Idea generating techniques:

In class we made some physical representations of our idea, Timetraxx. I made a disorganized desk covered in sticky-notes as I felt that such an app could displace the need for note-taking of this type, while others built representations of computers, clocks, and other related ideas. I also started designing a possible logo for the company as we were getting low on time and I wanted to play around with what such a thing would look like. My sketch looked something like this:

(note, this is a bad MS paint rendition, and I am not an artist)

Then we began making an idea generating matrix. Mine is shown below.

	Experience 1	Experience 2
Employer	Dynamic Shift Scheduling  -allow quick changes and  notifications to employees (one-click functionality) -automatically reformat other  shifts based on pre-entered  constraints when one work  schedule changes (Dynamic data-updates)	Allow quick communications -features to allow employers to send  company-wide communications  as well as individual correspondances (TimeTraxx MassMail(tm*)) -Real-time update of schedules and the ability to change schedules at any time (TimeTraxx ScheduleSwap)
Employee	Ease of use -allow the application to run  on many different devices (Android/iOS/Windows versions) -have automatic notifications  for the employee to remind/  update employee (TimeTraxx ReliableReminder) -Simple to use and uncluttered  graphical user interface (TimeTraxx mobile App)	Allow employees to swap schedules -It is relatively common for employees to  take someones shift for them, and this  could be easily reflected in such a program  that would allow the employees to make the  update themselves when allowed (TimeTraxx ScheduleSwap)
Personal user	Reminders -allow user to be reminded of  events that they have entered  into the program (TimeTraxx Notification Assistant)	Everything in one place -Personal users can keep track of their  schedules, due dates, and other important, time-sensitive information on the app (TimeTraxx CentralCommand easily navigable start page)

* not really a trademark.

TimeTraxx MindMap

Creating a mind map made it easy to visualize all of the ways that the ideas our group has come up with can be added onto and changed. The complexity of such a map (which truly only brushes the surface) is astounding considering all of the other possible paths that could have been explored.

Project Title:
Timetraxx

Project Description:

Timetraxx is an online application for use by managers and other event and operational planners to help with the task of managing schedules such as work shifts that would alleviate the daunting task of complex input and dynamic administration.

Project Target:

Managers of large companies with many workers and dynamic shifts

ex.

Fast Food restaurants

Retailers such as Walmart

Movie Theatres

Differentiation:

The online application would allow easy input of scheduling requirements from many terminals and by many individuals, and would allow for real-time notifications of changes to all concerned, as well as the ability to check schedules from many mobile devices. We could differentiate ourselves by not charging a per-employee rate, and having easier-to-use user interfaces. Once a company is in our databases, it should not require much cost to add an employee to the system, and would alleviate the need to have pricing increase with number of employees.

Competition:

ShiftPlanning

MindBodyOnline

ShiftPlanning targets managers of firms with dynamic scheduling, as we would. They make money by charging a rate based on the number of employees that the system is set up to handle, and market themselves as an easy online solution to scheduling.

MindBody is a tailor-made business management and scheduling application which targets similar markets as Timetraxx and ShiftPlanning. They provide four separate packages based on number of employees, and differentiate themselves by the custom-made business managing tools for each subscriber.

GROUP MEMBERS:

Aaron Knutson: aknutson@hawk.iit.edu

Likes computers.

Rytis (Ray) Bizauskas: rbizausk@hawk.iit.edu

Interested in CS, IT, and Business.

Sam (Shane) Pung: spung@hawk.iit.edu

On the IIT baseball team