Welcome, it's good to have you
To The Abundant Bay - Gisborne Tech Map
Hi, it's Maria. Thank you for helping me out by testing my prototype. You are about to test the solution I created after interviewing 14 small business owners in Gisborne for the first phase of my master's research.
My project research: How might we increase the usage of digital technology in small Gisborne-based businesses?
About This Project
THE ABUNDANT BAY - GISBORNE TECH MAP
The idea of The Abundant Bay is to be a compass and guide to the small businesses in Gisborne. To help you to navigate an uncertain and fast-evolving world. It's also much more than that. It's the single source of truth that they can trust. It's where the community get together to help each other and embrace the nuances of technology together.
The Prototype Journey of The Abundant Bay Map
Hello and thank you for participating in this critical phase of our project! Remember, what you're about to experience is a prototype - a preliminary model of The Abundant Bay Map. This prototype is our canvas for imagination, a glimpse into what our final solution could look like. And that's where your role becomes invaluable.
Here is the process this prototype will take you:
As you navigate through the prototype, your perceptions, experiences, and thoughts are key to refining and enhancing our final product.
Before we dive into this journey, it's important to clarify how the data and feedback you provide will be utilised. To ensure transparency and your informed participation, you will be directed to a consent form.
This form will detail the specifics of data usage, including how your input will be collected, stored, and utilised throughout the course of my research. Your understanding and agreement are vital as we proceed with this collaborative effort in refining the solution.
After completing the consent form, you will be seamlessly guided to a brief survey. This survey is designed to gather insights into your unique business profile and your current standing in the technological landscape. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here.
The goal is to tailor the experience of our upcoming app to your specific needs and stage in your business journey. For instance, if your business already has a website, the app will recognise this and skip over basic content like 'How to Build a Website.' Instead, it will focus on more relevant areas for you.
Additionally, the survey will help in identifying your 'Business Archetype,' giving us a clearer picture of where you stand in your tech journey. This personalised approach ensures that the app will be as relevant and beneficial to you as possible.
Once you have completed the survey, please check your emails. If you don't immediately see our email, it might be worth checking your spam folder. You will have received an email assigning you a business archetype.
However, I must apologise as this will not be your actual archetype. This is solely due to the current limitations of my prototype; fully automating this feature is a technical challenge I am yet to overcome.
The purpose of this test is to gauge your interest in receiving a business archetype and to see if this information is engaging and intriguing enough to prompt you to take further action, such as clicking on the link provided in the email.
Finally, we arrive at the last step: The Abundant Bay Map! By clicking on the link in your email, you will be directed to our prototype app. We encourage you to interact with it just as you would with a fully operational app.
Please bear in mind that this is still a prototype, which means that the functionalities are not fully operational and the results and suggestions are not personalised to your specific needs. They are generalised versions created for the purpose of this test.
I am keen to understand your thoughts: Is the app's next step clear to you? Would you find this app useful if it were fully developed? Which aspects caught your attention, and what didn’t you like?
Following your exploration, I would be delighted to discuss your impressions. Feel free to call me, send a message, or let's meet for a coffee – my treat. Your feedback is invaluable, so please don't hold back!
FEW THINGS
Why do I need to do the consent form?
The consent form is a crucial element in maintaining ethical standards in research, especially for my master's project survey. It serves multiple key purposes:
Informed Decision-Making: The form offers comprehensive written information about the research study. This includes a detailed explanation of the aims, methods, potential benefits, and risks associated with the research. Providing this information helps potential participants make an informed decision about their involvement.
Voluntary Participation: By presenting a clear and transparent overview of what the study entails, the consent form reinforces the principle of voluntary participation. It ensures that individuals understand that their involvement is entirely optional and that they can withdraw at any point without any negative consequences.
Clarification of Expectations: The form outlines what will be expected from participants, including the nature and duration of their involvement. This helps manage expectations and ensures participants are fully aware of their role in the study.
Protection of Rights and Privacy: The consent form addresses how the research will protect the participants' rights and privacy. This includes information on how data will be collected, stored, and used, as well as measures taken to maintain confidentiality.
Establishing Trust: By providing a consent form, the research process becomes more transparent, fostering a sense of trust between the researcher and the participants. This is especially important in academic research, where ethical considerations are paramount.
Legal and Ethical Compliance: The consent form ensures compliance with legal and ethical standards governing research, particularly in academic settings. It serves as a documented agreement between the researcher and the participant, aligning with both institutional guidelines and broader ethical principles in research.
In summary, the consent form is a fundamental component that upholds the integrity of the research process, safeguards participant welfare, and ensures informed and voluntary participation in my master's project.
What is the purpose of the survey?
After going through this survey, I will understand the user better and give them an idea of the path (or two) to where they want to go. The idea of this solution is to be focused on the business owners who need to learn how to start on their tech journey and feel confused about what is out there. This map will be a starting point to start the conversation on implementing technology in their business and how they can do it. It will focus first on tools and platforms to slowly begin building a community and take the relationship offline.
What are you going to do with my survey results?
The information collected from this survey will be used solely for academic purposes, specifically for my master's project.
Initially, the collected data will be securely stored in our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, ensuring that it is handled with the utmost confidentiality. Upon the completion of my master's project and the submission of my final report, which is scheduled before March 30, 2024, I will permanently delete all the data from the CRM system.
This step is taken to ensure that your personal information and survey responses are not retained beyond the scope of my academic requirement. Please be assured that your individual results will remain confidential and will not be shared with any third parties.
Your privacy is of paramount importance to me. However, if you are interested in learning about your specific business archetype based on your survey responses, I am more than willing to provide this information to you.
You can request these details at any time before March 30, 2024. After this date, as mentioned, all data will be securely deleted. Your participation in this survey is greatly valued, and I am committed to upholding the highest standards of data privacy and ethical research practices throughout the duration of my project.
I want to get in touch with your advisor or master's programme lead
Advisor’s name and contact details
Megan Rorich [email protected]
2023 Programme Lead’s name and contact details
Fiona Pond [email protected]
Get In Touch
