4A – Forming An Opportunity Belief

Problem: 

Students are leaving their trash in the libraries, and they’re slowing down the process of cleaning for custodians.

I do believe that opportunity exists because I potentially believe that they are solutions to all problems. If you spend enough time dedicating to having plans of action towards a problem it could be solved. I find it easier for me because I live on a college campus where a lot of problems occur around me.

My problem is custodians time is being consumed with cleaning small trash of students and faculty, which is interfering with others time. When they are to busy cleaning the small things other things such as focusing on the restrooms are being interfered with. Students that come into the library want cleanliness. If students want the spot cleaned it would have to be done themselves in that moment, which they don’t like doing themselves, or leave it for the custodial crew to clean. This usually ends with the student moving to a different seat. A solution that could be used is having a trash connected on the tables so they can have a route set together for collecting the trash at the tables, instead up picking up trash piece by piece. 

Interview 1

Student: Leonardo, Vince

Need: the overall need is the cleanliness of the library.

When he comes into the library he says that their are factors that help him pick his seat. The factors are: is the seat is secluded, if the seat is in a quiet area and if the area that he sitting in is clean. His need starts before he even comes to the library because he already has a seat that he wants in mind, which is a whisper section so he can eat his snacks without disturbance of others, in the back corner of the second floor.

Time he spends sitting in the library? He usually comes to the library one average 10 hours on average to study and do homework. So he knows what to expect.

Does he clean the seat if it’s not clean? He usually does not feel like walking all the way to the restroom to get something to clean with so he just finds a clean seat to sit.

Reflection: this really gave me insight to the reaction of having a unclean library and how the student thinks. This answered my question “Is this problem actually a problem?” This person would be considered my customer because they are paying for these libraries because of tuition for attending school. 

Katie:

Needs to able to find a seat without having to move seats because of other students not cleaning after themselves.

When she comes into the library she does not want to clean after other people. She said that it makes her more likely to stay at home rather than stay at a library where its dirty.

She spends most of her time at home because she feels the restrooms don't smell good.

Reflection: This interview was important because this gave me more insight into the overall problem of students not cleaning after themselves and the custodians taking away from much need attention to the restrooms. 

Interview 2

Custodians:

Gloria

Need: She wants the students to be more mindful of others in the library not just herself. She becomes aware of the problem when she has to clean and other students are noticing that trash is being left behind. She spends a thirty hour a week shift so she knows what students think the cleanliness. She says she spends most of her time walking around making sure that students are not leaving trash behind on the tales and around the library floors.

Where could you spend more of your time if students took the initiative to clean after themselves. She said the restrooms needs her undivided attention because those are the most used places other than the seating.

The need is everyday for the custodial crew. Because Library West is 24 hours and people are still there.

How did she think of a solution to cutting down time of cleaning? She would like the strategy of having trash cans stored within the tables. She said that she could easily make a route instead of picking up all the trash separately. “Working smarter not harder” is what Gloria said.

Reflection: The interview was important because this gave me insight on my problem. I am targeting the custodians as the potential problem because I need to know if they are needing more time with cleaning. I also wanted to identify their problem. The custodian gave feedback on weather she thought the plan would work.

Matt:

Needs the students clean up after themselves so they can finish their route. The Need starts in the evening time because that when he usually works. He says the evening shifts are less efficient about throwing away their food because the traffic flow is heavier. He works more than twenty hours on average. He mostly works at  Library west, since Marston closes earlier they have more trash because they have more traffic flow at first.

Reflection: The interview with this custodian gave me insight on both Library west and Marston Library. Also this interview let me know the busiest times for each library.

Interview 3:

Staff(student): randy huffman

Needs: the library to stay as cleanly as possible. When they come into the library they want to see a clean library because they have to be in the library for long amounts of time.

Do you pick up trash: If he came across a bottle he would maybe pick it up, but any other time he would not. If trash cans were installed inside of the table Huffman thought it would cleaner, and the custodians would have time for other duties. They stay at the library for 10 hours on average a week.

Reflection: The staff gave me confirmation of the problem I would try and fix. The staff, which was also a student, gave another perspective of the student. They also have to study their, but they also have to work there as well. So they are usually going just as many places as the custodian. So they would also be the potential feedback of both the student and worker.

How much of your original opportunity is still there? I feel that I still need to put more thought process of cleaning and reducing time for the custodians.

Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started? I feel like my new opportunity is a little more complicated because I have to talk to a lot of people  before I actually make a change. I do understand where the problem actually is. With all the feedback and detail I have a better understanding in how important the problem is.

How much do you think entrepreneurs should 'adapt' their opportunities based on customer feedback? The should adapt as soon as possible because it determines if the problem is relevant and if the problem is a good one. So they have to constantly revise.