15. Do you currently have a procedure or sales pitch in place in place to handle enquiries?
**NOTE: (We could also follow up with asking roughly what percentage of enquiries turn out a sale.)
16. How do most people find out about your business? How do you market yourself?
17. How much time is spent on each stage of the business? Enquiries, design, orders, manufacture, tours?
18. What percentage of enquires turn into orders?
19. Could you walk us through the tour process?
20. How do you receive orders?
21. How long does it take to make a board / design a board?
22. Can you give a brief description of the steps you take when dealing with an enquiry with a client to the completion of the sales process?
23. How long will that process take?
24. How much time is spent on a single enquiry?
25. Do you take a part payment before making a custom board?
How/when do you take payments?
Identify current documentation.
(eg brochures/ forms/ written policies and procedures.)
26. What documentation, both internal and external, do you currently have for BAD Designs? This might include for example brochures, technical documentation, forms, sales pitches, and written policies/ procedures.
27. Do you have any written documents (e.g. brochures) that give information to prospective clients?
28. Do you have any templates of letters or sales pitches that you currently use to handle enquiries?
29. Could we please have a look at your current brochures, forms, written policies and procedures? (to heavy?)
30. How do you market yourselves?
31. Where is your biggest online presence?
32. Do you have any documentation that you give to clients about your business?
33. What is your technical documentation on board production?
34. What software, if any, do you use in manufacture?
Identify users of the system and how they interact with the system.
(Target audience/ demographic/ how do they make contact/ time spent with customers/ what are majority of enquiries about/ how is business promoted.)
35. We understand that currently you have a great reputation within your local area, however would you say that your target audience would be located state-wide, nation-wide, or world-wide?
36. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is? Do you have an idea of how many people you want to reach?
37. We understand that your business has been quite successful in your local area and is just beginning to branch out, where do you think most of your enquiries come from and how do they hear about your business?
38. How do you receive that majority of your enquiries and what are the most common?
39. How do most customers/clients get in touch with you?
40. What are most of the customers enquires about when spoken to?
41. How are orders placed?
42. How do most customers/clients learn about your business?
43. How do customers get in contact with you about queries they have?
44. What are the majority enquiries about?
45. How have you advertised your business?
46. Have you received any feedback from customers about your online presence?
What is in and out of scope?
(budget/ hardware & software/ network topography.)
47. Do you currently have a budget allowance to put towards new systems and process improvement?
*If YES, could you provide us with these details?
*If NO, how do you envisage being able to implement new processes and changes to your current working environment?
48. Do you currently utilise computers for the day to day operations of your business if so how many?
*If YES, Is there any specific software or hardware that you use and are you currently connected to the internet or a network of any description?
*If NO, would it likely be within the budget to purchase such equipment, and is this something that has been considered at all in the past?
49. We understand that you have had an influx of enquiries and are looking for a solution to handle them, do you have a budget?
50. Does your business have a computer and is it easily accessible?
51. What kind of budget do you have to invest into growing your company?
52. Does your business have a phone? Email? Computer? Internet? Office for meeting clients?
53. Do you have access to a computer and internet? If yes, how often can be spent on there without interrupting manufacturing processes?
54. Do you have someone in your employ who can handle the data management of an online system?
Identify current problems and inefficiencies as perceived by management.
(current online identity – egEbay& Facebook?/ brochures – time & cost/ enquiries – how?/ factory tours – photos?/ surfboard design – process?.)
55. We understand that you have utilised Ebay for the sale of some surfboards – has this been developed using a specific ‘BAD Designs’ profile?
*If YES, is this profile used throughout any other applications such as Facebook, or surfing networks for example?
*If NO, is creating a profile, including logo, something that you would like us to consider on your behalf?
56. You have identified that the time and cost associated with sending out brochures is an issue for you, could you please explain this process and the costs involved.
57. What methods of enquiries and contact do customers currently have available to use?
58. How are these methods currently advertised – for example have you advertised in the phone book/ internet/ etc?
59. Regarding the factory tours you offer your customers, do you have set tour times, or are tours arranged for customers as they enquire?
