Friday, January 25, 2019

Assignment 6A: Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Opportunity #1: Healthcare Regulatory Trends
  1. I found this article on regulatory changes at the following web address: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7671-regulatory-issues-changes.html
  2. I believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist due to the importance of health care. Being able to provide such a service to your employees is of much importance. Though the United States, among other countries do not view universal healthcare as a basic human right, it is still an important service that could be considered an unmet need.
  3. The customer with the opportunity would be the employee receiving some form of assistance from their employers when it comes down to healthcare.
  4. The opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit. Many changes are easier said than done and to ensure that most employees are benefited with assistance regarding their healthcare plans would be a grueling process. This is my view of the issue due to knowledge of companies not providing healthcare to some employees due to extenuating circumstances which prevent them from doing so due to policy. For example, seasonal workers are often times not offered the benefits that a full-time employee would receive due to the position being deemed seasonal.



Why did you see the opportunity?
I saw the opportunity due to the high demand of such a necessity. Healthcare allows sustenance of employees and prioritizes the wellbeing of an employee. I believe that healthcare and access to such a service stand high in terms of importance. If healthcare were to become more accessible to employees, the general well being of the individual would be better off. The employee is taken care of, therefore they can continue to perform their work duties with ease.

Opportunity #2: Artificial Intelligence: A regulatory trend to watch for

  1. I found an article that addresses AI and their introduction into the workplace at the following web address: https://riskandinsurance.com/wc-regulatory-trends-changing-the-industry/
  2. I believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist due to the availability of artificial intelligence. The opportunity available is the use of AI in order to promote productivity within fields of work that require manufacturing within an industry.
  3. The customer with the opportunity would be the owners and officials who are in charge of certain industries that could utilize AI in lieu of human beings. Though this may not be beneficial to those who are replaced by AI, it is beneficial to the industry cost wise, therefore they are the customer. They are seeking a more cost efficient opportunity to take advantage of to further their success as an industry.
  4. The opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit. To produce AI and to have them carry out a specific function may not be as cost effective as one may assume. It surely cost money in order to obtain AI that would increase productivity within industries. However, if you were to consider the cost and how it would differ in the long run, it may be an investment worth making in the eyes of the industry owner. However, this would lead to jobs becoming obsolete and would override the need for worker’s compensation.

Why did you see the opportunity?
Though I may not agree with the use of AI with the intent to increase productivity within manufacturing jobs, it is an apparent opportunity industry owners could consider if they really care for the success of their business over the opportunity they have to employ people in need. This is an opportunity for the industry, but a disservice for workers who are in a working field that may soon become obsolete due to the existence of AI.

Opportunity #3: Improving Economic Opportunity in the U.S

  1. I found an article which informs readers of ways to improve economic opportunity in the United States at the following web address: https://www.cbpp.org/economy/improving-economic-opportunity-in-the-united-states
  2. I believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist due to the reasoning behind economic opportunity barriers. In some cases, these barriers are associated with income, race, and education. There are apparent racial disparities when evaluating unemployment rates and this may be due to preference within society. It is unjust to decline potential employment due to income and race. Though, level of education is a matter than can be viewed differently when hiring employees to work for your company. It may not be fair to do so if obtaining higher levels of education are often prevented due to the family income of a young adult, but being deemed more qualified for a position due to one’s experiences is often accepted over those without higher levels of education.
  3. The customer of this opportunity would surely be the individual seeking employment while facing such barriers. It would benefit them if they were not discriminated based on income, race and education.
  4. The opportunity is rather easy to exploit when we are focusing on barriers involving income and race. There are aspects of an individual that should not be frowned upon if it is out of their control. An individual cannot do anything differently if they belong to a certain race and this should not be an issue in today’s day and age.

Why did you see this opportunity?
I was able to see this opportunity due to the views I hold in regards to income and race. Throughout my upbringing, there were multiple days, multiple years where my mother and I ate ramen and spam and only such foods due to the income available to her. If employers were to judge potential employees on their income, it would be wrong because it is not within their control. This is similarly the case for race, since one cannot change and should not be discriminated to begin with. Though when it comes to education being a barrier, not much can be done. It is a miracle that I was given the opportunity to attend the University of Florida and if I had not had this opportunity, I would be facing this educational barrier, as my family did not have the means to provide a college education for their child.

