before the final presentation

having fun and relaxing

OH NO!! Hansheng!

just chilling. -grin-

sneak preview of our final presentation

just a teaser for now. Watch out everyone, Crossroads is gonna show you who we are tomorrow, 06/11/2007, during TR2201 class!

Crossroads - Corporate Video

Newsletter 1 (EDM)

Our First Crossroads newsletter

More pictures (3rd Last Meeting)

Some Random Pics...

Launch of Website

Successful launch of our website!
http://crossroads.exofire.net/main/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Members - With Title

Looks darn cool huh!!!

Team Bonding Session 1

Hansheng and Hongwei acting retarded once again.... =X

News Article

Crossroads on THE STRAITS TIME

Sacrifice

Look at the Post Title...

Back to School!

This is not pre-Halloween Party!!!

This is part of our publicity effort!!!

Minutes of Meeting 10 (231007)

the salient points of yesterday's meeting:

1. Remaining 4Ps to be completed by Saturday

2. Resource Book - Hansheng, Ghimhui

3. Lesson Plan - Yock Theng, Amy, Xianwei

4. Financials - CK5. Implementation and Controls - Ivan

6. Brochure and Website - HongweiHongwei, I need to pass u the content for the brochure. I will postit up online please design a brochure for us and upload asap cos wewill need to distrbute it in class soon. Thanks!

7. Next Meeting- Saturday 271007 at 8am.

Minutes of Meeting 9 (161007)

just a recap of what we discussed today:

1. Situation Analysis and Marketing Strategy- please do try to get it completed by next week because we are movingslowly.- marketing strategy is uploaded, Xianwei can take a look and insertyour portion in. Thanks.

2. Marketing Mix- Price: CK please do think through and conceptualize the pricing, anddetail the work if need be- Prducts: Hansheng and Ivan, besides describing each service, shouldbundle up and create recommended bundlings. If possible, we should alsotry ot have some ideas about the financial figures. Will coordinateagain.- Place: Xianwei, likewise also conceptualize and detail work ifnecessary. This portion might not be too long but do think through andtry to cover all angles.- Promotion: Ghim Hui, likewise also conceptualize and detail work ifnecessary. Things we discussed so far is or main attributes beingcustomization/flexibility and complete solution provider. Promotion caninclude: Discounts, freebies, Roadshows/interviews- Internal marketing: Yock Theng and Amy. Likewise, pleaseconceptualize and detail work if need be. Internal marketing is thealignment of all the departments to support and reach objectives. Mightnot be too much since we are a small start-up but worth thinkingthrough also.

Things to take note of for presentation (Feedback)

As what Mr Andrews has told us, the following things are what we haveto take note of in our next presentation.

1) Dramatic opening (note the arrangement of presentation to givethe "punch"
• Introduce the team
• Show the video
• Keep it short and concise
• Numbers are good for a rough number (detailed for final plan)Challenge: how to get through to the schools and get through todecision makers in the school (highlight trainers and experience togive credibility factor)o Don't hesitate to get free trainers (esp from professors in NUS).o Gives credibility, though you do not need to pay them.o Let them know that charging to cover costs, and downplay on moneymaking.o Up the emphasis on providing social benefits.

2) Dramatize the presentationMore photos - session conducting in progress, students, some targetschool's photosLess words. More words would result in people asking more questions.

Minutes of Meeting 7 (250907)

these are the salient points of today's meeting:

A) Curriculum- I will post up the format as a guide- please try to come up with the full lesson plan as soon aspossible since we will have to get cracking on our marketing plan

Idea Presentation Slides- the order is as follows:

1. Video - Hansheng

2. Front page and slide template - Hongwei

3. Need establishment - Yock Theng

4. Mission and Vision - Amy

5. Services - Ivan

6. Survey results - Chee Kiang

7. Uniqueness - Chee Kiang

8. Sustainability - Chee Kiang and Ivan

9. Scaleability - Xianwei

10. SWOT analysis - Ghimhui- everything must be up by Thursday's meeting

B) Brochure- Hongwei will design- Content will be done by Yock Theng(intro), Ivan(services), CheeKiang(pictures), Amy(mission/vision),

C) Career information- Xianwei will segment the industry for our research by tomorrow

D) Survey results- cold calls to schools obtained some results- necessary to present findings in their varied forms- subsequent findings to be given to Chee Kiang

E) Next meeting on Thursday (270907)- please wear black polo t ( t-shirt if dun have) and blue jeans,for group pic- iron out presentation slides and to rehearse presentation- Meeting at 4pm

Minutes of Meeting 6 (180907)

here are some of the salient points of yesterday's meeting:

1. Target market is settled at Express/NA/NT secondary students.

2. Cirriculum:- we will split up into 3 groups for the cirriculum- NA => Amy and Yock Theng- NT => Ivan and Hansheng- Express => Chee Kiang and Xianwei- Can use the uploaded services document as a starting point;services that we can offer are workshops, talks, work shadowing,character profiling, personal grooming, presentation skills,consultation, etc

3. SWOT analysis- allocation to Ghim Hui- need to have good in-depth study of our competitors, both directand indirect since many other enrichment programmes (e.g. Adam Khoo)also compete for the same pool of school funds

4. Need for our services- each group doing the various segments please establish the need forsuch services within your own segment.

