If you’re an entrepreneur, you need to create a tool that will help you reach your goals in the long run.
What does an entrepreneur do? Well, they manage the organization. In management science, an organization is a group of people who use tools and technology to get the job done. Entrepreneurs create organizations to help them fulfill their mission and reach their goals.
Basics of creating an organization - mission, vision, company strategy
Mission and Vision in Management
The value of a mission is unique and invaluable, and it should be tailored to fit the context in which an organization operates. Based on the mission, a strategy is developed to outline the long-term goals of the organization.
The company’s vision is essentially a glimpse into the company’s future, what the company should stand for, and how it should operate. The vision should be inspiring and future-oriented. Creating this company image influences both the emotions and motivation of employees, helping them understand the direction their activities should take and the kind of organization they are part of.
A strategy is a series of steps taken to achieve the desired goals as defined in the mission and vision of the company. A well-prepared strategy should be both constant and dynamic, as it’s an ongoing process that adapts to the changing environment. The strategy must be firmly grounded in the company’s vision and purpose to guide decision-making in changing conditions.
Organization
An organization is a part of reality that has its internal structure. It’s made up of different parts that follow certain rules that define how they interact with each other. The organization has a kind of internal consistency, meaning the relationships between the members or parts of the organization are stronger than the relationships between them and the environment or other parts of the organization.
The internal components of the organization all contribute to the overall success of the organization in different ways. The organization helps the parts and members of the organization by making them safe, popular, and financially successful.
Organization as an open system
Organizations are open systems that interact with the environment on a regular basis. The purpose of an organization is to stay alive and maintain a balance between “inputs” and “outputs”, i.e., the organization transmits more to the environment than it receives from it. This relationship is known as an equivalence relationship.
Organizational theory distinguishes between two main schools of thought: a systemic theory and a functional theory. [3]
Organization as a system approach
Basically, everything that comes into the organization (like materials, materials, money, and tech) comes from the environment.
Then, when it’s processed with the resources from the environment, it’s turned into something that meets people’s needs. Finally, it’s delivered to the world.
Organization as a functional approach
The functional approach conceptualizes an organization from a functional perspective, in which it is viewed as a tool to meet the needs of its customers, a social group that operates by established rules and principles, and a cooperative group that works together to accomplish a particular objective.
The core of the organization is an understanding of the principles, regulations, mission, and objectives, as well as the development of synergies, compatibility, and support for the actions of others.
Fundamentals of organization management
Organizations are systems because they are composed of a system of rules and regulations, known as formalization.
Formalization is a written set of rules and regulations that govern all aspects of an organization’s operations, such as the statutes that regulate corporate governance, accountability, insurance, and remuneration. Formalization helps to standardize the processes and behavior of its members.
Organizational power is the foundation for formalization, as it requires participants to adhere to internal regulations either by agreement or by coercion. Formalization gives an organization the characteristics of a machine; it operates in a consistent, ordered, and repeatable way.
The role of the World Wide Web
The potential for individual companies to utilize the Internet has been linked to a range of positive outcomes, including the elimination of the need for direct communication with the seller/service provider. This is because the Internet provides a free, rapid, and efficient flow of information, which often eliminates the need for direct contact.
Additionally, the majority of the transaction data may be stored in bits, with information stored not only in verbal communications, but also in images, charts, and audio-visual messages. Lastly, the physical distance between sellers and buyers does not have a significant impact on transactions.
Past, current and future of the Web system busines in Poland
Source:
Nycz, M., Pólkowski, Z. (2014). The methodology of implementing the ERP system in a municipal enterprise, Varna
Nycz M., Pólkowski, Z. (2014). The modern ICT solutions in the fully integrated hybrid information system in the Municipal Services Enterprise. Varna
What is Web 1.0?
Until recently, the Internet was called “Web 1.0” because it didn’t have any user control over what was happening on it or what was being published. To make things even more complicated, there were all sorts of IT solutions that were used to create websites. At the start, it was all about HTML, which limited what web developers could do, so all websites had to be based on a one-size-fits-all system. But as time went on, this system started to slow down what was already really fast at the start, since having your own business card was only something you could do if you had the right technical skills.
What is Web 2.0?
With the advent of Web 2.0, it has become easier than ever to build your own web pages (known as “internet blogs”).
With ready-to-use technical solutions, such as popular WordPress scripts, anyone can create their own website.
You don’t need to have a lot of technical knowledge to run your own site.
You can also use websites that offer solutions that are already built into the web, like blogger.com and blog.pl [10].
Main features of Web 2.0 portals
Web 2.0 portals offer a range of benefits, including:
Network Effect: The ability to grow by attracting more users, creating a network effect that enhances the platform’s value.