Opportunity #4: 7 Elements of Economic Opportunity

  1. I found an article discussing various methods that would improve economic opportunity at the following web address: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/bhq/7-elements-economic-opportunity
  2.  I believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist due to being able to reconstruct certain aspects. If officials are able to plan out more effective forms of running a society, the society as a whole with foster growth.
  3. The customer in this opportunity would be the individual receiving an opportunity to improve their economic opportunity. For example, if the public school system were reevaluated and changes were made, the students at these facilities would be given more opportunity to learn more effectively.
  4. The opportunity is relatively difficult to exploit due to funding and lack of attention on the subject. If we allow mediocre systems to continue their ways, we will continue to receive young adults who were not as fortunate to have a good educational system in place in certain regions.
Why did you see this opportunity?

I saw this opportunity because I came from an area where the public school system was not a very good one. I feel as if I was provided with the bare minimum, while there are children who have the accessibility to resources which enhance their educational path. If I were given access to better opportunity, I believe that it would ultimately lead to a more successful life as a student and member of society.

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Assignment 5A: Identifying Local Opportunities

Opportunity #1: Jennifer Cabrera: Use resources to help people, not for feel-good causes
Jennifer Cabrera writes about the steps the city is currently taking to introduce a zero waste policy when their focus should be providing resources for those in need. Cabrera starts off this article by speaking of an encounter with a 15 year-old teenager who attempts to seek help but is faced with the harsh reality that help does not exist here within the vicinity of the city of  Gainesville. Though psychiatric hospitals are located throughout the town, their focus is not to help people in the long run, but solely to help stabilize each individual seeking help. By providing resources that specifically help those with mental illnesses or issues they cannot face alone, having accessibility to a mental health counselor would ease not only the individual seeking help but ease an even larger issue that stems from lack of said resources; homelessness.

The zero waste policy is a great way to implement the use of reusable items in order to eliminate the need for waste, however, it becomes more of a burden for those without viable means of transportation. With the city of Gainesville focusing their attention on creating a waste free future, they are neglecting what is an apparent issue here in Gainesville. If there is a chance to provide mental health counseling to those in need, there is a chance that the percentage of those who are without a home will go down. The upbringing of a young adult typically determines their success further in life and if there are deep rooted issues that need to be brought to the surface, they should be addressed sooner rather than later. This issue directly affects those who live within the city of Gainesville who are faced with an unmet need regarding mental health counselling and the opportunity that should exist is increased accessibility to such services.


Opportunity #2: Adam Garcia: Nothing beats a bike
Adam Garcia writes about biking and the fact that biking is the most viable form of transportation in the city of Gainesville. Though Garcia is hesitant of this mode of transportation due to a recent accident his son was in, when it gets down to the reliability and environmental footprint of using a bike as transportation, nothing beats a bike.
The issue presented in this article is the fact that biking as a mode of transportation is quite dangerous when you consider the heavy traffic flow throughout the city of Gainesville. Though it may be dangerous at times, it still manages to eliminate the need for dealing with lack of parking spaces and being stuck in traffic when you need to be somewhere at a specific time. This is a problem to those who do not own a vehicle of their own and turn to other modes of transportation in order to get to where they need to be. The solution to this issue could be better attention to one’s surroundings to avoid getting into an accident. This goes for those who are riding the bike and the drivers who may carelessly control their vehicle without considering those who utilize those same roadways to get from one place to another.

Opportunity #3: Six-month snapshot shows crime up 10 percent
Cindy Swirko writes about the crime rate in Alachua county steadily rising. In the first half of the year of 2018, the crime rate was moderately steady. However, during the second half of the year, crime rates went up drastically. With an overall increase of 12.5 in crimes in Gainesville and its’ surrounding areas, it is quite a large percentage since the crime rate statewide is a mere 8 percent. The issue presented in this article is the increase of crime among the city. The problem is definitely problematic for law enforcement and officials, but it is also an issue for those who work and study here in Gainesville. Crime in our area is never looked at lightly and with there being such an increase in these rates, it becomes a problem for all and it is not limited to only one individual or organization.

