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Library Resources: Research Guides

University Libraries logoRefer to the following guide to assist in your industry research.

Quick Research
  1. Visit the OSU Libraries site
  2. Search the catalog
  3. Click on Research Databases List
  4. Go to Databases arranged by Subject and scroll down to Business and Economics. Here you will find numerous databases that will be helpful in researching industry analysis information.
Guide for Industry Analysis

Bullet History

  1. Inception
    • To find library materials on the history of a given industry, search the OSU Library Catalog by using subject keywords like (history and the "industry name")
    • To find online information go to the Business and Economic Database web page. For overviews on given industries use Business & Company Resource Center. Here you can search by industry description, SIC or NAICS codes.
  2. Competitive Evolution Over Time
    Use Business & Company Resource Center database and search by industry description, SIC or NAICS code. Some keywords to use are "industry evolution" and "competition"

Bullet Current Environmental Forces

  1. Political Environment
    • Does the industry have an economic or political impact on an area? Could it?
    • What ingredients and supplies, are needed to manufacture or provide service?
    • Where do they come from? How are the products produced?
    • Is there an environmental impact on the area? How are the products packaged? Glass, aluminum, plastic, paper?
    • Use Factiva, using keywords like "impact," "packaging."
    • Use Business Monitor Online, Business Source Complete (Country Reports), Mergent, Factiva, and Lexis/Nexis country profiles for present political environment as well as regulations.
    • Country Commercial Guides (U.S. State Department)
  2. Social/Cultural/Demographic Environment
    • Does tthe consumption of the industry product have any effect on members of the social, cultural, or political community? For example: Mormons do not drink caffeinated drinks. Salt Lake City might not provide a good target for increasing market share of Coca Cola.
    • Use Factiva, World Bank – Country and Regions and CIA World Factbook to search for cultural effect and barriers.
    • Use Mergent, Business Monitor Online, Business Source Complete, Factiva, and Lexis/Nexis for country and an overview of society and culture of the area.
    • World Consumer Lifestyles Databook: Key Trends – (Call number) HF 5415.3 W67 2005 is available at Thompson Library - Reference Section.
  3. Technological Environment
    Does the use of technology have an impact? How? Cost? Efficiency? Use Business Source Complete, Mergent, and Factiva, for information about technology trends and forecasts in various industries.

Bullet Market Analysis

  1. Market Size
    • Use Business Source Complete, Tablebase, Factiva for information on market size and market share.
    • Use Mintel to access full text market research reports and retail statistics. These reports include information such as trends, market size and share, forecasts, and company and brand profiles.
    • Use Factiva for a known company and then look at the company/industry comparison report to calculate market share.
    • Use NetAdvantage which includes Standard and Poor's Industry reports.
  2. Current rate of Growth
    Use Mergent, Factiva, Business & Company Resource Center, Lexis/Nexis, and Value Line to find growth information on both companies and industries.
  3. Growth Projections
  4. Major Segments in the Market
    Use Mintel and IBISWorld to find information about major market segments of consumer products.
  5. Buying Processes and Considerations
    Use Business Source Complete and search using keywords like "buying process" and "industry."

Bullet Structure of the Industry

  1. Exit/Entry Barriers
    Use Factiva, and Business Source Complete and search using keywords like "entry and barriers."
  2. Value-added chain
    • Use Mergent, Factiva, Lexis/Nexis for Annual Reports and information on what the company is doing to "add value" and streamline business operations.
    • Use Factiva and Business Source Complete - search using keywords like "value added" to the company or industry search. These 3 databases can also provide information from press releases and articles about a company's activities and plans for adding value.
  3. Major buyers and suppliers and power of each
  4. Range of Substitutes
  5. Level of Rivalry
    • Factiva and Lexis/Nexis - Industry publications and business wires cover industries. Search "Industry" publications for rivalry. Example: "Cola Wars"
    • Business Source Complete has trade journal articles, rankings, competitors (Datamonitor company & industry reports), etc.
    • Factiva has new product announcements.
  6. Major Competitors
  7. Possible New Entrants
  8. Global vs. Multidomestic Operations
    Business & Company Resource Center and Business Source Complete, Hoover’s Online and Mergent each can provide information on global and multi-domestic operations.
  9. Level of Concentration in Operations and Locations

Bullet Competitor Analysis

  1. Size of Company
  2. Location of Headquarters & Operations
  3. Importance of Industry in Company Operations
  4. Targeting\Positioning Strategy
  5. Demographic and Media Information
  6. Distinctive Operational Policies
  7. Global vs. Multidomestic Operations
    • Mergent will list global operations as well as provide country reports for understanding how business is conducted in other countries.
    • Factiva and Lexis/Nexis can provide insight into a firm's global and domestic operations.
  8. Level of Concentration in Operations and Locations
  9. Competitive Posture
  10. Prospects for Future Strategy and Likelihood of Success
    • Mergent, Lexis/Nexis provide access to SEC disclosure documents where future prospects are often discussed (Management Discussion). NetAdvantage provides industry forecasts.
    • Business Source Complete provides trade and academic journal articles on strategy and success.

Bullet Recommendations

  1. For Specific Companies in the Industry
  2. Attractiveness for New Entrant (which types of companies would have the greatest likelihood of success as a new competitor?)

Bullet References and Appendices

  1. References and Appendices
    •   Citing electronic resources
For Further Reference

Contact Ruth Gallegos Samuels, Business Librarian.
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