Brainstorming Meeting 19th June, 2009

6.45 – 8.45pm

Present: Allan, Aaron, Barry, Bill, Dan, Darce, David, Jan, Kylie, Michael, Peter, Tony, Richard.

Darce conducted the SWOT and Peter was in charge of the whiteboard. The meeting started with an explanation of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis.   Then we identified the objective of the analysis as - Computerbank's future after Work For the Dole funding ceases in August.  The full SWOT list for each category is below this report.

After going through the SWOT analysis, the meeting identified the following points as major issues.

• Shop sales/opening hours
• Build room productivity
• Marketing
• Who is going to build computers post August?

The meeting then formed an Ideas subcommittee. This subcommitee is to investigate ideas from the meeting and report back to committee.  The following people are on the Ideas Subcommittee: Allan, Kylie, Michael and Peter.  Meeting on Tuesday 23rd June at Peter's House.

The meeting then formed a Policy subcommittee. This subcommittee has been formed to prepare a draft update charter and mission statement.  The draft will be presented to Computerbank's committee.  The following people are the on this sub committee: Bill, Darce, David and Jan.  First meeting 25th June at Jan's house.

SWOT – complete list

Strengths
1.Good reputation in IT community
2.Good reputation in Welfare community
3.Returning clients and recyclers
4.Skilled volunteers
5.Good team
6.Skilling people for employment
7.10 years old
8.Good value
9.Open source software
10.Good building
11.Central location
12.Understand the needs of disadvantaged groups etc.
13.Shop sales 78% of income excluding WFD,
14.Recycling

Weaknesses
1.Marketing/image/name
2.No long term planning
3.Software looks dated (kde)
4.Dated product offerings
5.Need to identify true cost of final product
6.Low productivity
7.Possible build inefficiencies
8.Volunteer pressure at peak times
9.Limited Storage
10.Only selling to concession card holders
11.Volunteer training
12.Not as well known as Green PC
13.Most don't attend training
14.Not enough skilled volunteers
15.Not enough good user support people
16.Computerbank hard to find
17.High rent
18.Bottlenecks
19.We are only open to the public 11.5 hours a week
20.Some people contact us when we are closed
21.Many people want laptops
22.Some people suspicious of Linux
23.Linux is not familiar or widespread
24.Poor Quality Control can damage our reputation and puts pressure on user support resources
25.Current paid hours might not be affordable past August
26.Who will build the computers after WFD – who will supervise this
27.Balance Sheet Financial future uncertain after closure of work for the dole
28.Shop can get crowded at times – needs revamp
29.Low level of sales
30.$15 perceived as piece of rubbish
31.User Support operates from the buildroom distracting builders

Opportunities
1.Consulting to business sector
2.Students
3.Linkage to ISP's
4.New markets
5.Recycling selling parts via an online catelogue
6.Courseware
7.Self promotion
8.Advertising on Community Radio
9.Linkage to charities
10.Anaylsys of sales data – suburb, pc etc
11.New ethnic communities
12.Advertising in median strip, Victoria Street
13.Advertise at Nth Melb Train Station  and bus stop lots of students use the station.
14.Promote our public access networks to small private schools offer hug IT savings to school councils.
15.Higher unemployment more people may need our services
16.Better utilisation of space in building
17.Longer opening hours
18.Publicity is known to increase sales
19.Skype phone for mobile out calls.
20.asterisk phone system naked DSL for telco savings?
21.Survey our users.  How many people never set the computer up?
22.How many people go to Windows? How many stay with Linux?
23.How many are buying a first computer?- How many are buying a second computer?
24.Target social workers, unemployed, new arrivals, pensioners to tell them about our service.
25.Revise our laptop policy. Our laptops are ageing. Lift restrictions but only sell 2 a week. Keep some aside for disabled.
26.Surveys if an extra day opening would be beneficial with our client base
27.Contact schools in our area re our services
28.Sell pc's to non card holders at double the price
29.Find usage meter for Linux based internet
30.Continue low cost computers
31.Newer Laptops/computers for sale
32.More computers to specific groups
33.Ebay sales
34.Open source software
35.Recycling services
36.Training

Threats
1.Loss of Work for Dole income
2.Price of new computers/netbook falling
3.Competition from commericial and community recyclers
4.Supply of parts such as DVD's
5.Mobile phones
6.Windows dominance
7.Most want Broadband but find it too expensive
8.Broadband difficult with Linux
9.May be undercut by other computer recyclers
10.Rent rise
11.Donations dry up as people hang onto their pc's in a recession
12.Changes to Recycling Legislation

Report compiled by Jan