User Acquisition: The capability to acquire new users and expand the user base.
Long Tail: The opportunity to provide a wide variety of information or products, catering to niche interests and markets.
User-Generated Content: The potential to generate value through high-quality content contributed by users.
Integration: The ability to integrate with other websites and services, enhancing functionality and user experience.
Personalization: The creation of customized websites or applications based on a user’s preferences and past online behavior.
User-Friendly Tools: Providing accessible and pre-made tools and technology for developing applications or websites, including blogging platforms.
The most popular Web 2.0 sevices of the web
YouTube: The world’s leading website for viewing, uploading, and sharing videos. It caters to both amateurs and professionals, making it an ideal platform for showcasing talents and products.
Wikipedia: A widely-used online encyclopedia that allows users to edit and contribute to its content, fostering collaborative knowledge sharing.
Twitter: A microblogging and communication platform that enables users to exchange comments and ideas swiftly. It delivers concise messages directly to users’ mobile devices, promoting rapid interaction.
Pinterest: A steadily growing social network focused on curating visual content. Users can “pin” and organize photos and videos on virtual cork boards, creating personalized collections.
Instagram: Another popular social network gaining traction, particularly for mobile users. It allows users to capture and share photos and short videos, fostering visual storytelling.
The most popular Web 2.0 sevices on the web
WordPress: More than just a blogging tool, it serves as a Content Management System (CMS) for website creation. It offers numerous features, plugins, and extensions, making it increasingly popular due to its user-friendly setup and configuration.
IMDB: The largest online movie database globally, providing information about movies, TV shows, and the individuals involved in their creation. Users can edit pages, contribute information, rate movies, and write reviews.
Tumblr: A microblogging platform that enables users to create posts, incorporate images, videos, and audio files into their content.
Facebook: Arguably the most famous social network, where users can follow others, share status updates, comments, and photos.
Flickr: A platform for photo sharing and viewing videos, along with the ability to engage through comments. It also serves as a valuable resource for photography, with a vast collection of works available under Creative Commons licenses.
WordPress
WordPress is widely known as a popular blogging platform, but its versatility extends beyond that. It’s increasingly utilized as a Content Management System (CMS) to craft basic pages, corporate websites, or even entire web ecosystems.
Its primary strength lies in its user-friendliness and ease of use. Even newcomers to the internet can quickly grasp its functionality. WordPress is a speedy, uncomplicated, and cost-free IT solution, with its engine collaboratively developed by a global community of volunteers.
Furthermore, a multitude of freelance developers, freelancers, and web developers continuously create new WordPress templates and plugins. With over 100 million users worldwide, WordPress has become the preferred choice for individuals and businesses looking to establish their online presence. [14]
Company migration towards Web 2.0
A company that is moving to the web 2.0 era will need to answer the following questions and solutions:
-How to address the safety issue of the company’s operation by offering social services solutions?
Information noise is a major issue in the social media (blogosphere) where anyone can post and comment.
-How can the company manage the decentralization of its resources, which gives the company less control over the website’s content and the message it conveys to the client?
-The lack of control over the site’s content, in combination with the negative will of the (external) users of the portal, can pose a threat to a company’s image.
Internet domain
A domain is an essential component of an Internet identity. A domain is an element of a web address that directs Internet users to the desired page. Domains are usually associated with private names of companies or products and, more simply, they can be divided into:
national : .pl, .de, .fr, co.uk.
functional : .com.pl, .info.pl, .net.pl, .edu.pl
regional : .waw.pl, krakow.pl, .bydgoszcz.pl
global : .com, .net, .org
In a more detailed division, we can also distinguish macroregion domains such as, for example, .asia or .eu, domains for mobile devices, such as .mobi, .tel [16]
.info (information) – domain for informational pages
.mobi (mobile) – domain of sites designed for mobile phones. [17]
Functional internet domains
In Poland, functional domains are the Polish equivalent of the ones launched at the start of the DNS. Back in the 80s, when it came to setting up Internet addresses, people used to make sure they had the right endings for websites with certain topics.
For example, you could have a.COM for a commercial website, a.EDU for education, a.ORG for a non-profit, etc. Functional domains became really popular in Poland in the 90s.
Basically, if a website had a specific topic, it had to have a suitable domain. For example, Polsat TV had a.com address that had been around since 1997. It was free for two years until someone else registered it for them. It wasn’t until 2008 that Polsat bought the domain.
Why choose functional internet domains
– The functional domain that is still used as originally intended is .ORG.PL.
– Many NGOs have addresses in this domain, as do most large political parties.
