April 2013
Table of Contents
Executive Summary 4
Target Markets 5
Opportunities & Threats by Porter’s 5 Forces Model 6-7
Business Strategies, Web 2.0 Technologies & Applications 8-9
The Business Model 10-14
References & Overview 15-18
Executive Summary
The purpose of this report was to design a start-up strategy and IS infrastructure for Ruth & Luke (R&L) Crowdsource’s business. Research for this report identifies the focus (target market), opportunities and threats in entering the market and provides a detailed business model.
This report incorporated recent statistical data in relation to online social media, various journal articles and books obtained online.
Research for the target market indicates that the seekers comprise of mainly businesses of a variety of sizes that are familiar with the practice of crowd-sourcing. In regards to the solvers, findings suggest that university students and academics will be the dominant target market for R&L Crowdsource’s business.
Using the five-forces model to identify new market entrants, substitute products and services, customers, suppliers, and competitive rivalry, overall there is a medium-high level of threat in entering the market.
Further research recommends that R&L Crowdsource should focus more on achieving an easily accessible system with availability to an extensive range of audiences while raising reputation and credibility by advertising through online social media, the ‘Google’ search engine and newspapers. The efficiency and effectiveness of R&L Crowdsource’s business operations will be dependent on the amount of investment into the appropriate information systems, which may be financed through revenue obtained by charging a fee to seekers.
Target markets (seekers/solvers) R&L Crowdsource will be commencing the online business initiative for clients
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