An increased popularity in the learning of foreign languages has led to a rise in
demand for language exchanges1. However, students learning foreign languages in
their home countries often lack sufficient after-class opportunities to practice their
newly acquired skills with native speakers. Language schools offer practice
opportunities, but these are often limited, leaving students to seek out language
exchange partners on their own, or do without the additional practice.
Related to this situation and to this body of work are modern advancements in
information technology (IT). Advancements in IT have made the exchange of
information across networked platforms affordable and readily accessible to many.
People use computers, mobile phones, personal communication devices and newer
technologies like Skype phones and instant messenger programs to share data and
voice almost anytime and anywhere. These developments, together with the needs
foreign language students have for greater chances to practice, create opportunities for
firms with the right assets and competencies to serve and prosper.
The following business plan explores elements of a concept firm designed to fill
unmet needs of language learners. Called NetSpeak!, the firm would leverage the
power of IT to create systems that would enable people to practice newly acquired
language skills with native speakers located in other parts the world via personal
digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers, telephones and networked
infrastructure. Thus, NetSpeak!’s principal business activity would be that of making
1 A language exchange is an informal meeting between people (usually two) of different tongues for the
purpose of taking turns practicing and coaching language skill development.
network-based language exchanges a viable alternative to face-to-face language
exchanges.
To estimate market attractiveness for such a venture, this body of work first describes
elements of the firm and its business strategies, and then presents analyses of
customers, markets, competition, as well as the overall general environment that such
a firm would compete in. It was found that in a new market—one defined by the
unique attributes of network-based language exchange services—where barriers to
entry/exit are low, relatively low startup capitalization would lead to a large number
of rival participants rendering an unattractive market. However, it was also found that
for a first-mover, one that could successfully establish significant barriers to entry, the
market attractiveness would be high.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:CHENGCHI/G0092933029 |
| Creators | De Coux Ⅲ John Alex |
| Publisher | 國立政治大學 |
| Source Sets | National Chengchi University Libraries |
| Language | 英文 |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Rights | Copyright © nccu library on behalf of the copyright holders |
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