Lecture Post: Cloud Computing

My entrepreneurial idea was to create an importing business of international products that create a relationship between the manufacturers of a country to a local non-profit organization unique to that country. That way the developed countries can help the developing countries build their business to benefit a larger whole, economically.

A business that is greatly dependent on international relations and exchanges, can largely benefit from cloud computing. My business and cloud computing would come together to achieve successful collaboration, efficient work flow and smooth diffusion of intra-company knowledge. In fulfilling the purpose of this business, we will be building a large web of manufacturers and consumers all over the world. If we can get all our words out to each other with maximum clarification and rapidly, it would keep our business organized. 

Collaboration between manufacturers could be achieved through cloud computing software such as Google Docs. Here the employees all around the world who are assigned to oversee each manufacturing company, can post updates on finances, product counts, issues, suggestions for improvement and ideas. This could promote a rise in employment in the developing countries and also give us, in the USA, a perspective on how the business is working out from the other end. 

In creating an internationally collaborated business we have to take into consideration the time difference and the conflict in communication that brings. With cloud computing, all the information of the business can be put in one place that is easily accessible by all employees and they don't have to wait in odd hours to exchange information. Everyone would be working at their normal business hours. They can start discussion board conversations if they need some input from various employees or they can leave messages. Project documents can be prepared and the certain role can be fulfilled by one employee on time and easily another member of the project can make the changes necessary, and no one has to wait on each other for a response. 

Cloud computing is very essential for the business idea that I proposed because it very web based. The fastest method of communication these days no matter how close the locations are, is through internet cloud computing software. A challenge thus would be the lack of internet access in some regions. However, if we are able to establish a functioning business somewhere, I'm sure we can also set up some sort of internet connection. 

Competitive Analysis

My entrepreneurial idea was to create an importing business of international products that create a relationship between the manufacturers of a country to a local non-profit organization unique to that country. That way the developed countries can help the developing countries build their business to benefit a larger whole, economically. 

http://aroundworldstore.com/

The Around The World Store also has products imported from countries where manufacturing costs are low, such as Bangladesh. It is easy to bring culturally unique items from other countries because they are easy and cheap to make by the people in those countries. However, since the labor cost is so cheap, only the business owners are benefiting from the sales of these products. The difference in my business would be that the profit that the markets back in Bangladesh make, definitely has to help a non-profit organization. Thus we won' be taking advantage of the ease of bring unique imported items for cheap and making a big market here.

http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/

A big fair trade retail organization is Ten Thousand Villages. They sell handmade products from developing countries and sell them directly to consumers so that the manufacturers of the products, which are usually underprivileged workers, get full profit for their work as they are full deserving of it. This organization is similar to my idea of helping from a humanitarian perspective through business, but it has a simpler structure. Ten Thousand Villages is more simple because their goal is simple, and it is easier to make sure the manufacturers get the full payment for their hard work than to make sure that the international market in the developing country is making the promised monetary contributions in return of their business in a developed country. 

Based on these observations of existing business that are similar to my idea, I think my approach needs more solid planning because there is a lot of regulations involved with the exchange of money and then to involve a non-profit organization. However once the legalities are taken care of and after once cycle of imports, sales and monetary distribution, it might be easier. 

Lecture post

My entrepreneurial idea was to create an importing business of international products that create a relationship between the manufacturers of a country to a local non-profit organization unique to that country. That way the developed countries can help the developing countries build their business to benefit a larger whole, economically. 

Social media would be the most beneficial technological method of promoting this business because it brings together the entire world the fastest. To spread an action is very easy through social media. By advertising on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr we can gather local businesses of other countries who we may not know but they can reach out to us. By the number of ‘Likes’, ‘Shares’, ‘Retweets’ and ‘Reblogs’, the business could be greatly endorsed.

When the business is first starting out, the most effective way to show off our first accomplishments would be through social media. The business would probably be on a budget and social media is basically free advertising. If there is a non-profit organization in need of help, and someone knows of it, they can connect them with us.