Opportunity #4: Hipp deep: Gainesville theater struggles under state cuts
Scottie Andrew writes about the slashing that occurred in funding for the Hippodrome theater, which also posed a threat to multiple art related organizations in the city of Gainesville. The article states that the Hippodrome requires an approximation of $200,000 to stay open and running year round and the funding they received this past year was nearly $10,000. This is a major cut back on funding and this issue directly impacts artists in the area who are dependent on the Hippodrome. The local artists who devote their lives to this theater, along with performers and staff would find the lack of funding problematic. These individuals would have to worry for their job security or rather lack thereof with the minimal amount of funding.  

Opportunity #5: Rascally rabbits causing issues in Gainesville neighborhood
Andrew Caplan writes about rascally rabbits that have wreaked havoc in local neighborhoods. Von “Aspen” Ruber is being held liable for the rampant rabbit population, as he has been known to breed rabbits on his property. Though this may seem harmless, the large population of rabbits often leads to many loose rabbits among neighborhood streets, many of them often found dead or injured. The issue being addressed is the fact that the rabbits are running off of Ruber’s property. This is problematic for those who inhabit those neighborhoods. Neighbors are fed up with rabbits ending up on their properties, whether they are dead or alive, it is an inconvenience.
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Friday, January 18, 2019

Assignment 4A: Forming An Opportunity Belief

The SG Print Lab is an area on campus designated to provide students
with a much needed service. The Print Lab offers desktop computers,
as well as multiple printers in order to provide this service for UF
students. However, there are instances where the SG Print Lab is
swamped with UF Gators and the functionality of the service is rather
low in quality. It is a privilege to have such a resource on campus,
but when the purpose of the SG Print Lab is to increase the
accessibility of printing material that is needed for most courses,
time is of the essence!
The need for a decently paced line at the SG Print Lab has always
been a necessity. Though this is a necessity, not much has been done
to resolve this issue. By creating an application where students can
upload important documents to have them printed in advance would be a
great addition to the services provided by the SG Print Lab. If such
an application were to exist, students who need to print numerous
documents would have the opportunity to save time and skip the line.
Having a pick-up service would definitely bring forth change and help
limit the time spent in the printing lab. Overall, this would allow
the SG Print Lab to run more efficiently.
In order to explore the possibility of this proposal becoming a
reality, I have sought out students on campus who have agreed to
participate in an interview regarding this matter.
Student 1:
When asked to speak about their last visit to the SG Print Lab, this
student was concerned about the amount of time it took for their
documents to print out. The student is currently enrolled in Art
History 2 and has to print out readings for their class, as their
professor does not require a textbook. She had to print out multiple
handouts which were 30 pages in length on average.
When proposed with a solution to their unmet need, the student was
open to potential change of the services provided in the lab, as it
would save her time and allow her to have a sense of flexibility in
her daily schedule. The student is aware of the need only partially
since she is not always required to print multiple documents for all
of her courses. The need for saving time has always been a priority
of this student, therefore she addresses the need by arriving on
campus much sooner than her scheduled classes to accommodate for the
amount of time spent in the SG Print Lab. She was rather impressed by
the proposal and hopes that it becomes an attainable service for the
SG Print Lab.
Student 2:
When asked how they felt about the SG Print Lab, this student said
that it is great to have such an opportunity on campus. However, he
does not have an unmet need when it comes down to the services the SG
Print Lab provides. He has a printer in his bedroom and always has
access to printing essential material. He is not affected by the loss
of time due to the privilege of having a printer and fax machine in
his own home.
When proposed with a solution to an issue his peers may face, the
student was open to the proposal. The student believed that if there
is room for improvement in an area where a service is lacking, it
should be adjusted to accommodate for the unmet need of others.
Student 3:
When asked about their last visit to the SG Print Lab, the student
was oblivious as to what the SG Print Lab was. She was unaware of
this service provided to all UF students on campus. She did not have
an unmet need, as she had just learned of the service on campus.
Regardless of her not knowing much about the SG Print Lab, I shared
my proposal with her to get insight on the importance of the service.
She liked the idea but did not personally know whether or not it
would be effective in solving the issue with time spent in the Print
Lab. Though she knew very little information about the lab, this
young woman actively questioned my proposal for meeting an unmet
service. She stated that if the service is not necessarily broken,
then there is no need to fix it. I believe that she meant to point
out the fact that we are privileged to have a service on campus that
fills the need of printing material. Though it may not be as
efficient as it could be, the services provided at the SG Print Lab
are acceptable in their current state.
Reflection:
I learned a lot from reaching out to my peers about potentially
improving a service on campus. Some students were heavily
influenced by the unmet need, while others were not bothered by
it or unaware of the existence of this service. I was surprised
to learn that student 3 was unaware of the services available
to her as a UF student. It was more surprising that the student
who had no knowledge of the service had the most to say about my
proposal. She managed to challenge my way of thinking and helped
me realize an important aspect of this project. I realized that I
was simply trying to adjust a service that is not completely faulty.
If it isn't broken, don’t fix it.
Summary:
The opportunity belief I had in mind was changed by a customers interaction. Student 3 did well to challenge my proposal and made me question the likelihood of my proposal becoming a functional service to be offered at the SG Print Lab. Though this belief was challenged, I still believe that the original opportunity could be of use for those who utilize the service here on campus. The new opportunity can now be adjusted and therefore be more accurate than I had originally planned due to a consequence of an interaction with a customer.