60. Could you please explain briefly what occurs during a tour and how long it takes for a complete factory tour.
61. Would you be interested in setting up a ‘virtual’ tour – utilising photos for example?
62. Do you have a current online identity? (e.g. facebook, email, blogs)
63. How often (if at all) do you communicate with prospective clients via the web?
64. What areas are you currently having trouble with in your business?
65. What areas are you spending the most time/money on?
66. Where is the most profit made?
67. Is the factory operational while there is a tour?
68. Does everyone do their fair share?
69. How much money is made off of a board?/ design?Are you currently making a profit?
70. Out of the many enquires you receive, how many of them turn into orders?
71. How much time and money is spent on developing and sending off brochures?
72. Do you believe there is a more efficient and less expensive way to provide customers with information?
73. Do you feel that the production process is less efficient than it should be because staff are distracted by customer inquiries? / tours?
To identify what they NEED (as opposed to what they WANT).
(What are the Urgent problems.)
74. Apart from the issues we have just discussed, are there any other urgent issues or procedures that you believe need to be addressed?
75. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is? Do you have an idea of how many people you want to reach?
76. What do you think the main priority of your business is right now in terms of moving forward?
77. Where are you finding yourselves struggling at the current moment?
78. Are you currently making a profit?
79. Are there any issues within the business that needs to be discussed and solved?
80. If there is one aspect of your business that you could change right now, what would that be?
To understand what they WANT (as opposed to what they NEED).
(What do they see as improvements?)
**NOTE: (I think this objective might be a bit similar to number 7. in clarifying the problem. Not sure if it's meant to be worded differently.)
81. Ideally, how would you like to see this business in the future?
82. What are your mid-to-long term goals?
83. Do you have a ‘wish list’ of improvements that you would like to see implemented at some point in the future, that may not necessarily be urgent issues right now?.
84. What would you like to see improve within the business functionality?
85. What are some goals for your business?
86. If costs were not an issue, what technological solutions would you wish to implement?
Identify future opportunities for the business.
(Expanding product range/ have they considered a website?)
87. Do you have an idea of what you want the business to look like in the future? e.g. branching out into other products.
88. Have you thought about using an online store to handle orders once the business expands further?
89. Have you thought about expanding your products into other areas?(e.g. shirts, wax, stickers, gear)
90. Would you eventually like to expand upon your factory?
91. Have you thought about selling your boards though established online surf retailers?
92. What is your current product range and do you have visions of adding to this in the future?
93. In the future, are you wanting to extend your product range? (clothing, footwear, accessories)
94. Are you wanting to eventually increase your business size?
95. Have you considered a website / online store for your business?
96. Have you considered employing an enterprise consultant?
Understand how the system should look in the future.
(How do you see your business evolving in the short and long term?)
97. Considering the growth rate of your business so far, roughly how many enquiries and orders do you predict you will receive per week in the near future? (say one years time?)
98. With your current staff, equipment and procedures, how well will your business cope with this amount of customer enquiries?
99. What would you eventually like your business to look like?
100. What do you believe is the next step in growing your business?
101. How do you see your business evolving in the short and long term?
102. Do you think a website will make your business more efficient and decrease the number of enquires when dealing with your customers?
103. Do you think a website describing manufacturing processes and answers with questions often asked will decrease the number of people to call you?
104. Can you see a long term solution to the problems you are currently facing?
To identify if all relevant information has been disclosed.
(to check that there isn’t something we’ve missed – that we now know ALL relevant information.)
105. Is there anything else you want to add in regards to what you want to see improved in your business?
106. Do you have any further documents or brochures we can look at that we haven’t already?
107. Do we have all of your company’s documentation?
108. Is there anything else that you believe we should know that is relevant about your company?
109. Is there any more information we should know about your business regarding improvements?
tavishuff- Posts : 8
Join date : 2011-08-09
One step further
tavishuff Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:05 am
.... and if we agree with the above the way it is above, our questions should look something like this.
