30A - Final Reflection

1-2 Upon reading back through my posts this semester, I can't really recall any experiences other than missing the first noon deadline. If I am being completely honest, nothing sticks out to me as a formative experience that I'll remember years later. I think the most joyous I've been in this class is writing this post because it means I am almost done with this class. I'm most proud of myself for some of my work and ideas regarding the Buccaneers organization.

3-4From the beginning of this semester to the end of the semester, I see myself as more of an entrepreneur than I did as I have learned more about the entrepreneurial mindset. My advice to a future student is don't forget the noon deadlines and approach this class with an open mind and you will definitely learn something. I would say get ahead as much as possible from the start to lessen your burden throughout the semester.

29A - Venture Concept No. 2

Opportunity: The group of customers with under-met needs are middle-to-low class Tampa Bay Buccaneers living in the Greater Tampa Bay Area. These are the fans who are very loyal to the team, but don't have the money to consistently go to the games. These are the fans always weighing the pros and cons of going to the game versus staying home, saving the money, and watching the game on the couch. These fans feel as if going to the games is not a great value, especially in the past decade where the team has not made the playoffs one time. These fans feel like the ticket and concession prices are a little too steep for what they are getting. These are the fans who are yearning for a little more when they are sitting in the stadium watching their team play. Forces that are creating this opportunity include disposable income and the decision of how to spend it. These fans live in suburban neighborhoods and make enough to live comfortably on limited budget. They debate whether to spend their disposable income on a day of going to the game which entails costs of the tickets, tailgating, and concessions at the minimum or staying home to watch the game from the comfort of their couch without spending any of that money. I believe this is a huge opportunity that can be exploited because many fans would ideally like to go the games if they are getting a better intrinsic value. I believe the window for this opportunity will remain open for a long time because each season brings hope and anticipation that always keeps fans coming back.

Innovation: My innovation for my venture is an improved fan experience in Raymond James Stadium for Buccaneers fans. The improved fan experience will first slightly decrease ticket prices and offer ticket incentives and promotions throughout the year. Another component is reducing the prices of food and drinks at the concessions. Despite lowering the prices which in theory reduces profit, this will sell out games and lead to more expenditures at the concessions which will cover that loss and more. For example, a 20% off discount for nosebleeds for Ronde Barber's induction into the Ring of Honor (Ronde Barber wore #20 when he played for the Bucs). Another example is reducing the cost of a hotdog and soft drink from the concession stands from $7 and $10 to $5 and $7 respectively. Another component of improving the fan experience is creating an in-stadium app. This app can give up-to-date wait times for lines at the restrooms and concession stands, host giveaways or drawings such as a 50/50 drawing, allow mobile purchases to be made at merchandise shops to be picked up at a certain time, and has activities that can keep fans engaged during television timeouts. This app will allow fans to enjoy their experience at Buccaneers games staying engaged in the game and connected with the whole fanbase with the utmost convenience.

Venture Concept: An improved fan experience will tilt the scale for the fans on the fence about deciding whether to go to the game or stay home. These fans will perceive a higher intrinsic value for a day at the game as it would be cheaper than any other game they've attended while receiving more benefits than ever before. Customers will go to more games when the tickets are cheaper and concession prices are lower. Fans looking for something more in the stadium will love the app as it allows them to spend their time more effectively and stay engaged throughout the game. Customers will buy this because they are spending less money for a more a valuable experience so it will be easy to get fans to switch. There is not really any competition as Bucs fans would not be able to enjoy an experience at the stadium if they don't get tickets. Packaging and distribution are not key role players in my venture. Price points are very important because the lowering of the ticket prices and concession stand prices has to be precise where money can still be made on the reduced markup costs. The price has to be set across the board at price point where the fans feel they are saving a significant enough amount of money while still making profits. Customer support and their fan experience will be the most important element of this venture because the whole business strategy is developed around satisfying the fanbase's needs. In order to achieve this, it would require help from other departments within the organization. Marketing, food and beverage services, ticket office, and technology departments among others would have to play a large role in making this happen for the fans. At the minimum, I would require at least one person from each department to coordinate their respective roles in delivering this superior experience to Bucs fans.

The only feedback I received on my last venture concept was to more explicitly state the lower ticket prices so I emphasized the lower ticket prices a little more, but that is all I changed.

28A - Your Exit Strategy

1 - My exit strategy for this venture is to license this fan experience concept to professional sports teams across the globe. Once I successfully implement it in Tampa Bay, I can use that success to make it work elsewhere. After that, I will license this concept, the app, and everything else included to other sports teams and collect a royalty fee that will allow for early retirement.

2 - I have selected this strategy because once it works with Bucs and one other team to prove it was not a fluke, teams will be interested in implementing it. Instead of me doing this for a team I don"t really care about, I'll license to them the information and resources necessary and then collect a royalty on all of their sales to limit the work I have to do in the future, while securing a future revenue stream.

3 - My exit strategy has not really influenced any of my other decisions. because this is further down the line and all my decisions will be implemented, just by other organizations.

27A - Reading Reflection No. 3

1 - In this post, I read a bout the Wright Brothers by David McCullough. What surprised me most about this reading was the natural, unique intelligence Wilbur and Orville possessed despite no real school. What I admired most was their tenacity and refusal to give up that allowed them to persevere. There wasn't really anything that I did not admire about them based on this book. They definitely overcame adversity and failure as the plane was not a success on their first try as well as scrutiny from those in their community. This didn't stop the Wright Brothers from accomplishing their goal.

2 - There were many competencies of theirs that McCullough exhibited. The ones that really stood out to me was their teamwork and perseverance that allow them to work so well together to accomplish their goal despite adversity.

3 - One part of the reading that was confusing to me was the amount of scrutiny they received for an invention that would come to change the entire world. There was little belief in them and minimal media coverage after its completion.

4 - If I was able to ask them two questions, the first would be, "What gave them the idea of making flight a reality?" and "What was the time they were closest to quitting and why? in order to know how the idea came about and what challenges almost ended them and how it did not.

5 - I think these two would value hard work tremendously as it it was a key component of their own success. I too also value hard work.

