1. What are the needs that have been identified?

Grace and Matt have identified several essential needs. Firstly, the need to

increase business of their small supermarket. Matt believes that to achieve this need

they had to set up a website and allow current and potential customers to view what the

super market have to offer and place an online order of the products the customer

desires. Secondly, gain competitive advantage over Sam’s Sub Shop. Matt also

recognises the importance of e-business and how it would widen the reach of their small

supermarket to the people in that town. Thirdly, Grace and Matt need to hire a delivery

team as an added incentive service for their potential online customers. Lastly, as they

also need to repave the parking lot, Grace and Matt need to be wary of the financial cost

of setting up an e-commerce.

2. What is the project objective?

At this point, the project objective is to make the small supermarket be more

accessible to the 1,500 college students and senior citizens via the store website and

increase their sales. Additionally, if the customer is unable to head down to the store to

make a purchase there is an option to have it delivered to their doorsteps by opting for

delivery service.

However, Grace and Matt have not decided on how to go about doing it.

Currently, their idea is to create an online webpage that list the products they have in

their store and with a picture of themselves in front of their store as a homepage.

3. What are some things Matt and Grace should do before they talk with the consultant?

Before Grace and Matt talk to a consultant, there are few things that they need

to discuss and finalise. Firstly, determine and establish who their target customers are.

For instance, do they only target the residents in their town or expand their reach to

This study source was downloaded by 100000841981901 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 19:02:53 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16680586/424c1/
 other nearby town, focus on just college students and senior citizens or should they

target families with young children also.

Secondly, will their website feature all the items that they currently sell in their

store or will it only feature items that are suitable for delivery. Are customers able to

pre-order. What are the different mode of payments accepted? Credit card transactions

or cash on delivery. Will there be an option for customer self-collection or delivery is the

only option available when shopping in their website.

Thirdly, if they chose to implement a delivery service, will it be only for those

who use the website to shop or will it be available for those who visit the physical store

and opt for delivery service. Grace and Matt should also decide on the delivery

timeframe; will it be within an hour or a day or two later. Furthermore, during which

part of the day does the delivery takes place; most of the students and adults would be

engaged with studies or work during the day thus unable to receive the delivery during

these time of the day.

Lastly, Matt wants to compete with Sam’s Sub shop, that the students frequent.

However, as highlighted by Grace it is opened till late, so do the couple also extend their

delivery service till late hours or even 24 hours.

4. What should the consultant tell Matt and Grace?

There is a possibility that the consultant just quotes Grace and Matt the price for

setting up the webpage. However, it is vital that the consultant is honest and upfront

with Grace and Matt. The consultant should inform them how feasible the project is

going to be. Is it technologically feasible to incorporate all the functions that Grace and

Matt required? The consultant should also identify the various obstacle that Grace and

Matt may face when implementing the website.

This study source was downloaded by 100000841981901 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 19:02:53 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16680586/424c1/
 Secondly, the economic feasibility. What are the cost involved to create and

maintain the website, the salary for the delivery staffs and is it a profitable investment?

Will the website increase their annual sales? How efficient the website is going to be

compared to their current mode of sales? As Grace and Matt are not financially

secured, what are options available for them to pay for the high initial cost of the

project.

Lastly, if the consultant believes that this project is not reasonable or feasible, he

should help guide Grace and Matt in the right direction and suggest other ways to

increase their sales.

This study source was downloaded by 100000841981901 from CourseHero.com on 02-16-2022 19:02:53 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/16680586/424c1/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)