Now it should be our next step to further edit these questions, add in questions we are leaving out or edit these down further. Then we should find a way to order them so that they make sense and aren't going all over the place.
What do you guys think?
1. From what we understand, BAD Designs started as a group of 5 school friends building and spraying surfboards, have you hired any additional staff or contractors since the business was established?
2. Is there a management structure within the business?
*If YES, please describe this to us and what each person's role is.
*If NO, could you please tell us how the business operates in terms of decision-making.
**NOTE: I think we can find out ‘Who we will be dealing with’ before we even get to the interview. I think we should word the interview request email in a way to request that we speak with the person responsible for overseeing this project – that way we save ourselves a question and find out that little bit more info before we go in.
3. Who deals with the customers and their enquires?
4. Do you have a business plan?
5. Do you have a system in place for receiving and recording customer enquiries?
*If YES, Please give us a brief outline of this process.
*If NO, Is this something you think might benefit BAD Designs?
6. Can you briefly walk us through the process of an order from the enquiry to point of sale to the manufacture of the surfboard?
7. Do you currently have a procedure or sales pitch in place in place to handle enquiries?
8. How do most people find out about your business? How do you market yourself?
9. How much time is spent on each stage of the business? Enquiries, design, orders, manufacture, tours?
10. What percentage of enquires turn into orders?
11. How do you receive orders?
12. What documentation, both internal and external, do you currently have for BAD Designs? This might include for example brochures, technical documentation, forms, sales pitches, and written policies/ procedures.
13. What software, if any, do you use in manufacture?
14. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is?
15. We understand that your business has been quite successful in your local area and is just beginning to branch out, where do you think most of your enquiries come from and how do they hear about your business?
16. How do you receive that majority of your enquiries and what are the most common?
17. How do customers get in contact with you about queries they have?
18. What are the majority enquiries about?
19. Have you received any feedback from customers about your online presence?
20. Do you currently have a budget allowance to put towards new systems and process improvement?
*If YES, could you provide us with these details?
*If NO, how do you envisage being able to implement new processes and changes to your current working environment?
21. Do you currently utilise computers for the day to day operations of your business if so how many?
*If YES, Is there any specific software or hardware that you use and are you currently connected to the internet or a network of any description?
*If NO, would it likely be within the budget to purchase such equipment, and is this something that has been considered at all in the past?
22. Do you have someone in your employ who can handle the data management of an online system?
23. We understand that you have utilised Ebay for the sale of some surfboards – has this been developed using a specific ‘BAD Designs’ profile?
*If YES, is this profile used throughout any other applications such as Facebook, or surfing networks for example?
*If NO, is creating a profile, including logo, something that you would like us to consider on your behalf?
24. You have identified that the time and cost associated with sending out brochures is an issue for you, could you please explain this process and the costs involved.
25. Regarding the factory tours you offer your customers, do you have set tour times, or are tours arranged for customers as they enquire?
26. Would you be interested in setting up a ‘virtual’ tour – utilising photos for example?
27. Do you have a current online identity? (e.g. facebook, email, blogs)
28. How often (if at all) do you communicate with prospective clients via the web?
29. What areas are you currently having trouble with in your business?
30. What areas are you spending the most time/money on?
31. How much money is made off of a board?/ design?Are you currently making a profit?
32. Out of the many enquires you receive, how many of them turn into orders?
33. How much time and money is spent on developing and sending off brochures?
34. Do you believe there is a more efficient and less expensive way to provide customers with information?
35. Do you feel that the production process is less efficient than it should be because staff are distracted by customer inquiries? / tours?
36. Are there any issues within the business that needs to be discussed and solved?
37. If there is one aspect of your business that you could change right now, what would that be?
38. What are your mid-to-long term goals?
39. Do you have a ‘wish list’ of improvements that you would like to see implemented at some point in the future, that may not necessarily be urgent issues right now?.
40. If costs were not an issue, what technological solutions would you wish to implement?
41. Do you have an idea of what you want the business to look like in the future? e.g. branching out into other products.