26A - Celebrating Failure

This past semester I failed to uphold one of my New Years' resolutions which was to be in bed every night before 1 am. I wanted to get in a healthier schedule for my body and my success in school. I did well in the beginning of the semester going to bed relatively early every night. Then, it began to get progressively worse especially with the onset of the quarantine. What I learned is I have the potential to accomplish this in the right setting and not being able to do it this whole semester just gives me more fuel to do it next semester.

I think of failure as a very valuable learning tool as it may be hard or embarrassing, but it teaches us what not to do. Failure is a key component of success which I think this class has done a good job of explaining. I handle failure with a positive attitude because as long as you're still breathing and can pursue your goals, you're already winning. Learning how to move on from failures and take away the necessary information is a crucial concept for an entrepreneur so they can move on and not make that same mistake again. I feel like I am more likely to take a risk now than I was a few months ago.

25A - What's Next?

Existing Market: I think what's next for my venture is expanding the idea to other professional sports teams. The first person I interviewed said I should try to market this idea to arenas and different venues that aren't just for sports. The second person I interviewed said he would like this in every sports stadium. The third person I interviewed said establish a loyalty program for season ticket holders.
 Based on feedback received from others and my own expectations, I believe the path forward is to first succeed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From there, carry the success from this idea throughout all major professional sports teams. If that is successful, the next step will be to transition this idea to other arenas and different venues that aren't just sports related.
 As the goal of expanding the market is in motion, the next step is to modify the improvement of the fan experience by molding it to the different needs of the markets over time. I can add new ways that fans can get a better experience without breaking the bank, for example, adding loyalty programs for season-ticket holders and repeat customers.

New Market: I think a new market I can try to target are those in the Tampa Bay Area who are not Buccaneers' fans. This market will be difficult to access because it'll be hard to get those who are not football fans or are not Bucs fans to attend the games. My goal would be to still allow them to have a good enough time even if they don't like football that they would buy a ticket. the first person I interviewed said he would go with a group of friends if alcohol at the stadium was cheaper. The second person I interviewed said she would go to the games if it was not as hot outside. I think I can engage this market with more adaptations of the improvement of the fan experience. For example, I can misters and fans throughout the stadium to cool down fans in the hot Florida sun or make alcohol a little cheaper because the markup is already so high.

  What I learned about this new market is there is an opportunity that potentially can be exploited, but it would be costly. In order to get a non-fan to attend the game, it would be necessary to include more non-football related perks to incentive their attendance. This would cost the organization more money, but it could still pay off in the long run. This would be a market I would try to engage once I have successful conquered my existing market which is much more attractive due to the higher potential of increased net revenue and lower expenses.
 I was surprised to hear a willingness to go the games among both of those who weren't fans. this differed from my expectations of a very non-committal, unenthusiastic response. This leads me to believe this idea has real potential in both markets and potentially across many different teams and industries. 

24A - Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity: The group of customers with under-met needs are middle-to-low class Tampa Bay Buccaneers living in the Greater Tampa Bay Area. These are the fans who are very loyal to the team, but don't have the money to consistently go to the games. These are the fans always weighing the pros and cons of going to the game versus staying home, saving the money, and watching the game on the couch. These fans feel as if going to the games is not a great value, especially in the past decade where the team has not made the playoffs one time. These fans feel like the ticket and concession prices are a little too steep for what they are getting. These are the fans who are yearning for a little more when they are sitting in the stadium watching their team play. Forces that are creating this opportunity include disposable income and the decision of how to spend it. These fans live in suburban neighborhoods and make enough to live comfortably on limited budget. They debate whether to spend their disposable income on a day of going to the game which entails costs of the tickets, tailgating, and concessions at the minimum or staying home to watch the game from the comfort of their couch without spending any of that money. I believe this is a huge opportunity that can be exploited because many fans would ideally like to go the games if they are getting a better intrinsic value. I believe the window for this opportunity will remain open for a long time because each season brings hope and anticipation that always keeps fans coming back.

Innovation: My innovation for my venture is an improved fan experience in Raymond James Stadium for Buccaneers fans. The improved fan experience will first slightly decrease ticket prices and offer ticket incentives and promotions throughout the year. Another component is reducing the prices of food and drinks at the concessions. Despite lowering the prices which in theory reduces profit, this will sell out games and lead to more expenditures at the concessions which will cover that loss and more. For example, a 20% off discount for nosebleeds for Ronde Barber's induction into the Ring of Honor (Ronde Barber wore #20 when he played for the Bucs). Another example is reducing the cost of a hotdog and soft drink from the concession stands from $7 and $10 to $5 and $7 respectively. Another component of improving the fan experience is creating an in-stadium app. This app can give up-to-date wait times for lines at the restrooms and concession stands, host giveaways or drawings such as a 50/50 drawing, allow mobile purchases to be made at merchandise shops to be picked up at a certain time, and has activities that can keep fans engaged during television timeouts. This app will allow fans to enjoy their experience at Buccaneers games staying engaged in the game and connected with the whole fanbase with the utmost convenience.

Venture Concept: An improved fan experience will tilt the scale for the fans on the fence about deciding whether to go to the game or stay home. These fans will perceive a higher intrinsic value for a day at the game as it would be cheaper than any other game they've attended while receiving more benefits than ever before. Customers will go to more games when the tickets are cheaper and concession prices are lower. Fans looking for something more in the stadium will love the app as it allows them to spend their time more effectively and stay engaged throughout the game. Customers will buy this because they are spending less money for a more a valuable experience so it will be easy to get fans to switch. There is not really any competition as Bucs fans would not be able to enjoy an experience at the stadium if they don't get tickets. Packaging and distribution are not key role players in my venture. Price points are very important because the lowering of the ticket prices and concession stand prices has to be precise where money can still be made on the reduced markup costs. The price has to be set across the board at price point where the fans feel they are saving a significant enough amount of money while still making profits. Customer support and their fan experience will be the most important element of this venture because the whole business strategy is developed around satisfying the fanbase's needs. In order to achieve this, it would require help from other departments within the organization. Marketing, food and beverage services, ticket office, and technology departments among others would have to play a large role in making this happen for the fans. At the minimum, I would require at least one person from each department to coordinate their respective roles in delivering this superior experience to Bucs fans.