– Today, the importance of functional domains in Poland has decreased in favor of the .PL domain, which has become a universal extension.
– .COM domains reign supreme in the West.
The availability of free names is much greater than in the case of the .PL domain. [19]
How and where to register a functional domain
Each.pl domain has its own associated price list, with some costing a few zlotys and others costing several thousand zlotys per year.
The. pl domains are managed by a single authority in Poland, namely the scientific and academic computer network NASK, which has a website dedicated to the.pl domain. This website offers a range of domains, from national (.pl) to functional (.com.pl) to regional (.waw.pl). Several years ago, individuals were able to register domains directly at NASK, however, in order to provide direct customer service, NASK launched a partnership program, which external companies gradually joined. Eventually, NASK ceased providing direct service, and domains can now only be registered or renewed at partners. All.pl domains registration companies act as intermediaries between domain users and NASK, and the list of partners is available at: [20].
How to choose an internet domain
Choosing the right domain can have a huge impact on the success of your business.
Why choose a domain?
An internet domain is often the first point of contact for a potential customer.
For instance, if you own a company that sells bicycle equipment and your domain name is Rower.pl, you’re likely one of the early adopters in the market.You’ll be seen as a knowledgeable and experienced business owner.
If your domain is Rowery.biz, you’ll be perceived as a brand newbie in the industry.
The reason for this is that Rowery.biz is one of the better domain addresses available at the time your business started.
Should the domain be associated with the industry?
When it comes to choosing a domain name for your online presence, many entrepreneurs wonder if they should invest in a generic domain. A generic domain is a domain name that uses common words or phrases to describe a category of goods, services, events and more.
There are several benefits to choosing a generic domain:
Clarity of expectations: When a customer sees a generic domain name, they have an idea what to expect on your website. This clarity of expectations can increase user engagement and trust on your website.
Keyword relevance: When choosing a generic domain, you need to pick keywords that accurately describe your business. Working with colleagues can help you come up with ideas.
Good website ranking: A generic domain name can have a positive impact on your website’s ranking in search engines.
Direct traffic: A lot of website visits come from users typing a name that describes your product or service into the address bar directly.
Brand alignment: You can choose a domain that matches your company’s name, but it may take some extra effort and resources to build your brand.
Simplicity is the key to success
Typically, you can use more than 60 characters in your domain name, but that shouldn’t be a big deal for you. A short domain name guarantees more visibility on the internet. You don’t have to use a 2-letter domain name (although that’s what gets you the most money on domain exchanges) but a 1-2 simple words or proper name will do the trick.
Don’t forget that the longer your domain name is, the greater the chance that when you read it out loud, it’ll sound different than what you expected.
In the history of domains, we’ve seen cases where domains with 2-3 word domains related to a company’s industry were registered. At first, everything seemed fine. But after a while, the domain owners realized something was amiss.
That’s why you need to consider the difference between writing and wording before choosing a domain.
When selecting a domain name, it is important to ensure that the domain will be easily remembered by the internet user. This is achieved by keeping the name as simple as possible, consisting of a minimum of words, and avoiding inflected or pluralized names. Additionally, it is essential to minimize the risk of error when entering the domain in the address bar. While acknowledging the complexity of the language, the rule of thumb for domains is simple: the simpler the domain, the quicker the user will find it. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using abbreviations, such as dashes, as when recalling a word, the user’s primary focus is on its meaning, rather than whether the name contains any “additives”.
Diacritic marks
After some time, you can register domains with letters typical for a given language. However, take into account that if you register the hoteldlapsów.pl domain, some browsers may have problems translating the address.
The problem may also arise when you want to provide your address to a person who does not speak Polish. It will probably have difficulty typing the name correctly. [25]
Which domain to choose
Make your domain name stand out. It’s not just about the risk of registering a domain name that’s so generic that some traffic will end up on random pages with very similar addresses. The legal side of things should also be taken into consideration.
A lot of companies register certain terms and phrases as trade marks. So, before you buy a domain, make sure that your domain name doesn’t contain a registered trademark owned by another company. This doesn’t happen very often, but it’s important to avoid it – otherwise, it can cost you a lot of money.
Domain longevity
Don’t forget that domains are like shopping centers in a big city. The better the location, the more visible you’ll be and the more customers you’ll attract. Treat a good domain, even if it’s expensive, as an investment into your brand and as one of the most reliable parts of your business. Trends will come and go, your company will change, and a well-chosen domain will stay the same and will never change in price.
Having a well-known domain name means you’ll always benefit from it. So, which domain should you choose? Short, catchy, easy to remember, easy to write, and easy to connect with people.