42. Have you thought about selling your boards though established online surf retailers?
43. What is your current product range and do you have visions of adding to this in the future?
44. Do you want to eventually increase your business size?
45. Have you considered a website / online store for your business?
46. Considering the growth rate of your business so far, roughly how many enquiries and orders do you predict you will receive per week in the near future? (say one years’ time?)
47. With your current staff, equipment and procedures, how well will your business cope with this amount of customer enquiries?
48. Do you think a website will make your business more efficient and decrease the number of enquires when dealing with your customers?
49. Do we have all of your company’s documentation?
50. Is there anything else that you believe we should know that is relevant about your company?
Now it should be our next step to further edit these questions, add in questions we are leaving out or edit these down further. Then we should find a way to order them so that they make sense and aren't going all over the place.
What do you guys think?
1. From what we understand, BAD Designs started as a group of 5 school friends building and spraying surfboards, have you hired any additional staff or contractors since the business was established?
2. Is there a management structure within the business?
*If YES, please describe this to us and what each person's role is.
*If NO, could you please tell us how the business operates in terms of decision-making.
**NOTE: I think we can find out ‘Who we will be dealing with’ before we even get to the interview. I think we should word the interview request email in a way to request that we speak with the person responsible for overseeing this project – that way we save ourselves a question and find out that little bit more info before we go in.
3. Who deals with the customers and their enquires?
4. Do you have a business plan?
5. Do you have a system in place for receiving and recording customer enquiries?
*If YES, Please give us a brief outline of this process.
*If NO, Is this something you think might benefit BAD Designs?
6. Can you briefly walk us through the process of an order from the enquiry to point of sale to the manufacture of the surfboard?
7. Do you currently have a procedure or sales pitch in place in place to handle enquiries?
8. How do most people find out about your business? How do you market yourself?
9. How much time is spent on each stage of the business? Enquiries, design, orders, manufacture, tours?
10. What percentage of enquires turn into orders?
11. How do you receive orders?
12. What documentation, both internal and external, do you currently have for BAD Designs? This might include for example brochures, technical documentation, forms, sales pitches, and written policies/ procedures.
13. What software, if any, do you use in manufacture?
14. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is?
15. We understand that your business has been quite successful in your local area and is just beginning to branch out, where do you think most of your enquiries come from and how do they hear about your business?
16. How do you receive that majority of your enquiries and what are the most common?
17. How do customers get in contact with you about queries they have?
18. What are the majority enquiries about?
19. Have you received any feedback from customers about your online presence?
20. Do you currently have a budget allowance to put towards new systems and process improvement?
*If YES, could you provide us with these details?
*If NO, how do you envisage being able to implement new processes and changes to your current working environment?
21. Do you currently utilise computers for the day to day operations of your business if so how many?
*If YES, Is there any specific software or hardware that you use and are you currently connected to the internet or a network of any description?
*If NO, would it likely be within the budget to purchase such equipment, and is this something that has been considered at all in the past?
22. Do you have someone in your employ who can handle the data management of an online system?
23. We understand that you have utilised Ebay for the sale of some surfboards – has this been developed using a specific ‘BAD Designs’ profile?
*If YES, is this profile used throughout any other applications such as Facebook, or surfing networks for example?
*If NO, is creating a profile, including logo, something that you would like us to consider on your behalf?
24. You have identified that the time and cost associated with sending out brochures is an issue for you, could you please explain this process and the costs involved.
25. Regarding the factory tours you offer your customers, do you have set tour times, or are tours arranged for customers as they enquire?
26. Would you be interested in setting up a ‘virtual’ tour – utilising photos for example?
27. Do you have a current online identity? (e.g. facebook, email, blogs)
28. How often (if at all) do you communicate with prospective clients via the web?
29. What areas are you currently having trouble with in your business?
30. What areas are you spending the most time/money on?
31. How much money is made off of a board?/ design?Are you currently making a profit?
32. Out of the many enquires you receive, how many of them turn into orders?
33. How much time and money is spent on developing and sending off brochures?
34. Do you believe there is a more efficient and less expensive way to provide customers with information?
35. Do you feel that the production process is less efficient than it should be because staff are distracted by customer inquiries? / tours?