23A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

My first resource is passion for sports. It is valuable because working in the sports industry would not be a job, it would be very enjoyable and I'd be glad to do anything asked of me. Many people are very passionate about sports so it is not very rare, but I would definitely say I'm more than an average sports fan. It is inimitable because anyone be passionate about sports. It is substitutable because other motivations can still lead to the job getting done, but passion is a key component of any business.

My second resource is my knowledge of sports. It is valuable because knowledge and information are crucial in any business setting. It is rare because I haven't met too many people who know as much about sports as I do. It is inimitable because anyone can learn about the sports world. It can be substitutable because knowledge of business is very useful, but knowing about sports in this industry is a necessity.

My third resource is my problem-solving ability. It is valuable because it allows me to make difficult decisions with a level head. It is not that rare because many people are good problem solvers. It is inimitable because others can learn how to solve problems. It is non-substitutable because the ability to problem solve, especially in higher level management is vital.

My next resource is my ability to get along with others. It is valuable because I can work with anyone efficiently. It is not that rare because many work well with others. It is inimitable because people can at least fake getting along with others to get the job done. It is non-substitutable to some extent because it is necessary in scenarios where working with others has to be done.

My fifth resource is my ability to retain information. It is valuable because it allows me to access information needed for a task. It is relatively rare I would say as not everyone has a photographic memory. It can be inimitable if people study the information. It is substitutable but it is helpful to be able to retain information easily.

My sixth resource is the fan-oriented culture of the Buccaneers' organization I intend on establishing. It is valuable because valuing fans who provide revenue and team support is a very important aspect of managing a sports team. It is not rare as many sports organizations employ a strategy similar to this, but I will place more emphasis on providing the optimal fan experience than previous strategies. It is very inimitable as any team could utilize this strategy. It is substitutable, but other strategies would not be as popular with the fans.

My seventh resource is my work ethic. It is valuable because I will work to the best of my ability doing anything necessary to get the job to the best it can possibly be. It is not rare as many people work hard. It is very inimitable as anyone can work hard. It is non-substitutable because hard work is very important in any line of work.

My eight resource is my communication ability. It is valuable because the ability to communicate professional is very important in all business settings. It is not rare and it is very inimitable as it is easy to learn so many people know to how to communicate. It is mostly non-substitutable as it comprises a large aspect of daily business functions.

My ninth resource is my adaptability. It is valuable because any business will run into a few bumps in the road which requires a leader to be able to adapt to whatever situation with which they are presented. It is relatively rare as many people are adaptable. It can inimitable as people learn how to deal with different situations from experience. It can be non-substitutable because an inability to adapt to an unfavorable situation can be the end of a business.

My last resource is my ability to learn quickly. It is valuable because I can learn necessary information or learn from previous experiences very easily to do the best work possible. It is not rare and it is inimitable and substitutable as it is easy to still learn if it takes a little longer. The important thing is as long as whatever is learned is retained which can happen either way.

I think my top resource is my passion. I'm a firm believer in the saying "If there's a will, there's a way" so I will not stop until I accomplish my goals I set for myself to improve the entire Buccaneers organization. Combining my passion with the all the other competencies puts me in a position to succeed in whatever I do.

22A - Elevator Pitch No. 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QlJ51KNabQ

The only feedback I received on my last pitch was to try to improve my pitch and delivery. I tried to make the idea of improving the fan experience within the stadium more universal so it does not just apply to the Tampa Buccaneers. I definitely felt more comfortable doing this one even though it was far from perfect. I will definitely have to practice more before I can try to pitch this to those in the sports industry.

21A - Reading Reflection No. 2

The book I chose to read from the second half of the reading list was Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. The general theme or argument in the book is human irrationality when it comes to making decisions and solving problems. I definitely felt like this book connected with and enhanced what we are learning because Kahneman discusses human psychology in decision making and problem solving which is a vital component of the consumer buying behavior process. Knowing your customer and how their mind works and will perceive different products is crucial in business, especially if you're starting your own company. If I had to design an exercise based on the book, I would try to come up with something that recognizes the 2 different systems in our brains that Kahneman discusses and how those affect the consumer buying behavior. The biggest surprise to me in reading this book was the pure brain power that we all possess that is untapped. I have never taken a psychology course so this book was very interesting and enlightening.

20A - Growing Your Social Capital

Domain Expert- Finding a domain expert for the business activity I am trying to do is nearly impossible to get in contact with. Jason Licht is the general manager of the Buccaneers which is what I would like to do. Despite trying to make contact with him, he was unavailable. Having the opportunity to speak with him would be amazing and very helpful for me down the line.

Market Expert- The market expert is a woman who works for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their marketing department. She attended FSU as a business administration student whose goal was to work for the Buccaneers. My mother worked with this woman in the past when she worked at her old company. Last year, I interviewed her for my sports management class and she gave me a tour of the Buccaneers facility. She introduced me to different people in the organization and told me how to go about applying to be an intern.

Industry Supplier- The industry supplier I talked to was a distributor for Coca-Cola who sells all of the Coke beverages to Raymond James Stadium. He was an industrial systems engineer out of college and worked his way up in the company to work with the Buccaneers organization. He was also a previous associate of my mother when she worked at her company located across from the stadium. He discussed his job title and the roles he has to fulfill to get their products throughout Raymond James Stadium. This is a valuable connection because if I can;t work for the Bucs, maybe one day I can work with the Bucs for another company.

Reflection: This experience makes me more confident in participating in future networking events as I am more comfortable talking with professionals. This experience was much easier than previous experiences because I wasn't as nervous talking to them.