If I were to revise my original belief, I would consider more
aspects, such as funding for the SG Print Lab and consideration of
who would be accommodating to the start up of this service. Those
who are currently employed at the SG Print Lab would have to take
on new job duties which may be stressful to employees if they are
not open to the proposal. Overall, the opportunity belief I
originally came up with remains. I still believe that this service
could be improved but there are other aspects to consider. I believe
that entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based off of
customer feedback in order to provide what the customer demands.
Entrepreneurs should not be single-minded, but open to change to
further improve the functionality of their proposals.
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3A: Your Entrepreneurship Story

During Summer A of 2018, I was enrolled in Creativity in Action at
the University of Florida. A group project was assigned and the
objective of this project was to design and build a prototype that
would help our ecosystem. The prototype my group came up with was
focused on assisting local honey bees to ensure their longevity and
support their role in agricultural endeavors. This prototype was
called “Bee Chicken”, and its purpose was to eliminate the risk of
pesticide exposure by proposing a new, all natural form of pesticide
with the help of chickens.The prototype itself was meant to act as
an attachment to a chicken coop to allow chickens to feast freely.
Chickens eat the larvae that infest the hives of Western honey bees
and with the use of this prototype,there would be a safe alternative
to turn to.

I am enrolled in ENT3003 in order to enhance my undergraduate
experience here at the University of Florida. I am also enrolled in
this course to fulfill a requirement for obtaining a minor in
Innovation through the Innovation Academy.I hope to learn more about
designing and potentially launching prototypes with efficiency.
Though I have been exposed to this in both Creativity in Context and
Creativity in Action, I look forward to becoming more well rounded
in Entrepreneurship and all it entails.


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Assignment 2A: Bug List

Victoria Padilla
Professor Pryor
ENT 3003
18 January 2019

Assignment 2A: Bug List

During rush hour, the traffic along SW 20th Avenue is frustrating due to the speed at which vehicles move. This “bug” exists due to the great quantities of individuals who seek a place of residence along SW 20th Avenue due to its ideal location, as it is in close proximity to numerous businesses.

Every morning, the bus I board to arrive to campus is late. This morning, the bus was 9 minutes late. Now that I am aware of this issue that bugs me, I must accommodate for the tardiness of the bus. This “bug” exists due to the application I utilize to track the current location of the bus. The bus application gives inaccurate estimated arrival times.    

I enjoy having long natural nails and one “bug” that always ruins this is the breaking of my nails when completing the simplest task. One example of this is when I broke my nail flushing the toilet… This bug exists because of my preference for long nails and living up to the consequences of broken nails.

Though coffee energizes me every morning, I get an upset stomach shortly after. This bug exists because caffeine does well to help the process of digestion.

When making art, I often get stuck during the creative process. This bug exists because I need to complete artwork wholeheartedly in order to result in a beautiful work of art and if I give any less of an effort, the bug continues to exist.

