Friday, 09 October 2009 15:56 Written by Grant Melrose

Friday, 09 October 2009 14:56 Written by Grant Melrose

This project is slightly out of the ordinary, experimental research. The aim is to establish if there is any scientific basis to the "Isaiah Effect" in Internet Marketing. This effect is also known as the Law of Attraction.

To ask the question a different way, can a publisher or marketeer simply think positive, or visualise a positive outcome, and actually influence the results of an Internet marketing campaign.

This could be a challenging experiment for a Warwick WMG MSc student with an open, analytical mind.

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions - Albert Einstein

You create your own universe as you go along - Winston Churchill

All that we are is the result of what we have thought - Buddha

According to your faith let it be done to you - Jesus

Friday, 09 October 2009 14:45 Written by Grant Melrose

The aim of this project is to publish a research paper which compares user productivity between traditional file management tools (Microsoft) and a new desktop file management and productivity tool, designed and developed in the UK.

The research could use experiment based methodology and case studies showing the likely Return on Investment (ROI) for companies who adopt the new productivity tool.

The new desktop technology is designed to offer a more efficient method for users to manage documents and upload content to web-site portals, Web Content Management Systems, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems, and Customer Relationship (CRM) systems.

I am really looking for an MSc. dissertation which is of a quality that can be published from a Warwick WMG student who wants to get a Distinction.

Friday, 09 October 2009 14:33 Written by Grant Melrose

This research seeks to demonstrate how measurable improvements can be made to a web-site, by using eye tracking / mapping analysis techniques.

A real live case study for the new UKITA membership web-site will be used, and the eye tracking analysis will be carried out in laboratory conditions.

UKITA is a membership organisation which helps companies to find professional IT companies and ICT clusters that can provide IT products and services. It also seeks to make collaboration between these IT companies and clusters easier.

The aim of the project is to use the eye tracking / mapping techniques to improve the effectiveness of the UKITA website, increase membership recruitment and encourage more collaboration.

A Distinctive Warwick WMG MSc student with analytical mind and good creative problem solving skills is required.

Thursday, 08 October 2009 15:04 Written by Grant Melrose

I am sure its totally coincidental, but E-Commerce Design is trending in Twitter right now.

There are many shopping carts to choose from. But which is the best one for today's e-Commerce requirements?

What are the important features of a shopping cart?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) features?
Attractive templates?
User generated reviews, rating and feedback?
Page load speed?
Ease of use for the buyer?
Ease of use for the shop owner?
Flexibility / extendibility for the developer?
Single product vs product catalogue?

You may wish to look at:

• osCommerce
• Magento
• VirtueMart - shopping cart module for the Joomla Content Management System
• Concrete5 eCommerce module
• PayPal
• CubeCart
• Zen Cart
• PrestaShop

... I'm sure there are many others to choose from.

You may wish to perform live case studies with local Midlands, UK based companies. Or you may wish to design an experiment to demonstrate how each shopping cart performs?

Again, only technical and business minds need apply from the Warwick WMG MSc pool.

Thursday, 08 October 2009 14:45 Written by Grant Melrose

I am back on more familiar ground with this next project.

There are literally hundreds of web content management systems (CMS). But which is the best one? How would a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) or Engineering company choose from the many available?

What are the important features of a CMS? Web 2.0 features - user generated content? Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) features? Attractive templates? Page load speed? Ease of use for the user? Flexibility / extendibility for the developer?

You may wish to look at:

• Wordpress
• Joomla
• Drupal
• Concrete5

... there are many others to choose from.

You may wish to perform live case studies with local Midlands, UK based companies. Or you may wish to design an experiment to demonstrate how each CMS performs?

Looking forward to meeting a Warwick WMG MSc student with a technical and business mind.

Thursday, 08 October 2009 12:38 Written by Grant Melrose

My next research project proposal is to provide a solution to the problem of managing a busy department within Healthcare.

How can materials, Consultants, Doctors, Nurses, skills, equipment and patients be co-ordinated to be all in the right place at the right time?

For example, an ante-natal unit with ultrasound scanning equipment, blood tests, Consultants, Mid-wives, pregnant mothers, fathers to be ... all to be coordinated for 9 months during each pregnancy. Of course, each pregnancy will be at a different stage of development, and each patient may require different treatment depending on their previous history / risk.

What lessons can be learned from manufacturing / Engineering, and be transferred and applied to Healthcare?

This supervisor envisages the development of a web based management user interface and dashboard, using drag and drop features, to visualise and manage the real time logistics and day to day operations (not the surgical procedures!) of the department.

There are many other healthcare departments you could choose from, and each may require a specific dashboard.

This project will require a Warwick WMG MSc Student with an analytical mind and good creative problem solving skills.

Thursday, 08 October 2009 11:18 Written by Grant Melrose

What can be learned about best practice programme and project management from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralymic Games - which are less than 3 years away?

You may wish to look at

• project practice and lessons learned from Sydney, Athens, or Beijing
• project practices prior to The Games
• winning the bid to host The Games
• the planning phase
• the construction phase
• the testing of the venues prior to The Games
• actually hosting The Games
• managing the supply chain to deliver the infrastructure
• how small medium enterprises (SME's) and Engineering companies can engage with The Games
• how SME's / Engineering companies can maximise opportunities from The Games
• managing legacy from The Games
• how the whole process can repeat for the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2016 Games
• how the best practices can be applied to any event / major project

I am looking forward to working with an athletic thinking MSc student from Warwick WMG.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 16:11 Written by Grant Melrose

This research could include a real live case study to launch a new product for a local Small to Medium Enterprise / Engineering company. How can Twitter be used to effectively exploit a market opportunity?

