Assignment 1: Project Proposal
Team Members | Problem Statement | Primary Users & Goals | Finding Participants
- Saud Al Shamsi: Saud has an educational background in computer science, mainly in C++ and Java programming. He also has experience with user interface design, web-services, project management, and the business-side of projects. Other contributions can stem from extensive knowledge in the domain of online social networking and its derivatives.
- Debbie Cheng: Debbie has experience with databases and is familiar with MySQL and PHP. She has also done web-programming with HTML and JavaScript. In addition to these skills she has knowledge on how to perform preliminary needs and/or usability assessment using substantive methods. Some relevant classes Debbie has taken at the I-School include Needs & Usability, Database Management, and Project Management.
- Bindiya Jadhwani: Bindiya has a computer science background, and her skill set includes database and web technologies. She is well-versed in C++, HTML, JavaScript and SQL. Apart from that she has enhanced usability and analytical skills after working on a client based project in the Needs and Usability Assessment class last semester. Has some experience with product development and business analysis.
- Alana Pechon: Alana’s skills include familiarity with Java programming and databases. In the fall, she completed coursework in web-based services, providing experience with HTML and PHP. Additionally, she has 4 years of work experience as a project manager. Finally, she has worked in the service/hospitality industry both as an employee and as a hiring manager/scheduler, and is able to offer direct insights into the needs of both user groups..
- Meghalim Sarma: Megha has 5 years of software industry experience. Well versed with java, web-services, XML and database technologies. She has worked with comparative analysis and usability evaluation of user interface for Oracle’s leading middle-ware products. As a part of Web-based services class in fall she worked on web-programming using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Problem Statement
High turnover raters, skill homogeneity, and a need to better meet fluctuating customer demand characterize the restaurant and hospitality industries. For other industries, temporary hiring services are the answer to these problems, but for the restaurant industry, these services do not meet their information needs. On the other side of this labor-market problem is a pool of individuals who may already be employed in full- or part-time positions, but possess the skills from prior employment to fill these temporary positions within restaurants. These people do not have the time to enter into an additional contractual employment position but do want to find opportunities with which they can supplement their current income. The temporary hiring marketplace will consider issues of trust, reputation and vulnerability in order to provide a platform for restaurants and temporary employees to meet.
Characteristics of Primary Users and Goals
The primary users of this system will be:
- Service professionals looking for temporary part-time work on an ad hoc basis. These jobseekers do not have the time to enter into an additional contractual employment position but do want to find extra work opportunities from which they can earn additional money.
- Employers and hiring managers who need to recruit employees and satisfy staffing needs. The goal of the employers and hiring managers are to have access to a large pool of applicants to fulfill specific recruitment needs, including the ability to find staff on short notice to ensure vacancies are filled so they can operate at full strength.
How We Will Find Participants
Our team will recruit participants from the restaurant and hospitality industries located in the San Francisco Bay Area. To find hiring managers we have generated a large list of local catering/restaurant managers with their contact information. For jobseekers, we conducted a survey back in September where we collected 80 responses and will get in touch with those that have indicated they would like to be further be contacted about our project. Currently we interviewed 2 catering managers and two jobseekers who match our target user profile, 18-30 year olds looking for part-time flexible work in the restaurant/hospitality sector. Our goal is to do 2 more interviews for a total of 6 interviews (3 Employers/Hiring Managers and 3 Jobseekers).