36. Are there any issues within the business that needs to be discussed and solved?
37. If there is one aspect of your business that you could change right now, what would that be?
38. What are your mid-to-long term goals?
39. Do you have a ‘wish list’ of improvements that you would like to see implemented at some point in the future, that may not necessarily be urgent issues right now?.
40. If costs were not an issue, what technological solutions would you wish to implement?
41. Do you have an idea of what you want the business to look like in the future? e.g. branching out into other products.
42. Have you thought about selling your boards though established online surf retailers?
43. What is your current product range and do you have visions of adding to this in the future?
44. Do you want to eventually increase your business size?
45. Have you considered a website / online store for your business?
46. Considering the growth rate of your business so far, roughly how many enquiries and orders do you predict you will receive per week in the near future? (say one years’ time?)
47. With your current staff, equipment and procedures, how well will your business cope with this amount of customer enquiries?
48. Do you think a website will make your business more efficient and decrease the number of enquires when dealing with your customers?
49. Do we have all of your company’s documentation?
50. Is there anything else that you believe we should know that is relevant about your company?
tavishuff- Posts : 8
Join date : 2011-08-09
Question culling!
Michelle Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:50 pm
I think you guys did a great job!
I think it just needs to be refined a bit more - to cut out a few more questions, and then we'll be laughing!!! (so to speak)...
I think it just needs to be refined a bit more - to cut out a few more questions, and then we'll be laughing!!! (so to speak)...
Michelle- Posts : 14
Join date : 2011-08-02
Re: Final draft
ej Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:54 am
Awesome stuff guys, I agree with Michelle if we can cull a couple questions I think we're pretty much done! Just read through the questions and made a few notes... Next Monday is a required attendance to class so Maybe we can finalise our questions then?
tavishuff wrote:.... and if we agree with the above the way it is above, our questions should look something like this.
Now it should be our next step to further edit these questions, add in questions we are leaving out or edit these down further. Then we should find a way to order them so that they make sense and aren't going all over the place.
What do you guys think?
1. From what we understand, BAD Designs started as a group of 5 school friends building and spraying surfboards, have you hired any additional staff or contractors since the business was established?
2. Is there a management structure within the business?
*If YES, please describe this to us and what each person's role is.
*If NO, could you please tell us how the business operates in terms of decision-making.
**NOTE: I think we can find out ‘Who we will be dealing with’ before we even get to the interview. I think we should word the interview request email in a way to request that we speak with the person responsible for overseeing this project – that way we save ourselves a question and find out that little bit more info before we go in.
3. Who deals with the customers and their enquires?
4. Do you have a business plan?
I think this qestion might be a bit broad and possibly confronting especially for a group of young guys.
5. Do you have a system in place for receiving and recording customer enquiries?
*If YES, Please give us a brief outline of this process.
*If NO, Is this something you think might benefit BAD Designs?
6. Can you briefly walk us through the process of an order from the enquiry to point of sale to the manufacture of the surfboard?
7. Do you currently have a procedure or sales pitch in place in place to handle enquiries?
Could possibly try and cover this in question 5.
8. How do most people find out about your business? How do you market yourself?
9. How much time is spent on each stage of the business? Enquiries, design, orders, manufacture, tours?
10. What percentage of enquires turn into orders?
11. How do you receive orders? (The majority)
12. What documentation, both internal and external, do you currently have for BAD Designs? This might include for example brochures, technical documentation, forms, sales pitches, and written policies/ procedures.
Should hopefully have this stuff before the interview, so I think we can cull this one.
13. What software, if any, do you use in manufacture?
14. In regards to promoting your business, have you thought about who and where your target audience is?
15. We understand that your business has been quite successful in your local area and is just beginning to branch out, where do you think most of your enquiries come from and how do they hear about your business?
