This week, based on feedback in class and blog comments, I took to UAL’s online library and the internet to brush up on my business-focused resources for my 1000-word report:
• ‘Understanding Creative Business: Values, Networks and Innovation’ by Shorthose and Maycroft (2012), was an interesting read exploring what innovation means. This helped me to frame how Patchworks is innovative, with a supporting theory.
• Business News (2014) provide a detailed overview of Treacy and Wieraman’s ‘The Discipline of Market Leaders’, which helped to provide context to Patchworks’ key values.
• I re-read a journal I previously found that gathers expert opinions on survey design to expand on my use of specific question types in my primary research (Chyung et. al, 2014).
• Companies House online offers an effective summary of the Community Interest Company business model – one I’m keen to explore for Patchworks (Companies House, 2023).
• Cone’s ‘Steal These Ideas! : Marketing Secrets That Will Make You a Star’ (2005) was more of an accidental find, which to my surprise, helped me learn more about what a ‘USP’ is and needs to be for a successful business venture.
I have now incorporated these into my report, to demonstrate my deeper business understanding, framing my points from more of an informed position. This makes me feel more confident regarding my current draft, which I believe is close to completion.
Reference List:
Business News (2014) Summary: the Discipline of Market Leaders : Review and Analysis of Treacy and Wiersema’s Book, Lemaitre Publishing: Namur. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ual/detail.action?docID=2080500&query=The%20Discipline%20of%20Market%20Leaders. (Accessed 1 November 2023)
Chyung, S.Y., Roberts, K., Swanson, I. and Hankinson, A. (2017) ‘Evidence-Based Survey Design: The Use of a Midpoint on the Likert Scale’, Performance Improvement, 56(10), pp. 15-23. doi: 10.1002/pfi.21727.
Companies House (2023) An introduction to community interest companies. Available at: https://companieshouse.blog.gov.uk/2023/08/31/an-introduction-to-community-interest-companies/. (Accessed: 25 October 2023).
Cone, S. (2005) Steal These Ideas! : Marketing Secrets That Will Make You a Star, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, Newark. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ual/detail.action?docID=238539 (Accessed: 1 November 2023).
Shorthose, J. and Maycroft, N. (2012) Understanding creative business: values, networks and innovation. Farnham: Gower.