Marketing/Focus group SOP



Introduction

My name is Nelson and I've decided to create this SOP (Strategical Operational Procedures) about Focus Groups in order to provide background information for some operations that will arise in the scope of Fedora SWOT Analysis, where some strategical points need to be based on Qualitative Research.

Focus Groups provide a cheap and efficient way of performing market research for many ends. I believe that considering the very own nature of the Fedora Project and all the community around it, this method might help providing some information that is relevant for some projects at least in the scope of Fedora Marketing and Fedora Ambassadors, though virtually any Team or Individual contributing for the Fedora Project can use it for many ends, the ultimate handicap of this, is actually YOUR IMAGINATION!.

The present document pretends to approach Focus Groups as a cheap and efficient way of providing interesting Market Research. There are many ways of running focus groups, I've taken the liberty of choosing one of the most popular approaches for the creation of this SOP.

In the future, if anyone pretends to use this procedures on FAD's, FUDCon's or any other event, or even in cross-projects and if you require help with this, please don't hesitate in subscribing the Marketing Mailing List and ask for help regarding this procedures, or eventually contacting me (though I would prefer to ask on the mailing list because your doubts might be other people's doubts, don't be shy!).

Focus Groups

A Focus Group is one possible way of doing Qualitative Research by gathering a number of people from your targeted audience and collect information in an interactive way amongst the participants. This method is widely used due to the importance of the feedback obtained and it's cheap costs. Participants are free to discuss amongst themselves, with or without interaction of the moderator.

In many ways this technique can be used by the Fedora Project to collect information regarding several aspects of the community, project or even about Fedora Linux. From my understanding this method should become popular at least amongst:

• Fedora Ambassadors
• Fedora Marketing

The main goal of promoting such technique on Fedora Project is to provide a method that can help the Fedora Project fulfilling the gaps in terms of Qualitative Research; by doing such, we can help the Fedora Project in taking a more objective approach on strategical decisions that need to be taken, or even at evaluating the success of campaigns, projects or ventures amongst our community. I see special relevance for such technique specially to perform the following:

• User perception about Fedora Project;
• User perception about Fedora Linux;
• Strength's, Weaknesses recognized by the Fedora Community;
• Helping creating more solid strategical planning within the Fedora Project;
• Provide more qualitative research to the Fedora Project;
• Any other you might remember, as nothing is set on stone! YOUR IMAGINATION defines the boundaries of usage.

This technique can be used at least on the following situations:

• During Linux Install Parties where Fedora is represented;
• During FADs (Fedora Activity Days);
• During FUDCon Events;
• During any other types of events.

From my scope, though everyone can conduct such research, I believe that due to the close relation of the Fedora Ambassadors and Fedora Marketing, and considering their field operations, this are the two groups with better operational deployment conditions to perform this research.

Related Information: Focus Groups

• Qualitative Research - Wikipedia
• Focus Groups - Wikipedia