19A - Idea Napkin No. 2

You: I am a second year business management major from outside of Tampa, FL. I have grown up a die-hard Buccaneers fan always looking to improve the team and the organization. My goal is to work for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which will give me a platform to possibly implement these ideas. I could see this playing a part in my life using my ability think analytically and solve problems if I were to be hired by the organization. I have an in-depth knowledge of the team and how sports business works which will help me get the experience necessary to land a job.
What are you offering to customers? What I am offering to customers is an experience that will motivate them to buy a ticket to the game rather than watching it at home. This will allow fans to be able to go to the game for a fair price and enjoy their time in the stadium for a fair price as well. The app would improve the experience within the stadium keeping fans engaged and allowing them the most time possible to enjoy the game.
Who are you offering it to? The target audience for this was originally the casual Bucs fan in the Greater Tampa Bay Area who enjoys going to the games, but does not have the financial means to make a habit out of going. After receiving feedback, I believe this can be transferable to the entire NFL. This would appeal to fans individually or with families as they can have much more fun in their team's stadium without breaking the bank.
Why do they care? Fans will care about this because it will save them money and time. Fans will be able to attend a game and have food drink from the concessions and not feel bad about themselves financially. The app will reduce wait times within the stadium and improve the experience during the game breaks.
What are your core competencies? I would say my passion is what sets me apart from everyone else because no one wants to see the Buccaneers succeed on and off the field more than me. Working for the Buccaneers would not be a job for me and I would do everything in my power to make sure this or anything else would get done for the betterment of the team and organization.

I do believe that many of these elements work hand in hand when it comes to achieving my goal because my competencies allow me to other something to customer that is very valuable. Being able to define the target consumer base and offering them something valuable is an important component of business so I really do believe these elements tie into each other.

Feedback: The main feedback I received on my first idea napkin was my passion was evident and that this idea can be applied to other teams in the NFL and other sports even. I incorporated both into the idea napkin above.

17A - Elevator Pitch No. 2

https://youtu.be/0AKpR_s7CNE


Nothing really changed in my elevator pitch despite the news of the Buccaneers signing Tom Brady which altered my stance on selling more tickets.

18A - Create a Customer Avatar

Creating a Customer avatar for my target audience is relatively because many people are Buccaneers fans and there is such a broad blanket that customers can fall under. I will be describing an ideal consumer, but this is not a picture of all of my typical customers.  My customer is a working professional living in the Tampa Bay Area in his mid-30s with an adequate amount of disposable income. He is a sports fan who enjoys hanging out with his friends who are also Bucs fans. He is someone who drives a nice sedan as his first car he buys once he drives the car his parents gave him for graduation into the ground. He has a serious girlfriend, but is not yet married so kids will be on the way in the coming years. He hopes he has two children, a boy and a girl, so he can take his son to the games and have a little girl to bring joy into his life. He enjoys action movies and shows, but is always willing to try something new. He loves attending Buccaneers, Rays, and Lightning games to support his local teams. He was born and raised in Tampa and has been a lifelong fan of all 3 Tampa teams. He loves tailgating with his best friends and their girlfriends along with his own before every Buccaneers game he can attend. Despite the team's lack of success, he is unfazed as a fan as he watches every game, either on his TV, at a bar, or going to the games. He is not an overly-obnoxious fan, but he is not afraid to express opinions to the refs at the games or complain about the piss-poor management of the team in recent years. He is family-oriented and organized. He gets all his work  and at-home duties done in ample time to catch as many sports games as possible. He is not a big reader, but when he does he reads economic, self-wellness, and military books. He is not particularly loyal to a singular political party, but he is well-informed going into every election so he always votes for the candidate he feels is the best for the country and the people. Despite his age, he still likes to believe he is in college and enjoys going out and the social scene in Tampa. He is relatively tech-savvy, but is not a genius by any means.

16A - What's Your Secret Sauce?

1 - I think 5 ways in which I have truly unique human capital include my ability to work with others of all backgrounds cohesively, to set an attainable goal and let nothing get in my way of stopping it, to quickly learn any skill set or job required of me, to retain key information for use at a later time, and my passion for my work and the pride in which I take to be the best version of myself.

2 - The first interviewee was my mother. My mother always sees the best in me and discusses my ability to work well with others and passion for sports.

The second interviewee was my father. He discusses my intelligence and problem-solving ability.

The third interviewee was my brother. He discusses my decision-making ability and ability to work well in a team.

The 4th interviewee was my one of my best friends and roommates. He discusses my work ethic and leadership ability.

The 5th interviewee was also one of my best friends and roommates. He discusses my ability to learn and grow in whatever I do

3 - I think the biggest difference in how I see myself versus those who I am closest see me is those who I'm closest with see me in a better light than I see myself. I do think the interviewees are correct because they know me as well as anybody and have seen me interact on a daily basis. I would not change anything from part 1 because I believe all of those to be true as well and there is a lot of overlap between what I said and what they said.
https://soundcloud.com/andrew-kraemer-200971579/sets/ent-16a

15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

In post 12A, I focused on the beginning of the buying behavior process through information search and need awareness. In this post, I will be focusing on the back half of that process through discussing alternative evaluation, buying behavior, and post-purchase evaluation. I will interview three different people in my target segment in order to shed some light on the back half of the buying behavior process.

The first individual I interviewed was a UF student from the Tampa Bay Area who has been a lifelong Buccaneers fan. When asked about alternative evaluation, he said the only two options to chose from for him when it comes to watching the Bucs game is going to the game or watching it at home. He typically buys his tickets online when he can find a good enough deal. His post-purchase evaluation of his decisions typically revolves around the result of the game and how much fun he had while he was there. He said lower ticket prices and a better fan experience would make his decisions much easier in the future.

The next interviewee was a Buccaneers fan who lives in downtown Tampa. When asked about her alternative evaluation, she said she prefers watching the games at a bar over going to a game because the drinks are cheaper and the games are not worth the price for her. When she does buy tickets, she gets them through her company. When evaluating her purchase, she said she bases her decision on how much fun her and friends and coworkers had at the game.

The last interview I conducted was with another UF student who lives in West Palm Beach, but it is a Buccaneers fan. He has only been to 3 games in his life, but has loved all of them. For his alternative evaluation, if he can find a weekend when he is not busy and get a ticket for a reasonable price, he will make the trip to Tampa to go to the game. He buys his tickets online. When he evaluates his purchase, it is always a good purchase in his mind because he got to see his favorite football team play live.

In conclusion, the back half of the buyer behavior process is relatively simple for deciding whether to go to an NFL game, but based on my interviews, fans like to get a good deal and have a good time. Those seem to be 2 of the most important factors when it comes to making a decision or evaluating after attending the game.

