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LIBRARY RESEARCH

Oregon Executive MBA

BA 708 Corporate Entrepreneurship & Innovation Workshop

INDUSTRY RESEARCH

It is often necessary to identify the proper numeric classification code when researching an industry. To find the corresponding codes, use the following sources:

Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC) (1987= latest edition)
DOCS REF HF 1042 .A55 or DOCS-REF HF 1042 .U622 [On Business Index Table]

The four-digit Standard Industrial Classification Code is used to gather and analyze information on U.S. businesses. The first two digits describe the general industry. The third and fourth digits describe the specific activity. Users should note that effective with the 1997 Economic Census, the SIC has been replaced by the North American Industrial Classification.

1987
SIC		NameClassification Level
D Manufacturing Division (Letter designation)
20 Food and Kindred Products Major Group
205 Bakery Products Industry Group
2052 Cookies and Crackers Industry

Search SIC on the Web:

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
DOCS REF HF 1041.5 .N674 1997 [On Business Index Table]

NAICS uses a six-digit coding system to identify particular industries and their placement in this hierarchical structure of the classification system. The first two digits of code designate the sector, the third designates the subsector, the fourth digit designates the industry group, the fifth digit designates the NAICS industry, and sixth digit designates the U.S. detaill industry.

NAICS is replacing SIC. It has not yet come into wide use among commercial providers of business data, however.

2002
NAICS		NameClassification Level
31-33 Manufacturing Sector
326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing Subsector
3261 Plastics Product Manufacturing Industry Group
32611 Unsupported Plastics Film, Sheet, and Bag Manufacturing Industry
326111 Unsupported Plastics Bag Manufacturing U.S. Detail Industry

You can search NAICS on the Web:

Industry Norms and Ratios

The following reference sources provide a "typical" balance sheet and income statement for a company in each industry with ratios. Usually arranged by SIC. (Located on Business Index Tables.)

  • Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios
    DOCS REF HF5681.R25 T68 2001
  • Annual Statement Studies. Robert Morris Associates
    DOCS REF HF 5681 .B2 R6
  • Financial Studies of the Small Business
    DOCS REF HD 2346 .U5 F55a
  • Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios
    DOCS REF HF 5681 .R25 I53

Industry Surveys / Overviews

Industry overviews or industry surveys include information on product analysis. The library has the following reference sources.

  • Encyclopedia of American Industries
      DOCS REF HC 102.E53 2001 (On Business Index Table)
      Brief (1-10 pages) descriptions of industry groups, by SIC, with lists of recent articles.
  • Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries
      DOCS REF HD 2324 .E528 (On Business Index Table)
      Details the inception, emergence, and current status of 108 newly flourishing U.S. industries and industry segments.
  • Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage
      Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage brings together a dozen financial and investment publications that provide information for corporate research and for industry, competitive, and investment analysis. Among the publications included are such familiar titles as S&P's Corporation Records, Industry Surveys, Stock Reports, Stock Guide, Bond Guide, Dividend Record, Earnings Guide, Mutual Fund Reports, and the Outlook. Also included are S&P's Register of Corporations, Directors, and Executives and the Security Dealers Directory.

Trade Associations

Trade associations are the authoritative sources for industry research, analysis and forecasts.

  • Encyclopedia of Associations
    DOCSS REF AS 22 .E5
    Guide to 22,000 national and international nonprofit organizations. Professional and trade associations are useful and unique sources of information on their industries.

For lists of trade and professional associations pages on the Internet, search:

  • Yahoo! Organizations
  • IPL Associations on the Net (AON)
    Collection of over 2,200 Internet sites providing information about a wide variety of professional and trade associations, cultural and art organizations, political parties and advocacy groups, labor unions, academic societies, and research institutions.

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LOCAL BUSINESSES / COMPANIES

Finding information on local business or companies can be time consuming and frustrating. You need to use local business directories or even telephone yellow pages, and read local newspaper articles.