5. Career newsletter and Powerpoint slide background- Hongwei please come up with a design template for the above

6. Logo and shirt- logo will be using Hongwei's logo- Xianwei will handle the printing/embossing

7. Meeting 7- on Tuesday 250907 9am- agenda will be to finalise our projected revenue thereforeimperative cold-calls to schools are done before- To iron out on cirriculum in detail- to finalise SWOT analysis- to move on to a sample programme that we can present during IdeaGeneration

Minutes of Meeting 5 (040907)

here are some of the major points we talked about:

1. Logo - There is still a decision to be made between two logodesigns, so everyone please take a look at them and modify whateveryou deem fit before we decide on Sunday which logo to use. You canpost your decision via email.

2. Survey - we will aim to visit 3 to 5 schools next week andinterview PCCG teachers-in-charge and students as well. Emails toschools should be sent out this week. Yock Theng has kindly preparedthe email template already so we can use hers. The team are asfollows:a. Ghimhui / Yock Thengb. Amy / Xianweic. Chee Kiang / Hongweid. Hansheng / IvanCut-off date for all interviews/ surveys is next Wednesday. We needsome buffer time to address any Murphy Law phenomenon. Chee Kiangwill help coordinate and collate survey results.

3. Idea Generation - Because the presentation is only 2 weeks away,we have to focus strongly on preparation for the presentation. Thesegments are:a. Establish need in the market. (Yock Theng)b. Survey results to substantiate need (Chee Kiang)c. Company description, background, management team, mission,vision, etc. (Amy: Is this too much? If it is, can Yock Thenghelp her?)d. Services offered (in detail), revenue lines, projected prices,target market, etc (Ghimhui, Hansheng, Ivan)e. SWOT analysis, Uniqueness, Sustainability, Scalability(Hongwei, Xianwei)f. Q&AWe should aim to prepare our segments in detail, on Powerpointslides, presentation-ready, and upload on yahoogroups by this comingSunday. For lengthy segments, it may be necessary to do in Word sothat the details are not scrimpy. For those segments with multiplemembers, we need to coordinate with each so that there is no overlap.These list is by no means exhaustive so if any of us has a brainwaveabout something, we can always add it in. Some good past projects tolook at are Global Sounds, and Mon Cho Cho.Note: Please upload by Sunday so the rest of the team can lookthrough the entire project. We will synthesize the various segmentson Wednesday.

4. We will aim to prepare posters, brochures and namecards by thepresentation deadline, however alot of these is contingent on howwell out preparation goes for our primary presentation tools. Xianweihas kindly offered to make polo t-shirts once our logo is finalised.We expect the cost to be in the vicinity of 20-odd dollars. Anyonegot objections? Or any other ideas?

5. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday for quick updates, and anymaterial changes necessary. Most of us have agreed that nextWednesday night will be a good night to stay back and synthesize theentire powerpoint presentation, iron out any details, make materialchanges, etc, in preparation for the presentation on the followingTuesday. If there are clashes with schedules for anyone, no problem,please raise it so we can all find a suitable timeslot.

Company introduction/Objectives

Company introduction
Crossroads is an integrated career guidance service provider to secondary schools to supplement existing curriculum in pupil development.
The general purpose of our organization and what we want to accomplish in the larger environment, is embodied in our mission statement, that is to empower youths in searching for purpose and uncover the routes towards making dreams a reality through the provision of career guidance.
Thus what we hope to achieve is encapsulated in our vision, which is to see youths equipped with knowledge to achieve their full potential for their desired careers.

Objectives
To guide the company, detailed supporting objectives and goals were planned. Our primary objective is to build profitable customer relationships by developing a range of career guidance services and letting students access them, through their respective schools. This could be achieved by crafting customized sets of programs to cater to the niche needs of different groups of students of diverse socio-economic background.

However, devising and enlisting such services require immense input and cooperation from schools, in terms of monetary and partnership in scheduling. Hence, this leads to our secondary objective of gaining the school’s support and willingness to pay.
School support could be gained, by convincing them we adequately understand the needs of the teachers, and are able to fulfill them in terms of helping them to chart up relevant career guidance programs. To persuade schools to pay for our service, we must be considerate of the school’s budget and pitch it at an affordable price level. At the same time, we must convince the school that they would indeed be paying for quality programs. Thus a relatively strong branding is crucial in affecting the decisions of the schools. This can be achieved by leaning on the names of pre-existing, well-known brands, as part of our resources and programs.

Minutes of Meeting 4 (010907)

some salient points from yesterday's meeting:

1. Survey: Online survey out for teachers and students; will benecessary for the team to go down to schools to personally interviewPCCG teachers-in-charge. Meet to discuss suitable timeslots.

