Forming An Opportunity Belief

1. After revising my past assignments, I turned to my bug list to see if any ideas had the potential for opportunity. One of my bugs was on how soaked shoes would get doing dishes at work.
2. The unmet need is a product that could prevent shoes from getting soaked while doing dishes. My coworkers, general manager and I would all consider this a need. However, in a broader sense, the need is for dishwashers in the food industry. I believe the need has always existed. Personally, the need came from when I would have to do dishes in the middle of my shift and had to continue to work the front of the house with soak sneakers after. In order to prevent this, I would cover my shoes in small plastic bags. This would slightly protect my shoes but it was an inconvenience to do every time I would have to knock out some dishes out in the middle of a rush. At this point, I would say there is a 45% chance that this opportunity exists. 
3. The prototypical customer is team members in the food industry that do dishes at work. 
4. Zack (Team member): Coworker (Started in early August) 

What is the exact nature of the need?

“Inconvenience. I would like to go home not soaked in dishwater.” 

When did you become aware of the need? How often do you experience it?

“As soon as I started working here. I’m usually on dishes so I experience this issue very often.” 

How long have you had this need?

“At first it wouldn’t really bother me. However, since we’ve been extremely busy these past couple weeks, It’s almost impossible for me to avoid getting wet when I’m washing 4 or more trays of dishes. So I’d say I’ve had the need for about three months now.”

When did you first become aware of their need?

“I first became aware of this need when I noticed how horrible working in wet sneakers is!” 

How are you currently addressing your need? How satisfied are you with this solution? 

“I’m not really addressing it in any way. But I do wear a plastic apron so my clothes don’t get wet but water still ends up pooling around my feet.” 

Giselle (Shift lead): Coworker (Started in January 2019) 

What is the exact nature of the need?

“Personally, I don’t have this issue of getting soaked. But most of you guys do. I guess the nature of it is that you guys get annoyed by it.” 

When did you become aware of the need? How often do you experience it? 

“I became aware of the need quite quickly after I started working here. I don’t experience it often since I’m typically in front of the house.” 

How long have you had the need?

“I would say I don’t have the need.” 

When did you first become aware of your need?

“The first couple of times I did dishes. So within my first week here, my shoes would get wet.”

How are they currently addressing your need? How satisfied are you with this solution? 

“When I occasionally go on dishes, I make sure I’m not applying to much pressure to the hose and I let the dishes soak longer so I don’t get splashed with water as much.” 

MacKenzie (Team member): (Started in early September)  

What is the exact nature of the need?

“Personally, the nature of the need is that soaked sneakers make long shifts miserable.” 

When did you become aware of the need? How often do you experience it?

“I became aware of the need for a solution my second shift working here. So, almost instantly.” 

How long have you had the need?

“I’ve had this need for the majority of my time here.” 

When did they first become aware of their need?

“Actually, I find became aware of the need when Zach would complain about how soaked his sneakers would get.” 

How are they currently addressing their need? How satisfied are they with this solution? 

“I actually use your hack. I wrap my shoes in plastic bags and I make sure to wear the plastic apron. This hack does help but I’m not really satisfied with it since I don’t have time to find plastic bags and wrap my shoes in them in the middle of a lunch rush.”

Reflect

I learned that many of my coworkers experience the same need I do for very similar reasons. I’m surprised by Giselle’s responses since I didn’t initially consider the method in which someone does dishes would affect their chance of getting wet. Also, I noticed that the plastic apron that we’re advised to wear is responsible for our shoes getting wet. The water that splashes on the apron drips down it. Since it’s not getting absorbed, it ends up on our shoes and floor. So, the need may be a way to improve our plastic aprons. 

Summarize

I believe that much of the original opportunity is still there. I do believe that my new opportunity is more accurate than when I started because of the interviews I had with my coworkers. For example, I took into account the method of washing dishes and plastic aprons to this opportunity which is something I didn’t notice at first. Entrepreneurs should always be willing to adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback. Acknowledging that feedback can be fundamental in the creation of an efficient and profitable product. Without it, there wouldn’t be any customers to target and sell to.