Business Directories

  • D & B Regional Business Directory, Oregon Area
    DOCS REF HF 5065 .O7 D80 [On Business Index Table]
  • Oregon Business Directory
    DOCS REF HF 5065 .O7 O67 [On Business Index Table]
  • ReferenceUSA

    Contains entries for over 12 million US firms and business establishments of all sizes, including directory data and information on type of business, sales volume, number of employees, executive names and titles, and stock exchange information.

  • Willamette Valley Business Directory
    DOCS REF HF 5065 O7 C66 [On Business Index Table]

Finding Business Competitors

**To find information on Oregon business rankings, use

    Oregon Business
    HF 5001 .B873 (Located in Special Collections)
    This magazine provides annual rankings on Oregon's public companies, statistics on employment in addition to information on Oregon businesses.

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MARKET RESEARCH

Demographics and lifestyles are two elements of the market research process. Who are your potential customers? A solid understanding of your current or potential customers is essential if you want to direct your marketing efforts at the population segment that is most likely to buy your products or services.

Demographic Information

  • U.S. Census Bureau

  • ERsys.com -- Provides demographic information on over 2600 US cities. Open the "Drop Down Manual" and select a state and then click "GO". Select a city on next page.

Lifestyles and Consumer Behavior

  • Best Customers: Demographics of Consume Demand
    DOCS REF HC79.C6 .R87

  • Consumer Expenditure Survey

  • Lifestyle Market Analyst
    DOCS REF HF 5415.33 .U6 L54 [On Business Index Table]

  • You are Where You Live
      This is the zip code look-up feature of MyBestSegments.com. PRIZM NE Segmentation System assigns every neighborhood in the U.S. to one of 62 clusters. Each cluster describes the predominant demographics and lifestyles of the people living in that neighborhood. MicroVision Standard Segmentation System defines 50 lifestyle types in the U.S.

  • Sports Business Research Network
    This is a market research database which includes demographic information on consumers.

  • Tablebase
    Tablebase is a database comprised of tabular information. The tables provide information such as market share, market size, capacity, production, imports, exports, sales, product and brand rankings, forecasts, healthcare statistics and demographics.

  • University Internet Reporter (Formerly Mediamark Reporter)
    Offers comprehensive data on the uses of various consumer products. The studies include demographic information on the persons surveyed, their use of consumer products, and their use of various forms of advertising, including television, radio, and print media.

USEFUL DATA RESOURCES

ADVERTISING RESOURCES

  • Ad$pender Requires Internet Explorer.
      Ad$pender provides advertising expenditure data for millions of product brands across television, radio, magazine, newspaper, internet and outdoor channels. Data can be retrieved by brand, product class/category, company name, brand and more. Use the link below in Database Guide to get the username and password.
    Username/Password

  • SRDS Media Solutions
      "The SRDS database of media rates and information is the largest and most comprehensive in the world-cataloging more than 100,000 U.S. and international media properties." The library has online access to Business Publication Advertising Source®, Consumer Magazine Advertising Source, Newspaper Advertising Source®, and Radio Advertising Source, and TV and Cable Source®.

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Best Web Sites

  • BizStats.com (http://www.bizstats.com/)
      Includes national business statistics, national averages profitability and operating ratios for small business industries, and retail industry benchmarks.

