Workshop Title
The learner is expected to identify and seize opportunities to create value
The learner is expected to identify and seize opportunities to create value
- Duration: 4 hours
The listener is expected to be familiar with the concept of improving creative thinking. The listener should be able to:
- describe the tools needed in order to carry out a needs analysis
- explain what factors should be considered to identify opportunities
- explain methods and behaviours to increase a chance to see the opportunities
- choose the appropriate analytical approach to identify new opportunities
solve a typical decision problem to choose between two different strategies
This workshop covers 3 activities. The first action concerns defining market opportunities. In the following, the factors that must be met in order to call an idea an opportunity will be discussed. At the end of the workshop, participants will be introduced to the concept of assessing market opportunities.
This workshop is designed to familiarize students with the ability to discover or create opportunities. In order for a new company / venture to appear on the market, the entrepreneur must identify the market opportunity and find a way to use it. It is important to be able to separate opportunities with great potential from those that, despite the involvement of considerable financial, intellectual and other resources, will not bring the expected results. Three exercises are planned. The first is an introductory one, during which participants will be able to define the market opportunities underlying each new venture. On the basis of the second exercise, participants will learn the sources and methods of identifying market opportunities. Properly early evaluation of the market opportunity potential allows for a quick start of operation (production and / or service provision). It is also the time when the entrepreneur will give up a given opportunity without excessive risk, when the business idea is not yet developed. Finally, the third exercise will deal with the criteria for assessing market opportunities. On its basis, the entrepreneur will gain valuable knowledge that will allow him to establish an initial list of opportunities, and then, after applying dedicated criteria, he will indicate a market opportunity, which can then be detailed.
The workshops will enable the entrepreneur to learn and improve the ability to identify market opportunities, which are so important and determine the company’s success during the start-up phase of the planned company. In addition, a big challenge for the entrepreneur will be the assessment of market opportunities, thanks to which the entrepreneur’s further activities will be structured and planned.
Step by step instructions for the preparation and implementation of the workshop
Step 1: Introduction to what are market opportunities, both in everyday life and in the language of entrepreneurship (PPT), for example:
– Common understanding of opportunity
– Opportunity as a manifestation of entrepreneurial activities
– Window of oportunity
Step 2: Give participants the worksheet (Appendix 0.2) and ask them to complete the Window of oportunity.
Step 3: Give them 15 minutes to come up with the proposed definition of a market opportunity.
Step 4: Based on the local market, students write down proposals for 3 examples of market gaps – unmet needs.
Step 5: Conduct the discussion as per items a to d at the end of Appendix 0.2.
Step 1: Brief presentation of sources of market opportunities (Appendix 0.3)
Step 2: Problem to be solved: Identify potential sources of opportunities and areas in which to look for them.
Step 3: Divide the audience into groups. In the group, a person should be identified who will act as a leader – manager.
Step 4: Assign a wall or panel area to each group and provide the necessary materials (markers, paper, flipcharts, sticky notes, any other poster material). You can encourage participants to use the materials they have with them.
Step 5: The participants list a few exemplary things (activities) that they are passionate about, are hobbies. In each of the areas mentioned, some interesting ones should be indicated examples from the point of view of market opportunities. What business ideas can you see in them? After the members of a given task force have presented individual proposals of opportunities, in accordance with the guidelines in Appendix 0.3 (table), selections should be made in the group of individually reported opportunities and a short list of opportunities should be presented on a flipchart (max 5). When selecting them, the number of points awarded should be taken into account in accordance with the table in Appendix 0.3.
Step 6: After the time has elapsed, ask each group to visit and evaluate all the exhibitions created by the other groups in turn. They should take notes so that they can prepare for the discussion stage. (30′)
Step 7: Get everyone together (all groups) for the classic round table brainstorming session. Vote for the chances they like best.
Step 8: Set aside 45′ for the final brainstorming session between all groups.
Step 9: Ending with a discussion on possible business start-up opportunities, identifying their greatest strengths and weaknesses.
Step 1: Presentation of the criteria for assessing market opportunities (PPT)
Step 2: Give participants the market opportunity scoring table (Appendix 0.4) and ask them to fill in. For each assessed chance, the appropriate number of points should be entered. The maximum number of points for all assessed criteria for a given chance is 100.
Step 3: The facilitator asks the participants to analyze the results and conduct an analysis of the selected opportunities and their selection, because not every opportunity is possible and profitable to implement.
Step 4: Discuss the results with the training participants and write down the main conclusions on a flipchart about the analyzed market opportunities.
Resources
Training rooms, pens, paper, flipchart, colorful markers, sticky notes, projector