2. Content focus: No longer to build a database across the spectrum.Will poll students for favoured industry and focus in-depth.

3. Revenue lines: Meet on Tuesday to discuss further on main revenuelines, this is vital for Idea Generation. Also contingent on surveyresults to show what schools are willing to pay

4. Logo: Those who are able to come up with design of logo. Meet onTuesday to discuss and evaluate each design.

5. Next meeting will be on Tuesday 1-2pm since some of us havelessons from 12-1pm. Agenda will be to prepare for Idea Generationpresentation, and sub-tasking of various aspects. To update on surveyand portal progress progress as well as to develop logo/publicityaspect further.

Minutes of Meeting 3 (280807)

Hi guys,here are some of the stuff we discussed today:

1. Market group targeted: Secondary school students primarily,possible to also include JC and tertiary students, foreign students,etc.

2. Do not want to go head to head with Brightsparks, better topresent ourselves as a holistic solution provider.

3. Services to be provided:- teacher resources- career resources and information- hold talks/workshops- online portal- career guidebook- monthly newsletter- consultation (contractual/weekly basis)- miscellaneous services like profiling, job matching, resumewriting, personal grooming, presentation skills, interviewskills,work shadowing etc.

4. Survey of the ground is necessary, for both students and teachers.Chee Kiang will prepare the questions for the rest of the group tovet and compile. Subsequently, dissemination of survey by everyone.Hopefully we will complete survey findings by Tuesday (030907).

5. Subtasking:- Survey: Chee Kiang- Curriculum for Teacher resources/career resources :a) Ivan/Chee Kiang for Engineering,Production, Manufacturing, ITb) Ghim Hui for Businessc) Xianwei, Hansheng, Yock Theng, Amy, Hong Wei for Arts andSocial Sciences.- Hong Wei to set up skeletal structure for online portal- Xianwei will design logo for the group : Crossroads- Hansheng will upload industry categories on the yahoogroups.

6. When searching for career resources, suggest that we can look forseveral aspects:a)Basic description of jobb)Qualities and qualifications required for jobc)Expected salary ranged)Possible career advancement routese)Prominent companies that employ that paricular professionf)For students, to list down possible education route achievingqualifications.g)Possible to expand by having an interview with an appropriateh)Any other pertinent aspects also welcomedprofessional, but this is contingent on our contacts.

7. Next meeting will be on Saturday (010907) 12-1pm. Brief meeting toupdate our findings and any problems faced and to firm up our teamlogo/marketing gimmicks. Please think of slogans, icons, etc to grabattention for the project.

X-Roads

Our initial company name...

Initial Logo

Our Initial Logo (Matching one's to a suitable job)

Minutes of Meeting 2 (210807)

these are the things we talked about in today's meeting:

1. We have decided to scrap the ideas for selling bus tickets and travel kakis.

2. Career Guidance Centre will be our main idea:
- developing students
- provide an informative session
- few competitors
- possible market gap

Implementation:
- personality tests
- industrial talks
- industrial visits
- career counselling
- segment scope of services according to the level of education catered to
- segment JC/Poly routes
- provide mix and mingle sessions for students to interact with professionals

Market Segment:
- Schools. E.g. JCs, poly, secondary schools.
- focus on JCs and secondary schools for now.

Foreseeable problems:
- duplication of role of schools
-accreditation
- is there a market need?
- level of expertise required?

3. Dating Agency will be our back-up idea:
-target working executives
- yearly membership
- online portals; introductory video of themselves, video calls for busy people
- personality match
- speed dating
- weekend dates for two, to Sentosa, zoo, night safari, tickets to be sent to the male
- weekend lunches
- group activites, dancing classes, origami,
- dating counselling, grooming and etiquette courses

Concept: To merge both online and offline activities in a single agency

4. Look into market segment for special needs and old folks as additional back-up plans.

5. Sub-tasking:
a. Email teachers and obtain real-time information on needs and requirements of schools and students
- Yock Theng, Chee Kiang, Hansheng

b. Find out about the required expertise: Company HR for industrial visits, talks, psychological and personality tests, networking and liasing protocols and opportunities.
- Xianwei, Ghim Hui, Hongwei

c. Market Research: Competitors, accreditation, business guidelines, etc.
- Ivan, Amy, Xianwei

Lost Sheep

We were Lost Sheeps... coz we din know what to come out with for our product... and we din know wat the lecturer wants from us!!!

Our first meet...

Kinda interesting how we meet... we are from various faculties and backgrounds... well... 7 of us to form a group... sure interesting!!! haha.. first lesson we have to come out and self-intro ourselves! The more attention seeking one is that "kick-ass" guy!!! LoL* Anyway, we came out with several ideas on the possible career services we can provide. We have expanding shoe factory over at China, because Hans has got the lobang... Ghimz got the buddy touring thingy, bus services for malaysians from NUS... and providing career guidance services.. well, shall brain storm for more and we shall see how it goes then...