  • Entrepreneur.Com: The Online Small Business Authority
      Contains selected articles from the publication and resources for business developers. "Small Business Tools" section enables one to download ready-made business forms and search a software library; "Entrepreneur's Databases" include links to categories of franchising opportunities (fastest-growing, top new, home-based, etc).
  • Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information
      This is a guide compiled by the staff of the Business Reference Services' Science, Technology, and Business Division, Library of Congress. Contents include: "Introduction, Getting Started, Raising Capital, Managing Your Business, Human Resources, Marketing, Doing Business with Government, International Opportunities, Research and Information Gathering, Looking At the Numbers, Handbooks and Guides, Information about Companies, Indexes, Databases, Other Information Sources, Keeping Current, and Index."
  • eVenturing
      Provides original articles, written by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, and other materials related to starting and running high-impact companies.
  • Fambiz.Com
      Provides 300 family business articles covering such topics as Inter-Generational Issues, Sibling Rivalry, Strategic Planning and Non-Family Managers/Employees. It also links to other family business sites and "Best of the Web" articles.
  • Idea Cafe: The Small Business Channel
      Include resources, ideas, practical advice, business news, and humor to make an entertaining site. Business site links are summarized and reviewed. There are serious, yet informative sections (e.g., "Y2K and Small Business"), as well as your "Biz Horoscope."
  • NYC Small Business Resource Center
      Developed by the New York Public Library, Science, Industry & Business Library. Includes information on services directories, business manuals, business forms, citations to 130 sample business plans, and more.
  • Patent Cafe
      A menu approach from Patent Cafe: World's Gateway to Inventor's Resources. Selections include patents and trademarks, resources for invention and innovation, manufacturers and suppliers, U.S. Government Offices, international inventors, and a link to Inventive Kids Cafe for science research. Includes a search engine and FAQ link for guidance and helpful tips on how market new products and inventions.
  • SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
      The SCORE organization is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. The organization offers counseling and workshops to business owners.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration
      Official starting point for resources and programs offered by the SBA. Begins with Starting Your Business, Financing Your Business, and, Expanding Your Business. Includes links to most frequently asked startup questions (FAQs), informative articles, a startup kit, and locations of Small Business Development Centers throughout the U.S. The primary destination for seeking financing. BusinessLINC ("Learning, Information, Networking, Collaboration") site contains business plans and a mentors network.
  • Women's Business Center
      Created in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women's Business Ownership, this is an interactive business training web site for entrepreneurial women dedicated to the development of professional and personal skills. Content sections are marketing, finance, management, technology and procurement.

Business Planning

Search the Library's Online Catalog to look for books on how to write business plans. The following sites might be helpful in writing business plans.

  • AllBusiness -- Covers various issues for entrepreneurs and growing businesses. Includes business plans and other resources.
  • Bplans.com -- Includes free sample business plans, sample marketing plans, plan outlines, tips, start-up business, financing, venture capital, and related information.
  • Business Plans and Profiles Index -- A guide compiled by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh listing types of small businesses and a corresponding sample business plan, profile or book about the business with sources provided after each entry.
  • Center for Business Planning-- Provides sample small business plans and outlines in addition to business and marketing planning, and business strategy information, advice, and software.
  • Morebusiness.com -- Information on business and marketing plans, and how to start and run a small business.
  • Small Business Planner -- From SBA.

Search the following sites for information on Oregon small business development centers:


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FINDING ARTICLES

  • Academic Search Premier
      Covers current news, business and company information, government and legal information.
  • Business Source Premier
      Full text from nearly 930 journals covering business, management, economics, banking, finance, accounting, etc.
  • Lexis-Nexis Academic
      Provides comprehensive coverage of current news, business and company information, government and legal information, and more.
  • Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition)
      The Wall Street Journal, the financial newspaper of record, is an indispensable source for business professionals, providing business and financial news coverage, personal and company profiles, feature reporting, special reports, and regular columns. The database provides the full-text articles from the Wall Street Journal going back to at least 1986, with some material from earlier years. It includes the entire text of written articles, but no graphs or data, such as stock prices.

Once you find the citation of an article, you need to search he library's online catalog, to find the call number of a journal or magazine. Current periodicals are on the second floor, Current Periodical Room, arranged by call numbers.

To look for local information, use the following:

  • Oregon Index -- Provides indexing for the Salem Statesman Journal, Corvallis Gazette Times, the Eugene Register Guard, the Portland Oregonian, and other selected Oregon newspapers.
  • Oregonian -- Provides the fulltext of the Oregonian newspaper from 1988 to present. Updated daily.

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Maintained by: Kaiping Zhang, kzhang@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 01/02/2008