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BUS 101: Rostollan

Specialty Databases

Remember! Access to Library databases from off-campus locations requires that you use login using your WWCC credentials.   If you are not able to access databases please contact us as library@wwcc.edu.

WWCC Library Databases for Business 101
***Are the databases focused on for this class.


General Business Databases


Specialized Business Databases


Business Articles, Company Information and Business News

Business Source Complete (EBSCO)  – an essential research database for peer-reviewed, full-text business journals.***

Mergent Intellect - an incredibly powerful database for companies, industry research, and more.***

NexisUni - an excellent resource for company information and business news.


Industry Research

IBISWorld – provides thoroughly researched, accurate, current business information, and expert analysis regarding market conditions, forecasts, supply chain, and competitor activity in the industry***  


Small Business Reference Center is a great starting point on different business types and business related issues that impact the small business owner or entrepreneur! 

Small Business Reference Center (EBSCO) – offers exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to address many small business topics and includes business videos, a help and advice section and details on how to create business plans.***


Marketing Research

 

ABI Inform (Proquest) - This database includes in-depth coverage of companies, products, executives, trends and other topics. 

Academic OneFile - Marketing (Gale) - This topic page within Academic OneFile focuses on marketing but covers multiple topics across Business.


EDGAR

EDGAR - The EDGAR database is provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and provides free public access to corporate information, allowing you to research a public company’s financial information and operations by reviewing the filings the company makes with the SEC.  You can also research information provided by mutual funds (including money market funds), exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and variable annuities.

 

 

Your IBIS Assignment

The 3 big questions:

 

What?- What is your product or service going to offer?

So What?/Why do we care?--What Problem is this going to solve and/or Why does someone need this or Why would they want this?

How?-How are you going to make it happen?

Advanced Industry Research-Porter's 5 Forces

Industry Research Using Porter’s 5 Forces

Identify industry name and/or NAICS code.

Activity #1: Competition in the Industry

Discussion:

What information would you gather to learn more about your company’s competitors?

Example: List of competitors, competitors’ financials, market share, product differences, brand identity, industry growth, etc.

Recommended Research Approach:

  • .
  • Use Business Premier and/or ABI/INFORM Collection to locate company profiles (includes information on competitors).
  • Use IBISWorld to learn about competition concentration.

Activity #2: Threat of New Entry

Discussion:

What threats do new companies face in entering your industry?

Example: Economies of scale, strong brand identities, high switching costs, capital requirements, government policy, etc.

Recommended Research Approach:

  • Use Business Insights: Global to locate industry essays and market share reports.
  • Use IBISWorld to locate the barriers to entry and operating conditions.

Activity #3: Threat of Substitutes

Discussion:

What product or service may substitute your company’s current product or service?

Example: Uber as substitute to traditional taxi services

Recommended Research Approach:

  • Form key words to search news articles and trade publications (Business Source Complete and/or ABI/INFORM Collection)

Activity #4: Power of Suppliers

Discussion:

How do you determine the power of a supplier?

Example: Supplier concentration, lack of supplier competition, switching costs, uniqueness of process and/or material, etc.

Recommended Research Approach:

  • Use the company’s (public) investor relations page to identify its suppliers.
  • Use IBISWorld to identify the industry supply chain.

Activity #5: Power of Buyers

Discussion:

How do you determine the power of the buyers?

Example: Buyer concentration, buyer switching costs, brand loyalty, availability of substitutes, etc.

Recommended Research Approach:

  • Form key words to search news articles and trade publications (Business Source Premier and/or ABI/INFORM Collection)

Industry Research-Porter 5 Force's Worksheet