Touchstone

1
Touchstone

• Measures of Success

2
Introduction

• Why Touchstone?
• Womens Electronic Business Support
• Current measures
• Case for research

3
Research Design/ Methodology

• Literature Review
• Questionnaires -Application form, MoS, Business
  Support, Action Plan
• Business Support
• Data Analysis
• Report

4
Literature Review

• Few done on Measures of success
• Similarity to research in Microbusinesses
• Aspects of lifestyle
• Self fulfilment/ work-life balance/ flexible
  working
• Business support how current measures might be
  affecting

5
Sample Characteristics

• 28 out of 40 applicants
• 25 Sole traders
• Only 7 approached business support agencies
• 8 women had children
• All had computers
• ¾ had websites

6
Findings Business Support

• Family support is more important than support
  from business support agencies
• Look for more personalised support
• Gave up Financial security and Working with
  others
• I feel I have got support more by accident
  than by design. It would be useful to have a
  place to go to, e.g. a website which would give
  info on all available support and support
  agencies.
•  
• business support is useful for women. It needs
  to be flexible and given to ALL business not just
  those who make great projectsnew businesses need
  financial support during the early stages

7
Finding Success Measures

• Jobs created was least important measure of
  success

8
Success Measures
New skills and contacts with people scored high
with all respondents.
9
In their own words

• To have enough income to be able to pay off bills
  (business and private) and to attend courses by
  not having to work forty-plus hours.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Successful cash flow/marketing plan, focused
  business aims, constant flow of commissions,
  established and trusted brand.
  
  
  
  
• Being satisfied with the number and quality of
  clients /work standards, easily being able to
  afford to pay for everything that supports me in
  my work/life and balance. Being able to
  contribute to helping people look after
  themselves.
  
• Provides a good work/life balance and is
  fulfilling and profitable.
  
  
  
  
  
• Earning good money for delivering first class
  training.
  
  
  
  
  
• Earning a reasonable amount of money, while at
  the same time taking care of myself and my family
  and having a sense of personal achievement. Up to
  now my business has not been very profitable and
  now I want to take steps to ensure I earn a
  reasonable amount.
  

10
Indications of Success

• Self fulfilment and Personal Satisfaction
• Balance between family and work
• Profit

11
Conclusions and future work

• Indications of Measures of Success are
  significant
• Need to be tested on different groups of women
  business owners
• Working to see if those indications are
  motivators too.