13A - Reading Reflection No. 1

1 - What surprised me most about Andrew Carnegie based on David Nasaw depiction of his life was how poor his upbringing was and how he came from nothing to be one of the wealthiest men alive at the time. What I admired most was his dedication to his philanthropic efforts once he retired from the steel business. What I least admired about him were the questionable methods of obtaining his power and wealth. Carnegie was born into adversity and climbed through it all to rise to his stature. One particular issue he faced was with labor issues and unions which he got through at the expense of his employee-friendly reputation.

2 - I noticed many competencies he exhibited throughout his life, but the main ones were determination, hard-work, effective utilization of resources, opportunistic actions, and management techniques.

3 - One part of the reading I found confusing was how he transformed into a philanthropist after making his money as an unethical, robber-baron. What triggered his change in mindset is still confusing to me.

4 - The first question I would ask him is What he thought was the key to his success? and the next question I would ask him would be What made him turn away from his business and shift his efforts into philanthropy? I would ask him these questions to find out how he attained his success and find out why he did that once he retired because it never made sense to me.

5 - I believe his opinion of hard-work was very high because he could not have achieved his stature without hard-work. He did say that success does not come from endless work, but the right man at the right time, but that right man has to be able to work hard to achieve success.

14A - Halfway Reflection

1 Tenaciousness is a competency - The primary behaviors I have used to keep up with the requirements of this course are organization, determination, and creative thinking. Focusing on those 3 will give you a great head start to completing this course.

2 Tenaciousness is also about attitude - I feel like I have wanted to give up multiple times because some of these assignments require quite a bit of time. What got me through is my desire to get a good grade. I feel like this class has helped me develop a tenacious attitude, but I feel like that attitude is how I have gotten through school up to this point.

3 Three tips - The three tips I would say is go in with an open mind realizing how all of these elements are going to mesh together to develop your entrepreneurial mind, get ahead of your assignments so you do not miss the noon deadlines, and embrace the work that goes into each assignment because they all help in one way or another and it'll make each assignment more enjoyable to do.

12A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

In order to sketch out the beginning of the buyer behavior process, I'm going to analyze my target segment through their need awareness and information search. My target segment is middle class Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans living in the Greater Tampa Bay Area.

The first individual I interviewed was a lifelong Buccaneers fan in his mid-40s who lives in South Tampa. He had the same unmet need feeling that going to the games was not worth the money for the ticket and food and drink. He has always noticed this need which is why his solution has been only attending one game a year due to the financial commitment of going to the games.

The next individual I interviewed was a Buccaneers fan in his lower-30s who lives about 30 minutes east of Tampa. He also has this unmet need as the financial commitment of going to the game does not exceed the satisfaction he gets from driving across town just to spend a minimum of $150. He tries to get tickets at a discounted rate from a variety of vendors, but it does not always work out.

The last individual I interviewed was a Buccaneers fan in his early who lives 5 minutes away from the stadium in his late 20s. He realized this need growing up as he would go to many of the tailgates as he claimed they were more fun than the game and way cheaper. He loved the idea as he is always looking for a cheaper way to watch the games and have more fun at the game, which he has not been able to do.

In conclusion, the need for my idea is present among my target audience. They all seemed to share the idea that it was not worth paying all the money to watch the game when the stadium isn't that much fun. There was no real solution any of them had to this unmet need which made them all excited for the idea I pitched them.

11A - Idea Napkin No. 1

You: I am a second year business management major from outside of Tampa, FL. I have grown up a die-hard Buccaneers fan always looking to improve the team and the organization. My goal is to work for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which will give me a platform to possibly implement these ideas. I could see this playing a part in my life using my ability think analytically and solve problems if I were to be hired by the organization. I have an in-depth knowledge of the team and how sports business works which will help me get the experience necessary to land a job.
What are you offering to customers? What I am offering to customers is an experience that will motivate them to buy a ticket to the game rather than watching it at home. This will allow fans to be able to go to the game for a fair price and enjoy their time in the stadium for a fair price as well. The app would improve the experience within the stadium keeping fans engaged and allowing them the most time possible to enjoy the game.
Who are you offering it to? The target audience for this is the casual Bucs fan in the Greater Tampa Bay Area who enjoys going to the games, but does not have the financial means to make a habit out of going. This would appeal to fans individually or with families as they can have much more fun in the stadium without breaking the bank.
Why do they care? Fans will care about this because it will save them money and time. Fans will be able to attend a game and have food drink from the concessions and not feel bad about themselves financially. The app will reduce wait times within the stadium and improve the experience during the game breaks.
What are your core competencies? I would say my passion is what sets me apart from everyone else because no one wants to see the Buccaneers succeed on and off the field more than me. Working for the Buccaneers would not be a job for me and I would do everything in my power to make sure this or anything else would get done for the betterment of the team and organization.

I believe all of these components fit together very well. Sports fans want to see their team succeed so being there to experience the game while saving time and money is very valuable. I am very confident there are many people like me for which this would apply which I know through my peers and those who I have interviewed. I feel who I am and my competencies have given me the insight and desire to hopefully one day be able to satisfy these unmet needs of Bucs fans.

10A - Elevator Pitch, Part 1

https://youtu.be/sj79xQM0pR0

9A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

In this post, I will be continuing on with the idea of improving the fan experience within the Buccaneers stadium as a means to selling more tickets. I have interviewed 5 individuals who should have had this unmet, but all of them did not necessarily have it.

The first person I interviewed was a local football coach. He did not really share the unmet need because the game of football for him was enough of a gift that did not feel the fan experience upgrade was a large component of enjoying attending a Bucs game.

The next interviewee was the daughter of a die hard Buccaneers fan who held season tickets for 22 years. When asked about upgrading the fan experience, she seemed very disinterested as she had no interest in football and did not really enjoy the times she went with her father.

The third interviewee was a Tampa bay Lightning employee who was not interested in the fan experience at Raymond James because she preferred hockey over football, but liked the idea of adding those features to Amalie Arena.

The next person I interviewed was a local boy playing peewee football (with the supervision of his guardians) who was a big Bucs fan. He said he thought the pirate ship was the "coolest thing ever" and that nothing could be better about Bucs' games.