16. How do you receive that majority of your enquiries and what are the most common?
17. How do customers get in contact with you about queries they have?
I think this is the same as question 16, can probably do without this one.
18. What are the majority enquiries about?
19. Have you received any feedback from customers about your online presence?
We dont yet know if they have an online prescence.
20. Do you currently have a budget allowance to put towards new systems and process improvement?
*If YES, could you provide us with these details?
*If NO, how do you envisage being able to implement new processes and changes to your current working environment?
21. Do you currently utilise computers for the day to day operations of your business if so how many?
*If YES, Is there any specific software or hardware that you use and are you currently connected to the internet or a network of any description?
*If NO, would it likely be within the budget to purchase such equipment, and is this something that has been considered at all in the past?
22. Do you have someone in your employ who can handle the data management of an online system?
23. We understand that you have utilised Ebay for the sale of some surfboards – has this been developed using a specific ‘BAD Designs’ profile?
*If YES, is this profile used throughout any other applications such as Facebook, or surfing networks for example?
*If NO, is creating a profile, including logo, something that you would like us to consider on your behalf?
24. You have identified that the time and cost associated with sending out brochures is an issue for you, could you please explain this process and the costs involved.
Not sure if this one is entirely necessary either.
25. Regarding the factory tours you offer your customers, do you have set tour times, or are tours arranged for customers as they enquire?
Maybe also ask if factory tours often lead to sales as an afterthought
26. Would you be interested in setting up a ‘virtual’ tour – utilising photos for example?
27. Do you have a current online identity? (e.g. facebook, email, blogs)
28. How often (if at all) do you communicate with prospective clients via the web?
29. What areas are you currently having trouble with in your business?
30. What areas are you spending the most time/money on?
31. How much money is made off of a board?/ design?Are you currently making a profit?
32. Out of the many enquires you receive, how many of them turn into orders?
great question, but I think it should go under where the enquiries are coming from.
33. How much time and money is spent on developing and sending off brochures?
34. Do you believe there is a more efficient and less expensive way to provide customers with information?
35. Do you feel that the production process is less efficient than it should be because staff are distracted by customer inquiries? / tours?
i think we can slightly re-word this, maybe something like "Do you feel your current method of handling enquiries and providing potential customers with information is time and cost effective?" and "Considering the money and time spent on brochures to accomodate the influx of new enquiries, is this issue something you think should be a priority for your business?"
36. Are there any other issues within the business that needs to be discussed and solved?
37. If there is one aspect of your business that you could change right now, what would that be?
38. What are your mid-to-long term goals?
Maybe consider narrowing this question down somehow so they can't waffle on, even if we just say "In terms of your mid to long term goals for the business, what would you say your main priorities are?"
39. Do you have a ‘wish list’ of improvements that you would like to see implemented at some point in the future, that may not necessarily be urgent issues right now?.
i like this qestion, gets them thinking about possibilities and creates a bit of excitement instead of just concentrating on negatives!
40. If costs were not an issue, what technological solutions would you wish to implement?
41. Do you have an idea of what you want the business to look like in the future? e.g. branching out into other products.
42. Have you thought about selling your boards though established online surf retailers?
does this drag business away from us though?
43. What is your current product range and do you have visions of adding to this in the future?
44. Do you want to eventually increase your business size?
I think reword this, obviously they want the business to grow, maybe say "In what direction do you envision your business growing in terms of sales, target audience, product range."
45. Have you considered a website / online store for your business?
46. Considering the growth rate of your business so far, roughly how many enquiries and orders do you predict you will receive per week in the near future? (say one years’ time?)
Swap questions 45. and 46/47 around.
47. With your current staff, equipment and procedures, how well will your business cope with this amount of customer enquiries?
48. Do you think a website will make your business more efficient and decrease the number of enquires when dealing with your customers?
Maybe we dont really need this question or we can add it to the end of 45
49. Do we have all of your company’s documentation?
50. Is there anything else that you believe we should know that is relevant about your company?
ej- Posts : 6
Join date : 2011-08-10
4SA1 Group 1 :: 4SA1 :: BAD Designs
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