August Extra Post

After completing my summer mentorship, I've been thinking about which direction to go with my senior project. "Small businesses" is obviously a pretty broad topic, so I've been wanting to narrow in on the specifics. Of course there are tons of types of small businesses out there, but I'm focusing more on places to eat, shop, etc. - the entertainment side of things. If I were to end up having my own little business in the future, I'd be interested in having something like a bakery, or a little boutique; something along these lines:

(an adorable little bakery)

(some displays in the gift store I mentored at - Barbara Cheatley's)

Once I figured out which kinds of businesses to focus on, I wanted to decide on how to approach my project. I decided on technology in small businesses, since it seems to be a pretty big part of running your own business. I figured this would give me a lot to research, so for now, my working EQ is "How can a small business best use various types of technology to its advantage?" My plan is to focus especially on the Internet. One, because who doesn't love the Internet? - and two, because almost every business uses it in some way. It's perfect for getting your business out into the world, housing reviews and important information, and maybe even providing online shopping. So, as of right now, that's the whole plan for my senior project.

Blog #4: Interview Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

I am planning on interviewing the owner of the small business I mentored at this summer. I think she would be a good person to talk to because she has been running her store for quite a long time, and has seen how technology has evolved over the years.


2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions.

• What do you think makes a small business successful?
• How do you use the Internet to benefit your business?
• How does technology play into the success of your business?

Blog #3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1. List your topic here: Small Businesses

2.  Write a question that helps to focus your research this month: 
How can a small business best use various types of technology to its advantage?

3. Post the working bibliography (WB) on the right hand side of the blog and share it so anybody can view it.
Link is on the right sidebar or click here.

Blog #2: Summer Mentorship

Literal:

1. (Know) Using google doc (drive) link a log of specific hours and a description of your duties

Summer Mentorship Hours

2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?

Eva Grello

Barbara Cheatley Antiques

(909) 621-4161

3. (Need to know) What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience? List them.

• Exactly how specific does the senior project topic need to be?
• Will researching technology in small businesses give me enough to make into a whole project, or should I focus on something more specific?
• What kinds of technology are absolutely necessary in a small business?
• Does the type of business determine what technology is needed?
• Do businesses really need to use advanced technology or is it just easier?

Interpretive:

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

I think the most important thing I gained from my mentorship was getting first hand experience of what it's like to be part of a small business. I picked up on things that I usually overlook. It gave me a new perspective, seeing how much work goes into the job and how different businesses do things very uniquely.

Applied:

5. What is your senior project topic going to be? How did what you did help you choose a topic? Please explain.

My topic is going to be small businesses, and most likely the way they use technology. When I was doing my summer mentorship hours, I saw how technology played such a big role in the business side of things. The place I was mentoring at is pretty old school, and doesn't even have a cashier. I thought it would be interesting to see how that affects the business, compared to other businesses equipped with more advanced technology.