The last interviewee was another student wearing a Bucs shirt on campus. When asked about this opportunity, he said he thought it was a good idea, but not a necessity. He said he thought it would be good for both the team and the fans, but he personally did not feel it was necessary and that it would persuade him to buy more tickets.

Conclusion:
Many people share a lot in common, but that does not necessarily dictate the same needs because everyone's lives are very different. The need I have identified is very different for other needs because it is not technically a need as it is not imperative for survival. There is usually a different underlying cause for different needs. Despite their being interest in my idea, I learned that not everyone is completely on board, yet.

Inside the Boundary		Outside the Boundary
Who is in	Buccaneers fans who want a trip to the game to be a more enjoyable and financially worth while experience.	Who is not	Non- Bucs fans or Bucs fans who don't feel the need for the improvement of the fan experience
What the need is	The need is for a better fan experience within the stadium in order to bolster ticket sales	What the need is not	The need in this case is not initially the improved success of the team as a better fan fanbase will make Tampa a more appealing destination for big name players
Why the need exists	The Buccaneers have not been a successful team in recent years and do not have a great fan experience in-stadium which has hurt their ticket sales	Alternative explanations	There is not enough Bucs fans to fill the stadium on a consistent basis.

6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Economic 
1 The trade war between the U.S. and China

https://www.newsmax.com/finance/peterreagan/economic-trends-2020-investors/2020/01/03/id/948332/

I found this opportunity on NewsMax. I believe this represents an opportunity because the current relationship between the U.S. and China presents an opportunity for many other countries to improve their trade relations with either country. Also, companies in each country face more difficulties trying to get their products to that foreign market. I think the prototypical customer in this case can simply be the USA or China, but it also could be consumers in each country that rely upon goods from the other. I believe this is a very difficult opportunity to exploit due to all of the politics and many others complicated factors that comprise foreign relations. I believe I saw this opportunity because I studied international economics in high school.

2 Baby Boomers aren't retiring

https://www.thebalance.com/top-usa-future-economic-trends-3305666

I found this information on the website, The Balance. I believe this represents an opportunity as the older men and women in the workforce are retiring later in the lives which is getting in the way of the younger generations. It presents an issue for the younger men and women in the workforce, but gives companies an advantage. Companies have more leverage against employees as there are ,more in the workplace and there is many with a lot of relevant work experience. Getting an extra 5-10 years out of a reliable employee can be invaluable for a company. I think this a relatively easy easy opportunity to exploit as many boomers are still in the workplace and they can be hired as can anyone else. I believe i saw this opportunity because my dad is a boomer still in the workplace looking for another job.

Regulatory 
1 Marijuana legalization could be coming to these states in 2020

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kriskrane/2019/12/11/marijuana-legalization-could-be-coming-to-these-states-in-2020/#511a213b99b5

I found this information I believe to be an opportunity on Forbes. I believe this to be an opportunity because the legalization of marijuana will allow certain businesses to legally sell the drug while the government is able to tax the revenues. This offers a win-win for the businesses and state governments although it may disrupt the social utility of that state. I think the prototypical customer of this opportunity are marijuana users (medical or recreational) whose cashflow will boost business and increase tax revenue for the state. I think this is relatively difficult opportunity to exploit because it requires the law to be passed in each state which requires consensus from a lot of people. I believe I saw this opportunity because of a speech I heard a peer give in my professional speaking in business course in which he lobbied for the legalization of marijuana, citing the benefits for all parties involved.

2 Proposed laws aimed to reduce opioid abuse

https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/news/top-pharmacy-regulations-2020-what-pharmacists-should-know 

I found this information I thought to be an opportunity on the website for Managed Healthcare Executive. I believe this to be an opportunity because the reduction in opioid abuse that comes with new laws can restore former addicts to serviceable members of the workforce and can also reduce the need for rehabilitation facilities that could be used otherwise. Not only would society improve, but business could thrive as a result of these regulations. I believe this is a difficult opportunity to exploit due to the difficult nature of overcoming addictions. I believe i saw this opportunity because a longtime family friend of my mother was recently admitted to a rehab center for an opioid addiction.

8A - Solving the Problem

The solution to the opportunity discussed in post 7A is to improve the fan experience by cutting concession prices and creating an in-stadium app that gives up-to-date notifications on lines at concessions or bathrooms, giveaways or drawings, and in-game timeout activities. By doing this, it has the potential to shift the fan culture in the Tampa Bay Area similar to how the Tampa Bay Lightning did 6 years ago. By bringing in fans every game, ticket revenues will rise as well as in-game concession sales as consumers will buy more at a lower price given the already high markup to begin with. This can start a whole domino effect as players in the NFL could want to play in the great city of Tampa if they have devout fans and continue their trend towards success that has already begun. Cutting concession prices has already proven to work in the Atlanta Falcons stadium. An in-stadium app allows fans to stay up to date on stadium facilities and lines and can bring entertainment and rewards to fans using the app. Both of these would make games more appealing to attend which would lead to an increase in revenue for the team and decline in the prevalence of the television deals that dominate the industry.

7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

The opportunity I will be exploring is how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team are unable to consistently sell out the stadium due to the lack of a fan experience and the prevalence of television deals

Who? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization
What? Inability to consistently sell out the stadium
Why? Lack of a fan experience in the stadium and the prevalence of television deals

Hypothesis: I believe the improvement of the fan experience within the stadium will attract more fans and create a dynamic fan culture within the city. The buccaneers have not been a successful team really at all in the past 15 years which has had a large effect on fan attendance. Another huge factor affecting fan attendance is the lack of a fan experience in the stadium. What this means is that fans are preferring to watch the game in the comfort of their own home because attending the games does not provide the fan with enough consumer utility for the price they are paying. Creating an exciting fan experience will bring fans to the games which has a large impact on team revenue.

In order to decipher whether this opportunity can be exploited, I conducted five interviews asking about this potential opportunity. The interviewees will remain anonymous out of respect for their privacy.

