$4\mathrm{.}0$ Opportunity Analysis and Research

Describe your target customers along as many dimensions as you have defined $($demographic$,$ geographic, needs, trends, and decision$-$making processes$).$

Describe the research methods you used to develop this section $($surveys$,$ focus groups, general research, & statistical research$).$

$4\mathrm{.}1$ Industry Analysis $($Remember to cite your sources and give references in APA format.$)$

What is the industry$/$industries within which your organization operates? $($include NAICS codes, if applicable$)$

What factors influence the demand for your product$/$services$?$

What factors influence the supply of your product$/$services$?$

How large is your total industry $($historic$,$ current & projected size$)?$

What are the current and anticipated trends in the industry?

What are the major customer groups for the industry $($consumers$,$ government, businesses$)?$ Describe these in detail.

How large is your target market? $($Number of customers, size of purchases, frequency of purchases, trends $--$ quantify!$)$ Describe the entire potential market and the portion you will target.

$4\mathrm{.}2$ Environmental Analysis

Perform a SWOT analysis of your potential organization. Remember that strengths and weaknesses are internal to your organization $--$ hence you can control these $--$ and opportunities and threats are external to your organization, and hence you cannot control these; you must react to these.

What external$/$environmental factors are likely to impact your business and how likely are these?

Are your customers in other countries? If so$,$ how will you reach them?

$4\mathrm{.}3$ Competitive Analysis

How do you define$/$describe your competitors$-$ both direct and indirect?

Describe your organization's competitive advantage along the lines of quality, price, location, service, and speed of turn$-$around as they apply.

Find three competitors and describe them $($cite your sources$).$ Use the comparative analysis tables in Chapter $3$ of your text to perform a qualitative assessment and$/$or quantitative analysis.

Describe any international competitors. How do you intend to compete with them for your customers?

Describe your strategy for outperforming the competition you identified above.

What, if any, do you see as barriers to entry that you can create to block out competition. How will you do so$?$