Select an industry that interests your entire group. Scan through the appropriate Industry Survey via IBISWorld, Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage, or Mergent Online to find major players, trends and issues facing the industry. If the industry is facing a problem, the company probably is too. Check out the library's Industry Guides to get some ideas. DO NOT SELECT THE BANKING, FINANCIAL SERVICES OR INSURANCE INDUSTRIES.
STEP TWO:
Check Capital IQ or Mergent Online to ensure that a 10K as well as at least TWO years of historical financials exist for your chosen company.
STEP THREE:
Check ProQuest and Factiva for articles concerning the strategic issues your company of choice may be facing.
Check your company's 10K via Mergent Online or Capital IQ. Use the Ctrl+F function and the word stem "suppl", "industr", "customer", etc. to find instances of discussion about competition.
Check your company's 10K via Mergent Online or Capital IQ. Use the Ctrl+F function and the word stem "compet" to find instances of discussion about competition.
Find lists of competitors, their ranking and market share. Try these sources: Dun's Million Dollar Database: Advanced search by industry key word or NAICS code. LexisNexis Academic: Business search for Company profile; look for list of competitors.
Begin by looking at 10K reports and Annual Reports via Mergent Online or Capital IQ. Be aware that anything the company publishes about themselves will have a positive spin on it.
Look at 10K reports and Annual Reports via Mergent Online or Capital IQ. Be aware that anything the company publishes about themselves will have a positive spin on it.
Use Socrates to monitor company involvement with "hot" issues from the enviroment to gambling.
Use Capital IQ to identify the operations strategy. Begin by looking at 10K reports and Annual Reports and review the company strategy and any comments on operations. Be aware that the operations strategy will probably not be clearly identified; however, it will be implied by the company reports as well as outside articles on the company.
Use Capital IQ to understand the supply chain. Consider the customer, supplier and strategic Alliance links to understand who is involved in the supply and what their roles are. You will also find valuable information in the 10K.
Check out the manufacturing process:
How Products Are Made http://manufacturing.stanford.edu/ Handbook of manufacturing processes: how products, components and materials are made TS183 .B73 (On Reserve at the Library: ask for it at Information Desk 1.)
READ articles in ProQuest and Ebscohost. Consider some of the following keywords: supply chain, operations, product development or innovation, quality, information systems (ERP, etc.). Remember that the best search words will depend upon your individual company.