1 - The first person I interviewed is Buccaneers season ticket holder of 17 years.Upon asking him about the lack of sellout games, he attributed that mostly to the teams lack of success. When I mentioned the idea of the lack of a fan experience, he seemed intrigued, but did not seem to care as the football is all that matters to him. He did add that making the games cheaper and adding amenities to the stadium would most likely bolster ticket sales and "hopefully get us back in the playoffs"

2 - The next person I interviewed was that man's wife. Despite her husband having season tickets for 17 years, she has only been to 2 games. She attributed that to her lack of interest in football and how if she wanted to watch the game, she would "rather not pay to sweat the whole game when it's free to watch at home". When asking her if she would join her husband at more games if they fan experience throughout the stadium was improved, she said she would consider, but loves the idea.

3 - The third person I interviewed was a Buccaneers fan living a few towns away from Tampa. He was a big Bucs fan, but said he did not go to as many games as he wish he could because it was "too much money to drive that far". He added that going to games the previous times he had were underwhelming due to the expense for food and drink in the stadium, the humid heat, and lack of intrigue, especially when the Bucs were losing. He was doubtful of the feasibility of the idea of upgrading the fan experience, but was almost begging for it to happen so he would want to go to more games.

4 - The fourth person who I interviewed was the mover employed by the Buccaneers to move their equipment for away games. Since he has free tickets to every home game with VIP access, he did not see the need for upgrading the fan experience, but he did say he would like to see more fans attend the game so if that would do it, he would be all for it.

5 - The last person I interviewed was a UF student wearing a Buccaneers shirt on Campus. She said her dad has always been a huge fan and she loved going to the games with him when she was younger. Bucs' games for her represented some of the best moments of her childhood so she did not think there was a need for upgrading the fan experience. She did add it obviously could not hurt to add more to the fan experience and that her memories could be a little biased due to it having been 7 years since she has actually attended a game in Raymond James Stadium.

In conclusion, I've learned that others share my notion that upgrading the fan experience in the Buccaneers stadium would be a good idea to attract more fans to come to games. One thing I would say I learned from the interviews is that people do not have nearly as much interest in something if it does not directly impact their lives.

5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

5 Local Opportunities that could be the basis of a lucrative business

Opportunity 1

"Legalize marijuana supporters fire back at Florida AG Ashley Moody's objections"

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/marijuana/os-ne-recreational-marijuana-supporters-fire-back-20200121-5ej32l5cqzbufdvef65qjcho54-story.html

In this article, it discusses the conflict between those who support the legalization of marijuana and Florida AG Ashley Moody's office. This could present an opportunity as the legalization of marijuana would allow businesses to profit off of the use of marijuana. Many people illegally use marijuana so converting those customers into legal ones by selling and taxing marijuana could be beneficial for many parties

Opportunity 2

"Hardball: Rays threaten to block redevelopment of Tropicana Field"

https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2020/01/30/hardball-rays-threaten-to-block-redevelopment-of-tropicana-field/

In this article, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team are conflicting with the city of St. Petersburg over the use of the land where their home stadium, Tropicana Field, is currently located. Recently, there has been much speculation of whether the Rays will move to Tampa or will split half of their season in Montreal. The opportunity in this case is for what the 86 acres could potentially be used. If the Rays were to relocate to Tampa, it would not only help the organization by boosting ticket sales, but also allow the development of downtown St. Petersburg to continue.

Opportunity 3

"After abrupt Lucky's market exit, what happens to its Tampa Bay stores?"

https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/2020/01/29/after-abrupt-luckys-market-exit-what-happens-to-its-tampa-bay-stores/

This article discusses the closing of Lucky's market locations in the Tampa Bay area and what is to follow in those locations. The opportunity for business in this case to purchase their vacated locations to add a new business. This could be a substitute for Lucky's in which it could bring in previous Lucky's customers or add something completely new that appeals to many people.

Opportunity 4

"Gasparilla and your cell phone: 5 ways to make sure you stay connected"

https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/2020/01/24/gasparilla-and-your-cell-phone-5-ways-to-make-sure-you-stay-connected/

This article discusses issues with cell service during Tampa's annual Gasparilla Parade how to potentially alleviate these issues. Given the massive amounts of people all clustered in one area of the city, cell service suffers each year which makes it difficult to get in touch with those in which you attended with. This presents the opportunity for a business to implement a solution for this annual issue which would not only improve safety for those visiting the city during this time who might be lost or solely for convenience of everyone there.

Opportunity 5

"St.Pete's Kerouac house to become a writer's retreat

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hillsborough/2020/01/30/st-petes-kerouac-house-to-become-a-writers-retreat/

This article talks of how author Jack Kerouac's estate is being sold to a non-profit organization in order to convert it to a writer's retreat. This has been an issue because negotiations of this estate have stalled for many years and there's finally the opportunity being seized in order to utilize this as a writer's retreat to promote that industry while using the famous Kerouac name. Another issue in this case is the conflicting interest of the surrounding neighborhood as many would not want it to become a museum or anything of the sort. This presents the opportunity to implement a writer's retreat and honor the late Jack Kerouac.

4A - Forming an Opportunity Belief

In the previous assignment, "Bug" List, one major issue I touched upon was the lack of car parking near fraternity row following the implementation of the new scooter hubs. The unmet need in this case is parking availability near fraternity row which affects not only all those who live in fraternity houses,  but also those students who live in Springs Complex and Keys Complex dorms. Parking has always been scarce in that area, but that issue has been exacerbated by the new implementation of scooter hubs that erased nearly 40 parking spots. I am about 90% sure there is an opportunity to improve this situation by converting previous scooter parking to car parking and convert some of the law library parking lot to red decal because it is empty majority of the time.

I interviewed 3 different anonymous individuals regarding this parking situation near fraternity row.

The first individual in which I interviewed was a freshman living in Springs Complex who had a car on campus. She agreed that the parking in this area of campus was an issue since she has moved into her dorm in the beginning of fall, but said that the recent addition of the scooter hub across has only made it harder to find parking. I asked if she felt it needed to be addressed and whether she thought it could be improved and she responded by saying she thought it needed to be addressed and hoped it would be improved, but did not how it could. Upon hearing my suggestion on a possibility how to improve the situation, she was excited and said she hopes that could be done so she does not have to drive around for over 10 minutes to find a parking spot.

