BUS 453: Business Policy & Ethics

1. Use Business Insights Global and search for your company.
2. Read the Company Histories Section.
3. Read the Industry Overview for the “primary Industry” listed on the company page (far right)
4. Use the share feature to copy a link to the company page and for the citation URL

BIG Citation Example:

Gale Cengage Learning. (n.d.). Microsoft Corporation (68489) [Company profile]. Business Insights: Global. Retrieved November 1, 2020, from https://bi-gale-com.cuw.ezproxy.switchinc.org/global/company/68489?u=switch_cu#

1. Open Business: Insights Global (BIG). From the top menu click Companies, and then choose SWOT reports. Search for the company name.
2. Search for the Company in Business: Insights Global (BIG)
3. Visit the company website, linked under the company name in (BIG).
   • Find the company vision, mission, and core values by searching the company website for “investor relations” or “investors”. The page for investors usually has this information.
4. Explore the market, industry, and financial information provided in the company profiles and article links inside Business: Insights Global and Mergent Intellect to learn about the company.
5. Search for articles in ProQuest Business Databases and Business Source Ultimate on “value chain”, “competitive advantage”, “core competencies”, “bench marking” on your company (or industry for smaller/newer companies).

Start looking at your company’s industry and competitors.

1. Click on the “primary industry” link on the company’s profile in Business Insights Global. This will open the industry profile. Note the 6 digit NAICS code. You will need this later.
2. Read the industry overview. This will give you a nice summary as well as industry leaders.
3. Open Mergent Intellect and click on First Research under the search box on the homepage. Enter an email address. Search by your NAICS code. First Research provides an in-depth look at the industry environment and drivers.
4. Open Mergent Intellect again and find your company profile. Under the Company Details tab, find the competitors list.

Citation Format for First Research:

Dun & Bradstreet. (2020, Nov 7). Computer Software [Industry profile].

Look more closely at company financials.

1. Find your company’s profile in Business: Insights Global (BIG). Under Company Information,
   • Click on Investment Reports. Read the reports from Thomson Reuters.
   • Click on Financials. Review the Income, Balance Sheet, and cash flow. Use the options to compare your company to competitors.

• Review Products & Services and Sales & Marketing to see new areas of diversification. Filter publication date to the last year.

2. Find your company’s profile in Mergent Intellect. Under Company Details, view the Annual Report. This will provide a summary of risks, operations, and possibly a letter to stakeholders.