Using Google

Using Google is not against the rules of research.  However, remember:

1. If Google is all you use, you have no competitive advantage because everyone has access to Google.
2. Use Google Scholar from the library’s home page to be connected to articles you may find to which the library has access. 
3. Use Advanced Search features in Google or Google Scholar
1. Put phrases in quotes (“Michael Porter” or “technology commercialization”);
   
2. Limit results by date range, domain (.edu or .gov, for example), or file type (.pdf or .ppt for conference papers or presentations, for example);
   
3. Combine these for best results.
4. Try additional search engines for different results: http://search.yahoo.com or a metasearch engine like http://www.clusty.com/, which queries multiple search engines.
5. For your assignments, search for an industry association for your industry, then search the association site for research in a section that might be titled something like Publications, Research, or Resources.
   

code: North American Industry Classification System used “to provide comparability in statistics about business activity across North America.”

• Enter a company name; when you find the company, this database will tell you the NAICS code for the company

• Click on the NAICS code to see any industry profiles this database may have for the NAICS code of your company
  

Industry Profiles

Government Web Sites

US Census Bureau 2007 Economic Census  
US Census Bureau – Current Industrial Reports          

Databases

Business & Company Resource Center – On Industry Search, search by classification code
Business Source Complete – select Industry Profiles in right-hand menu
IBISWorld – over 700 industries, including statistics, analysis and forecasts
NetAdvantage – Contains the S&P Industry Surveys in electronic format; historical files available
Plunkett Research Online – Select industry reports

Industry Associations

Databases

Associations Unlimited - Online access to Encyclopedia of Associations & Directory of Non-Profit Organizations
ABI Inform Trade & Industry - Indexes articles from more than 750 industry-focused journals and newsletters
Business & Company Resource Center - Find a company profile and click on the Associations menu tab

Industry Ratio Analysis

Print Resources / WCL Reference Center

Financial Studies of the Small Business                                              
HD2346.U5 F55
IRS Corporate Financial Ratios                                                          
HG4050 .I77
RMA Annual Statement Studies                                                          
HF5681.B2 R61
Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios                                
HF5681.R25 I525
Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios             
HF5681.R25 T68
S & P Analysts’ Handbook                                                    
HG4519 .S772 2007

Company Information

Databases

Business Source Complete - Select Company Profiles in right-hand column
Hoover’s Premium - Company, industry and market information on the world's top enterprises including historical financials, competitor lists and earnings comparisons and industry overviews.
Investext - Full text of investment analyst reports, ranging from brief financial snapshots and morning meeting notes to lengthy, extensive analyses, covering thousands of companies and over 50 industries. A good info source for strengths & weaknesses of companies, and industry trends.
Mergent Horizon - Comprehensive financial data on all US public companies. Key features of this database allow for analysis based on industry classification, products, services and competitors and suppliers. Enhanced detail is available for the Healthcare, Technology, Media and Finance industries.
Mergent Online - Current and historical financial data, links to extensive lists of SEC filings, and several years of annual reports for over 10,000 U.S. companies, and 17,000 non-U.S. companies. Special strengths of this database include its detailed company histories, discussions of debt and equity structure and hard to find annual reports for international companies
Thomson One Banker - Quick and easy access to stock price quotes, earnings estimates, financial fundamentals, market moving news, M&A transaction data, corporate filings, ownership profiles and research.

General Business & Economic Trends

Public Web Sites

Databases

LexisNexis Academic - Full-text articles and summaries for comprehensive news, business, and legal information provided by 5,718+ sources.  Updated daily.
ABI Inform Global - Articles and abstracts dealing with public and private companies, industry research, marketing and advertising, finance and human resources.
ABI Inform Dateline - A unique resource focusing on hard-to-find local and regional business news coverage of large corporations, privately held companies, local start-ups, executive profiles, marketing, finance, and industry news. Provides access to business information not typically found in national news.