e-Volve Project
Christmas Business Seminar
Business Analysis Questionnaire
The eVolve project aims to meet the individual needs of businesses as far as possible in terms of helping to 1. assess the way in which you can exploit the benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to develop your business and 2. identify and address related skills needs for yourself and/or your staff. In order that we can get to know your company and assist you in getting the most out of eVolve’s services and resources, we strongly recommend that you complete this questionnaire and bring it with you to the th seminar on 19 December 2002 when eVolve ICT consultants will discuss it with you. If you decide to take advantage of one or more of the training programmes offered by evolve, you will be entitled to further free consultancy. In the event that you do not have time to complete the questionnaire in advance, please bring it with you on the day of the seminar. If you would like an emailed version, please contact Carol Snape on carols@city.ac.uk Please try to provide as much relevant information as possible. However , if any of the sections are not applicable to your organisation, simply mark ‘N/A’.
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___________________________________________________________________ Profile of Organisation 1. 2. 3. 4. Name of Business …………………………………………………………………… Business Address …………………………………………………………………… Nature of business: …………………………………………………………………. Which of the following best describes your business? (please tick) Retail or wholesale [ Manufacturing 5. 6. [ ] ] Service [ Other [ ] ] No [ ] ] Professional practice [ ]
Do you have a business plan? (please tick): Yes [
Please rank the following to indicate the areas of your business in which you feel you may need help (1 to 9, highest to lowest) Marketing and promotion Web design and development Integrating an e-commerce website Capability to analyse existing customer base for target marketing Increasing the customer base Employee management and retention Planning/affording staff development Financial management Using IT to help staff work together more effectively Internal communications [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
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For details about the e-Volve project, please see the end of this questionnaire
Other (please list) …………………………………………………………………………………… Marketing 7. 8. 9. Who are your clients? (please tick): Individuals Locally [ [ ] ] Other businesses Nationally [ [ [ [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Yes [ ] ] No [ No [ ] ] [ ] [ ] Both [ ] ] Where are your clients located? (please tick as many as applicable): Internationally [ How do you get most new clients? (please tick as many as applicable): Newspaper advertising Other media advertising Direct mail Telemarketing Online advertising Word of mouth Other (please specify) 10. 11.
Do you have a written marketing plan? (please tick):
Do you have a written marketing budget? (please tick): Yes [
Human Resources 12. 13. 14. 15. How many employees do you have? (please tick): Self only [ Self only Yes [ ] ] [ ] ] 1-10 [ ] 11-50 [ ] ] 51 – 250 [ ] ] How many management staff do you have (please tick): Less than 5 [ More than 5 [ Do you have a formal employee training programme? (please tick): No [ What is the average length of someone’s employment with the company? (please tick): Less than a year [ Financial 16. 17. 18. How would you describe your management of cash flow? (please tick): Excellent [ Yes [ ] [ ] Good Mostly ] [ [ ] [ ] Fair [ ] Inconsistent [ [ ] ] No Poor [ [ ] [ ] ] Do you stay up to date with invoicing? (please tick): Only sometimes ] 30 days[ ] What invoicing terms to you offer your clients? (please tick): Cash only 15 days 60 days or more ] 1-5 years [ ] More than 5 years [ ]
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What financial reports do you generate on a regular basis? (please tick) P&L [ ] [ Balance Sheet ] None [ [ ] ] Budget Projection
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Please describe briefly, the systems you use to support purchasing and sales (both manual and/or IT based)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21. Please describe what systems you have for payroll (both manual and/or IT based). ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22. 23. Who within the company, produces figures for your accountant? (please specify general role of that person) ……………………………………………………………… Do any of your staff have accounting experience/qualifications? (please tick) Yes [ ] No [ ]
Internal Communications 24. Please describe briefly, the systems that you use for internal communications (e.g. spoken word, written memos, meetings, email, staff newsletter).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 25. Do you use e-mail? (Please tick as many options as appropriate): internally [ ] to communicate with customers [ to communicate with suppliers other not at all Information Technology 26. 27. 28. How many computers do you have in your business? Please give no. . ………….. Are your computers networked (i.e. connected together) Yes [ for browsing2 for advertising for trading online not at all Other (please state) [ [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] ] ] No [ ] Do you use the Internet? Please tick as many options as appropriate): [ [ [ ] ] ] ]
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Browsing means searching the Internet for information
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Which of the following best describes your online business status? (Please tick): We have a well working e-commerce3 site We have an effective website but not e-commerce capability We have a website with which I am not happy We have no web presence, but would like to We have no web presence, and see no need for one [ [ [ [ [ [ [ ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
30. 31.
If you have a Web site, please give the URL
………………………………………... 10K – 100K [ 100K – 1m
How much do you spend on IT annually (please tick): 0 – 10K
32. How many people in your company work on the development and support of IT systems (e.g. strategic planning of IT, purchasing hardware and software, systems maintenance and related)?. Please give brief details of their role(s). ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 33. Please describe the systems you use to keep client records (e.g. on paper, on Excel spreadsheet, in database etc.) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34. Please describe how new staff are introduced to your IT systems (.e.g. by another employee showing them as and when required, or by formal training programme etc.) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35. Where do you usually obtain advice about IT equipment/software/systems? Supplier Business Link for London Other Business advice agency (please state) …………………………………………………… Other companies on informal basis Friends or relatives on informal basis Other (please state) …………………………………….. [ [ ] ] [ [ [ ] ] ]
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‘e-commerce’ is defined as undertaking business transactions online, with either customer, or supplier, or both
Please add any other comments you wish to make ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
_____________________________________________________________________ About the eVolve Project
eVolve is an ICT training and consultancy service which is run by the Centre for Professional Development and Innovation at City University in partnership with Camden Council, Camden Central Community Umbrella and Hyena (internet and multimedia consultancy and production). The project is supported by the ESF and LSC (Central London). The project aims to support small organisations, both businesses and voluntary sector. It recognises that these organisations face practical problems in maximizing opportunities presented by ICT such as lack of funds for sophisticated equipment, or for expensive training and consultancy. eVolve will offer small organisations: introductory seminars half day seminars covering topics such as security and data protection, internet marketing, commissioning a web-site, buying software and hardware etc. three-day accredited courses on topics such as web authoring, e-commerce and internet marketing an online certificated course on remote working and managing remote teams ICT consultancy Information and signposting