The next individual I interviewed was a housing director of a fraternity house located on fraternity row. When asked whether she thought it was an issue, she responded that it did not apply to her because she has a 24/7 reserved parking space, but that she has noticed that more spots have been filled all down fraternity row since the addition of the scooter hub. She did not necessarily care if the issue was addressed, but did say she would like it if her boys (in the fraternity in which she works) wanted it. Upon telling her my potential solution to this situation, she told me she thinks that is a good idea, but doubts the feasibility of UF actually going through with it.

The third individual I interviewed was a resident of a fraternity house who was getting out of his car on fraternity row. Early in the interview, it became apparent that he was as invested in this issue as I was. He called the scooter hubs "an outright stupid decision" and that parking has been much worse since. He then told me he has reached out to UF TAPS to complain and urge them to undo their scooter hub. He liked my idea of adding parking by converting previous scooter parking into car parking and dedicating a portion of the law school parking lot to red decals.

In reflection, I do believe the opportunity still exists, but my confidence of whether it'll get done dwindled a little following my interviews knowing the lack of care and inefficiency that plagues UF TAPS. It was nice to know that other people agree that something needs to be done and that the scooter hub was the driving factor turning a small issue into a big one. In doing this assignment, I do believe that entrepreneurs should adapt their potential opportunities according to customer feedback because customer feedback is a key component of many businesses so knowing their perspective on many different issues can be invaluable for one's business.

3A My Entrepreneurship Story

My closest encounter with entrepreneurship is my best friend's dad as he has started 2 of his own companies. The first in which he created was called Beads & Tees which was a team merchandise company where he would sell merchandise whether it be beads, t-shirts, magnets, cups, etc. outside stadiums across Florida. His second business endeavor is a new business called For Pedro's Sake which is a candied jalapeno business where he goes from market to market across the Tampa Bay area. He is very motivated and loves what he does which has been a positive influence on me in my studies. Knowing how he has worked hard his whole life to provide for his family and now have the opportunity to start another business doing something he loves is very admirable.

The idea of owning my own business one day has been very intriguing for me for many years now. Given it being an interest of mine and a mandatory business elective her at the University of Florida, it made ENT3003 a perfect course for to take. I'm hoping to learn more about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and how to maintain your own company. Through this, hopefully, one day I will be able to emulate our good family friend's path to success as an entrepreneur.


  

Andrew Kraemer Bug List

"Bugs"
1.Pedestrians using their phones while crossing the road on UF Campus 
        Why? Cars have to yield to pedestrians by law so they are not mindful of cars at times  and there is no law against using a cell phone while crossing a crosswalk

2. Waiting in any line at any restaurant at any time

Why? People in this country like to eat out and there are a lot of people that like the same restaurants that I do

3. My friends not being polite to my parents when my parents greet them

Why? They do not know proper manners

4. Someone exiting a stall in a bathroom and not proceeding to wash their hands at the sink

Why? Some people don’t want to take the extra 30 seconds out of their day to sanitize obviously dirty hands

5. Holding the door for a stranger in a public area and them not saying thank you

Why? Individuals lack common courtesy occasionally 

6. Parking my car on Fraternity Row at UF when another is parked over the line

Why? The parking spots are narrow and some people don’t care enough to take the time to fix their parking job

7. UF TAPS converting the parking lot near fraternity row to a large scooter lot that is not even 1/4 full when car parking is the much bigger need

Why? The idea of “Scooter Hubs” is being implemented and that is the first one

8. When a friend on Instagram posts about their political beliefs

Why? The First Amendment of the US Constitution is freedom of speech

9. When girls at the sorority in which I am employed do not say hello to me despite knowing them well outside of that setting

Why? In that setting, I work for them so I am not seen as a peer in that setting 

10. When sports media continually covers the New York Knicks at all times of the year despite their horrible recent history

Why? Being in one of the the largest cities in the world and having a storied franchise for many years draws a lot of fans from around the world who watch these programs.

11. When my teammate in a basketball game shoots against 3 defenders while I am wide open

Why? Points are a more revered statistic than assists and everyone loves to score. Also, some people get tunnel vision when driving to the basket and simply don’t see me.

12. My friends with crooked teeth who clearly have the money for braces or Invisalign 

Why? They like their teeth, it could be a signature of theirs, or they would rather spend their money elsewhere

13. Sitting down in a movie theater after paying $15 just to have a neighbor talking throughout the movie

Why? Some movies are hard to follow and require explanations at times. Sometimes people may not consider others around them when engaging in conversation

14. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not fire General Manager Jason Licht despite being the worst GM in the NFL 

Why? The owners of the organization have an established relationship with him and his relationship with Bruce Arians brought him out of retirement to coach the Bucs.

15. When Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper refuses to make in-game adjustments in playoff games where it is obvious he is being out-coached 

Why? He has a little too much faith in his players’ skills and trusts his gameplay going into the game more than what is happening on the ice

16. My friends not cleaning up after themselves following dinner at my house

Why? There is no reason why an 18-22 year kid should not clean up themselves, but the best assumption is simple laziness and a sense of entitlement 

17. When the Zaxby’s on Archer charges 25 cents for an extra Zax Sauce

Why? They own a business and Zax Sauce is so tasty that customers are willing to pay an extra 25 cents to have it

18. When my friends try to argue with me that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball of all time

Why? Michael Jordan was a phenomenal player who led his team to multiple NBA championships in the 1990’s

19. When Tampa residents claim the best steakhouse in the Greater Tampa Bay Area is not Bern’s Steakhouse

Why? Every individual has unique tastebuds and may think food at one restaurant is better than food at another

20. When the world renowned R&B Singer Akon has not toured in the United States in multiple years 

Why? Akon has focused more on his philanthropic events of late in the continent of Africa which has not allotted him time to perform in the states

Reflection

As I embarked on this assignment, it became evident only a few minutes into it that this was going to be difficult. On a day to day basis, I see plenty of things, people, mannerisms, etc. that bother them, but I rarely ever take time to look and reflect upon them. This made it difficult to generate 20 on the spot despite it being relatively easy to spot a “bug” in my daily life. Taking a step back and thinking about the things that bother me analytically required a mindset shift as well which also made it difficult. I could confidently say putting myself in the point of view of what bothers me opened up my mind.

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