GOLDILOCKS GOES DIGITAL
Business Resources by Daniel, Exercise 1
1. Using EBSCO, especially with the added directions about "Click on Company Profiles", got me
started quickly and it was easy to navigate. I am not familiar with using digital resources although this is the second online class I have taken dealing with resources online, the first one was a nightmare and the entire class was left in the cold due to NO teacher feedback. This class I have already found my questions answered timely and help available!Now to answer the first question and by far the easiest to find. I am sure everyone found the Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft was
Mr. Klein who previously was
Corporate Vice President of the business division
2. The Small Business Reference Center was somewhat more difficult to quickly find what I was looking for about crafts but I came across many references for selling goods at craft shows and markets in person or on the internet. I copied some chapter titles for information:
Chapter 14 of the book "The 2010 Leisure Market Research Handbook," by Richard K. Miller and Kelli Washington is presented. It highlights the amount of supplies for the craft and hobby market and number of people who are engaged1.
Chapter 13: Selling Your Handmade Crafts Online: Marketing Your Unique Creations.Full Text Available
How To Market & Sell Your Art, Music, Photographs & Handmade Crafts Online: Turn Your Hobby into a Cash Machine, 2008, p210-214, 5p, 1 Black and White PhotographSource:
Leisure Market Research Handbook; 2010, p136-139, 4p
4. The Alaska Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit was easy to navigate through and find information. I found that a landlord is responsible for maintaining the premises and letting the tenants have notice before they have to move. The website lists the amount of money that can be collected for security deposits and about the necessities that the landlord must maintain the property in good condition with regards to heat, electricity and plumbing.
In another section which could be easily accessed from the right hand margin list, you just clicked on Frauds and Scams and many were listed. The two I found most interesting were Phishing and Pyramiding. I have received emails that have the "Nigerian Letter" which if you answer you will make all kinds of money, or an email that appears to come from a legitimate source you use like Amazon or I-Tunes asking for personal information. This is a fraudulent site that has copied the real website without authentication. There is also a section on complaints and how to fill out and file the form with the Attorney General of the state of Alaska.
5 In my community of Fairbanks Alaska, there are 5,350 women employed and the top employer is the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. In the state of Alaska the top employer is Providence Health Services followed by Walmart/Sams.
6. The six stages of understanding the Small Business Life Cycle are:
THINK, LAUNCH,GROW, REINVENT, EXIT
There is a checklist to download of over 20 items to know when starting a small business. This is easily found by clicking on the right hand column of subjects or typing it in search box at the left.
Why are there six stages and only five headings? Did I miss something? The Alaska SBDC released this guide for 2010 to help business plan and guide their own success.
7. Broadband in Alaska was discussed for the opportunities for Broadband in Rural Alaska, in an article by Heather Hudson, November 2011 and includes 35 pages. Two other publications are:
Digital Diversity: Broadband and Indigenous Populations in Alaska
Heather E. Hudson
May 2011
13 pp.
ID: 1341
Broadband for Rural Development in Southwest Alaska
Heather E. Hudson
March 2011
28 pp.
The last publication I looked at was: "Small Scale Modular Nuclear Power, An Option for Alaska?" , Ginny Fay and Tobias Schwoner, March 2011, 23 pages. The Institute of Social and Economic Research seems to have some timely and interesting areas of research. I did not spend much time looking at these because I wasn't overly concerned.
8. The use of nuclear power as an option was presented in what was called "Lunch Box Discussions" with several publications cited with the support
of First National Bank Alaska and the Alaska Journal of Commerce.
Some other publications were:
The First 50 Years and the Next: ISER and Rural Alaska, March 2011, 33 pages..
Presented at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC), Bethel, March 24, 2011
I think the publications in this area were quite interesting and timely and I could see recommending them to some students doing current research in the area.
9. I don't think this is an option for Alaska, as there are too many variables and alternate methods. We have to small a population and the costs would be outrageous with very difficult climatic issues it would be unwise.
Reflections:
At the present time I am a retired teacher who loves learning new things and using all of these digital resources will be new to me. I am also taking another class on-line from UAF that requires the use of some of these digital resources for research so another plus. You may be wondering why I would do this being retired and all but it will suffice to say I have been tied down, taking care of a recovering husband from surgeries in California and I find it quite important to my mental health to keep learning new things.
I found using these sources quite interesting and challenging, taking me approximately 7-8 hours of time to examine and find the correct answers. Hopefully, I will become more adept at doing these assignments but I will say they kept me fascinated as a new user of what is available online.!! Fascinating!
I am looking forward to finding the next exercise more user friendly, or my being a little more experienced at what I am looking for.