When I do laundry, I refuse to separate my whites from my colors and inevitably, I end up with a pink towel. This bug exists because I refuse to separate them due to lack of time and lack of concern.

When I make dinner, I dread washing all the dishes but it must be done. In my home, my roommates and I tried enforcing a rule where the cook of the meal is exempt from the cleaning up of the kitchen. This is a rule that only applies if either of my roommates cook and not myself. This bug exists because I cook all the time and always have a mess to look forward to because of this rule not being properly applied.

When I do laundry, it is not surprising that I have a tenancy to leave my clean clothes in the hamper after it is complete. It bugs me to put my clothing away, so instead the hamper sits in the corner of my bedroom and that corner is designated as my new closet for the time being until it bugs me enough. Having to sort through a hamper every morning is tedious and this bug exists because I am lazy with putting away clothing.

When trying new foods, I tell myself that I am open to trying them in order to expand my palate and know whether or not I enjoy foods I do not know of. Though I may be open to it, I really am not and am hesitant. I feel sick very easily and this habit triggers this sick feeling. This bug exists because I actively try to force myself to try new things. If I do not make an attempt, there will be no growth and that applies to all aspects of life.

Every morning, I struggle with waking up. In lieu of waking up after my first alarm, I have a tendency to snooze every alarm until I absolutely have to get up or else I will be late to class. This bugs me because I tell myself there are things I need to change to become a more productive, active member in society and waking up is essential for this to occur. This bug exists because I value sleep when I am able to sleep.

When falling asleep, I have trouble staying asleep. I always wake up when my body makes the slightest twitch and once this happens, I struggle to fall asleep once again. This bugs me because humans need sleep to replenish themselves and I am unable to get the sleep I need. This bug may exist due to the way caffeine affects my body. I do not drink coffee too often but when I do, the slightest bit of caffeine keeps me energized.

When I clean the house and it is spotless, it always becomes a mess within the three to five business days after I clean up. This bugs me because I make a conscious effort to keep our home clean. This bug exists because my roommates are both busy people who work 30+ hours a week. I go to school all week. I also invest much of my time into something I prioritize and I still manage to clean up after myself and others.

When I play video games with my friends, I tend to be the first one out because I am less experienced. This bugs me because I would like to keep up with them and learn how to play the game effectively. However, this bug exists because of my inability to invest time into video games when I am focused on coursework in lieu of games that will not matter in the years to come.

When I am alone in my thoughts, it is easy for me to reflect on negative aspects of my life. This bugs me because I want to be free of negativity in order to feel better overall. This bug exists because I feel that I am not strong enough to overcome my own thoughts at times.

When I create a new routine to follow, it is easy to lose that routine. It is hard for me to make a routine into a lifestyle because of my inconsistent nature. This bugs me because I am capable of achieving this but this bug exists due to reasons unknown. I am simply inconsistent and I need to work on this to improve several aspects of my life.

When watching a film that is serious, I like to be fully immersed into the film in order to catch any nuances or foreshadowing. I enjoy analyzing the movie as best I can but when people talk over a film, it is bothersome. This bug exists because some individuals have no regard for others.

When I walk through my neighborhood, I have to stare at the ground and watch my step for animal waste. This bugs me because it is the owners responsibility to clean up after their pet. This bug exists because there are people who do not care to properly care for their animals when my community provides poo bags throughout the complex.

When I take class notes, they are not too legible due to the speed at which I am writing down the information I deem important. I do not think I am particularly good at note taking. This bug exists because I have never really taken organized notes and now that I am placed in a position where I need to do so, it is not an easy task.

I am a perfectionist when it comes down to producing work. When I mess up a simple line, I feel the need to go back, erase and start over. I am not sure why I do this. This bug exists because I am bothered by mistakes I make and I am out of practice, therefore it is more of a challenge to be artistic.

When people are single minded and have no regard for the opinions of others, I am bothered. This bug exists because since individuals experience difficulty in wrapping their minds around the worldview of others.

Reflection
At the commencement of this project, it was rather difficult to come up with bugs that were bothersome. As I added on to the list, finding bugs and elaborating on why they exist became less of a tedious task. Though I do not typically view the world in this manner, I did not face challenges. There was no apparent challenge once I was able to identify bugs easily.

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Wednesday, January 9, 2019

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