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Student in need of freelancers/SME's for his thesis research on online collaboration

by thomastaal
3 replies
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Hi to all members of Warrior Forum!

Let me introduce myself, I am Thomas, a Dutch bachelor student at the Hague University of Applied Sciences. I am currently doing research on freelancers and SME's for my bachelor thesis, focusing on the way they collaborate online, what service(s) they use and why. I also try to find out whether they are currently satisfied with their chosen set of software service(s) and if not, what they would like to see added. I figured I should try a forum which is filled with my target group.

In case anyone would like to help me fill in my questionnaire, here is the link:
https://qtrial2015az1.az1.qualtrics....vE2mcrcPH81voN

It doesn't even take 5 minutes to fill it in and only contains 14 questions. Even 1 member of an SME or 1 freelancer filling in my questionnaire would already be of great help. I do not ask for any names so everything is anonymous as well as confidential as information is only presented to two lecturers at the Hague University of Applied Sciences.

Thanks so much for your time, especially if you are willing to help me by filling in my questionnaire (as long as you are a freelancer or work at/own an SME at any part of the world)!

Thomas Taal
Student at the Hague University of Applied Sciences



If this is the wrong part of the forum or simply not appreciated then I am sorry for my post.
  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    Sounds like a great topic for a thesis.

    I could not get past the first page of your questionnaire because I am not a freelancer. I have hired a lot of freelancers over the years.

    You might get a lot of data by mining the profiles and reviews for freelancers on sites such as odesk, elance, and freelance. Some profiles are very detailed explaining their method of communication, how often they will communicate, if they are willing to sign non-disclosures, and many other things.

    Side note: What does SME stand for? I have seen it used for "subject-matter expert" and also "small and medium enterprises."
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  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    You are actually doing a thesis on people that provide a service for money? Sorry, but I do not believe it. I think you are doing market research for a new business of your own.

    al
    Signature

    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

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  • Profile picture of the author thomastaal
    @Janice Sperry
    Thanks for the advice. Also excuse me if it was too confusing, but the questionnaire/my research not just aimed at freelancers. A respondent could be anyone from a freelancer, self-employed without personnel (Dutch term: "zzp'er") and micro, small and medium enterprises. The definition of SME's is as follows (in Dutch we use the term "MKB"):
    - Company Category: Micro = <10 employees with <€2 million turnover or <€2 million balance sheet total
    - Company Category: Small = <50 employees with <€10 million turnover or <€10 million balance sheet total
    - Company Category: Medium = <250 employees, <€50 million turnover or <€43 million balance sheet total
    "Note: The size‐class definition adopted throughout the report is based on the definitions used in the Structural Business
    Statistics (SBS) database maintained by Eurostat. It relates to the number of persons employed."

    Source: Annual report on European SMEs 2013-2014

    I do believe the United States uses slightly different terms, but in case your business falls under any of these categories then you could fill it in if you want to.

    @agmccall
    Thanks for considering anyway. I do not have a business of my own, but I understand that you can possibly think this. I guess it is all about the "goodwill factor" if this is the right translation, I suppose it is easier to show people in person, but that way I miss out on respondents out of the area I study in.
    I could give my LinkedIn although I have not used it that much yet: https://nl.linkedin.com/pub/thomas-taal/a3/6/487

    Should you want to fill it in anyway then thanks a lot.
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