You can expect to take this research in many directions, in breadth and depth, using case study and or experimental methods.

Looking forward to some interesting findings from a Warwick WMG MSc student.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 15:16 Written by Grant Melrose

How can social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn be used to encourage collaborative working, and collaborative project management.

This research could explore a wide range of ideas, for example,

• using Twitter to advertise tenders and business opportunities
• using Twitter to test product ideas and innovations
• using Twitter to call for partners and contributors
  

That's just a few. There are many more that I would be happy to discuss.

Anticipating applications from Warwick WMG MSc students.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 14:16 Written by Grant Melrose

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems are typically associated with managing a sales process. Can CRM systems be successfully applied to managing the operations and logistics for a SME or Engineering / Manufacturing company?

This could involve a case study in a real company, examining supply chain, procurement, job scheduling, time recording, packing, delivery notes, transport, on-site project tracking, invoice and payment, reporting.

The research could also include analysis of specific ERP solutions to achieve the same objectives.

Asking for applications from Warwick WMG MSc students.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 13:48 Written by Grant Melrose

This project addresses the problem facing many small businesses - getting the right software tools to help run the business, with a limited budget. Businesses may need, for example, contact management, CRM, financial accounting software, office tools, a website, a shopping cart, or even a full ERP system.

Small Medium Enterprises (SME's) may have few financial resources when starting a business, and usually do not have enough time to carry out day to day operational activity.

The right software tools can help save time and improve efficiency, however these can be expensive and may need considerable evaluation before making an investment.

But is there a low cost way to get these vital software tools? Can an enterprise acquire this software for free, or at very low cost (legally and ethically, of course), to effectively manage its business?

Can a business sensibly use free Open Source software to help run their operations?

Can they adopt low cost "Software as a Service" (SaaS)?

You may wish to research one or more of these applications, for example:

• customer contact management database
• customer relationship management (CRM)
• e-mail communication
• mass email campaign management
• document management
• spreadsheet
• website creation / content management
• graphics manipulation
• trouble ticket or help desk support
• time-sheet
• time and attendance
• customer billing and invoice management
• financial accounting
• online shopping cart
• online payment
• digital asset management
• resource booking / reservation
• project planning software
• enterprise resource planning (ERP) system
• network security
• inventory management
• online collaboration
  

A great outcome of the project would be to offer a "software for business in a box" package to local SME's / Engineering firms.

Awaiting applications from Warwick WMG students. Combination of technical and business skills required.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 13:33 Written by Grant Melrose

This is a wide reaching project to review and compare search engine marketing. How does Google and Yahoo compare? Which is the most effective? Are there any emerging players / technologies?

At the end of the project you would hope to have a comprehensive guide - of a quality that could be published - "Everything a Small Medium Enterprise / e-Business Entrepreneur needs to know about on-line marketing".

Now awaiting applications from Warwick WMG students with  a technical and business mind.

Tuesday, 06 October 2009 23:00 Written by Grant Melrose

1. Comparison of on-line marketing using Google and Yahoo
2. Is it possible to manage a business / engineering company with free / low cost software?
3. Using Twitter to launch a new product
4. Using Social Networking to encourange & manage collaborative projects
5. Using CRM or ERP software to manage operations and logistics in a SME / Engineering company
6. Best practice for Projects, Supply Chain and Logistics in the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games
7. Web based user interface / dashboard to manage logistics and operational control within Healthcare
8. What is the best Web Content Management System?
9. What is the best Shopping Cart for today's e-Commerce requirements?
10. Improving web-site design using eye tracking / mapping analysis
11. New desktop technology to improve file, document, and Enterprise Content Management productivity
12. Scientific testing of the Isaiah Effect in Internet Marketing

That's a massive 10,800 hours of research !

I am looking forward to learning something, and rewarding my Young Scientists with Good Passes or Distinctions to send them on their way in the world.

Tuesday, 06 October 2009 21:32 Written by Grant Melrose

Its a busy time at the University of Warwick.

While setting up Business2dot0 and Business Tools Limited, I continued to supervise 4 students for their Full Time one year MSc. course at Warwick. They came from as far away as China and Thailand, and I am sure that they are all eagerly awaiting their results from the Exam Board, as they return home.

But, before that, the whole process starts again with the new student intake this week, and we are expecting a record number of admissions for the 2009 - 2010 season.

In the 2008 - 2009 season, my students' research covered:

1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Online Directories to Promote Business for Small Medium Enterprises (SME's)
2. Using Google AdWords to Promote Business for Small to Medium Enterprises
3. Using Open Source Software to manage Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Businesses
4. Email Marketing Tools & Techniques for Small to Medium Enterprises

The results of this research will be summarised here in the near future, so that you may benefit from it.

For the new 2009 - 2010 season, I shall be launching a wide range of research projects, across digital manufacturing, e-Business, Engineering business management, project management, and supply chain & logistics. Each project is a meaty 900 hours of work.