Organizational Studies: Business Research Strategy

First, ask yourself the following questions to define the type of data you are seeking and to suggest appropriate sources.

• Is the information I need...
  • company information?
  • industry or product information?
  • business climate or environment?
  • management theory or practice?

   

• Is the information I need.... specific or is it general?. For example, do you need information about a specific company or product (IBM) or about companies or products in general (all computer companies)?

• Is the information I need ... quantitative or is it narrative?   For example, are you looking for a discussion of industry trends and forecasts (narrative) or for a chart showing sales growth over the past 5 years (quantitative)?

• What timeframe does the information I need include?  Do you need only current information or are historical trends needed?  For example, for an industry trends project, you would probably want historical, current and future information.

Second, develop a research strategy.

Company Information

Industry or Service

Business Climate or Environment

Management Theory or Practice

Third,  check out general reference tools.  The term reference tool generally means a publication providing concise, factual information arranged for quick perusal. Consider checking these sources first when you need background information or context. They will often be the only source you need.

McFarlin Reference Sources

1)  Determine the call number range for your topic and browse the Reference shelves in that area. 

2)  Using a "Keyword" search in the Library Catalog, combine the subject you wish to locate with terms such as "encyclopedia", "manual", "handbook", "directory", etc. For example:

•   marketing directory
•   business encyclopedia
•   advertising handbook

Almanacs and Yearbooks

A collection of facts, statistics, charts, lists, and so on, pulled together to provide a "first place to look". They may be general such as the World Almanac, or subject specific such as the  Almanac of American Politics. They are almost all updated annually. For example:

Statistical Abstract of the United States  Access latest edition

Dictionaries

These provide definitions of terms. Subject dictionaries cover the terminology of specialized fields.  If the publication has lengthy explanations, it will be found under encyclopedias. Typical dictionaries include:

Dictionary of marketing and advertising    McFarlin Electronic Books  

Dictionary of business terms  McFarlin Electronic Books

Directories

A listing of people or organizations giving brief information such as address, telephone number, number of members, and so forth. Included here are membership directories, who's who types of publications, telephone books, and specialized directories by geographic location or line of business. For example:

Million Dollar Directory       McF Ref  HG4057 .A235

Directory of international direct and e-marketing  McFarlin Books HF5415.126 .D57

International directory of company histories  McF Remote Storage  HD2721 .I63

Encyclopedias

These resources provide short or long descriptive articles on general or specialized topics. General encyclopedias offer variety. Subject encyclopedias have a particular focus. For example:

Encyclopedia of Associations  McF Reference AS22 .E5

The International Encyclopedia of Marketing   McFarlin Books  HF5415 .N58513

Handbooks and Manuals

Handbooks, sometimes called manuals, offer quick, factual information.  Most business handbooks focus on specific business activities such as accounting, insurance, or logistics.

A Handbook of management techniques  McFarlin Books HD31 .A72

The Media handbook    McFarlin Books HF5826.5 .K38

Online Sources

McFarlin Library subscribes to a number of online sources that will yield company and industry information, trends, forecasts, and financial reports.