Business L264:

Foundations 2

Advanced
Research Skills

Jeannie An, RJC Services Librarian

April 29, 2019

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Foundations 2: Presentation & Research Report
Choice of Fields/Industries
1. Finance
2. Health Services Management
3. Consulting (Pharma)

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Agenda
• Accessing Library Resources
• Top Business Databases
• Selected Subscription Databases for Business Research (Library/DSB)
• Selected Open Access Resources for Business Research
• Evaluating Sources
• Citing Sources
• Help
_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Library Resources
Library Homepage: https://library.mcmaster.ca

• Discovery (default Search) = Catalogue + Articles & More

• Datatabases > find databases by name or by subject area
• Research Guides > All Guides > Business
 Top Business Databases
http://libguides.mcmaster.ca/databases/business-top
Top Business Databases @ McMaster
Databases with …
McMaster Users Only
Online access is restricted to
current McMaster students,
faculty and staff. MAC ID
required. Access via the
Library’s website.

Open Access
Online access is open to
everyone, anywhere.
 Company / Financials / Analysis
Library/DSB Resources
• Factiva
• Mergent Online
– company snapshots
– financials & annual reports for
– max. simultaneous users: 6 active & inactive public
• Thomson ONE companies
– company overviews – max. simultaneous users: 3
– max. simultaneous users: 5 • Bloomberg – RJC & DSB
• Value Line Investment Survey Trading Floors – on campus
– stock investment research only
– max. simultaneous users: 3 • Eikon – RJC & DSB Trading
Floors – on campus only
 Factiva > Companies/Markets > Company
Search by company name or ticker
Company snapshots
typically include …
• General Information
• Stock Price Activity
• Business Description
• Industry Classifications
• Key Executives
• Key Financials
• Performance/Segment
Information
• News
• Peer Group
• Key Developments
• Peer Comparison
• Financial Results
• Ownership
Company Overviews Thomson ONE > Overviews
typically include … Search by company name, ticker, etc.
• Financial Summary
• Market Data
• Price And Volume
• Capital Structure
• Officers & Directors
• Segments – Business,
Geographic
• Key Competitors
• Last Research Reports
With A Link To Complete
List
• Business Description
• Key Ratios
• Analyst Rating
• Earnings Estimate
Revisions
• Earning Estimate
Forecasts
• Ownership Breakdown
• Top 5 Shareholders
• Corporate Events
• Latest Deals
• News
 Value Line Investment Survey
Company profiles
typically include
• Ranks
ValueLine Help
• Financial Strength
Grade Rating
• Commentary
• Valuation
• Sales
• 3-5 Year
Projections
• Earnings
• Total Return %
• Annual Rates of
Change
• Score Ratings
• Peers
• Industry Analysis
• Insider Transactions
• Institutional
Ownership
• Business Overview
• Technical Rank
 Company / Financials / Analysis
Open Access Resources
• Crunchbase
– investments and news about global companies from startup to the
Fortune 1000
– some content restricted
• AngelList
– mainly startups including deal by deal investments, tech & startup jobs
– lots of search filters
Crunchbase profiles typically include …
• Overview
• Unlock Charts
• IPO & Stock Price
• Funding Rounds
• Investors
• Acquisitions
• Related Hubs
• Company Tech stack by Siftery
…

tesla Filters
 Trends in a Field or Industry
Library Resources
Reports & Statistics Articles
• IBISWorld • Business Premium Collection
– all fields – journals, trade magazines, etc.
• Passport • Business Source Premier
– esp. consumer packaged goods – journals, trade magazines, etc.
• Statista • Factiva
– all fields – Search > Search Builder
– worldwide news
 IBISWorld
U.S., Canadian, Ontario & global industry reports

consulting Search or browse for reports

New for
• Contains over 1,350 U.S., 468 Canadian, 40 Ontario 2019
and 73 global industry reports. All industry sectors ON Reports
covered. & .
.

• Many reports cover industries at the 5-digit NAICS Business .

Enviornment
(North American Industry Classification System) level
Profiles
• Specialized Industry Reports cover industries at a
more granular level (U.S. only)
- Sample Report

Typical
Report
Structure
or
Table of
Contents
 Passport

• Global market
information
database
• Emphasis on
FMCG (Fast
Moving Consumer
Goods)
• Economies or
Country Reports
• Consumer Reports
• Company Reports
• Statistics, Data and
Analytics
Sample Statistics & Analysis in
Passport
Sample Consumer Reports in
Passport
Statista: The Portal for Statistics
e-commerce
• market &
consumer data
categorized into
20 market
sectors from
18,000 sources
• search or
browse toolbar
menus for
content
Sample Reports and Statistics in
Statista
Includes …
• articles from Business Source Premier
journals, trade
publications &
popular
magazines
• company
profiles (with
SWOTs)
• industry
profiles (with
statistics &
Porter’s five
forces analysis)
• many other
source types
• international in
scope
• search or
browse for
content
 Trends in a Field or Industry
Open Access Resources
• MaRS Library • Industry or Trade Associations
Example: Examples:
– IT consulting and online retail space – Ontario Craft Brewers
– Brewers Association - Canada
• Report Websites – Retail Council of Canada
– typically abstracts or executive
summaries
• Government Websites
Example:
Examples:
- Source Global Research
Canada Consulting Marketing – Industry Sector Intelligence
– Canadian Industry Statistics
 Evaluating and Citing Sources
library.mcmaster.ca > Research Help

• Why evaluate?
• Citation elements • Authority
• Using style guides • Accuracy
• Major styles (APA, MLA, etc.) • Purpose
 Citation Guide for Business (Chicago)
• Citation Management Software
(Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, etc.)
• Troubleshooting How to Spot Fake News
 Academic Integrity Overview

You are expected to exhibit honesty and use of ethical behavior in all aspects of the learning
process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic
integrity (Foundations 2: MBA L625 Advanced Professional Skills, course outline)

What is Integrity?

Integrity is “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to
change.” (Source: “integrity” Cambridge Dictionaries Online, 28 June 2011)

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 What is Academic Integrity?
The professional standards of scholarship:

• Working ethically
• Communicating reliably
• Collaborating fairly
• Gaining recognition honestly

Source: iSci Professor, McMaster University

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in
unearned academic credit or advantage (source: course outline)

Examples of Academic Dishonesty:

• Plagiarism
• Improper collaboration in group work
• Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Where do I get more information?
http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity
Policy: Penalties

Penalties for Graduate Students

• The first time a student is found guilty of academic dishonesty, the
penalty is generally either a letter or grade reduction or a zero on the
assignment in question
• The second time a student is found guilty of academic dishonesty, the
penalty is generally “F” in the course with a transcription notation
• The third time a student is found guilty of academic dishonesty, the
penalty is generally “F” in the course with a transcription notation and
suspension or expulsion with a transcript notation
• PLUS: additional penalties (p.11 Academic Integrity Policy)
 Evaluating & Citing Sources
https://library.mcmaster.ca/research
Cite your sources properly
to avoid plagiarism and
academic dishonesty

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Other Resources

Some helpful resources:

• How to Cite (McMaster University Library)
• *APA in Minutes* (Humber College video series)
• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing (Purdue Online Writing Lab)
• p.org (Plagiarism.org)
• Cornell University Plagiarism Quiz (login as guest)
• Plagiarism: How to avoid it (utube video)

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
 Test your knowledge

Take this quiz individually:

http://en.writecheck.com/plagiarism-quiz

You score:
9-10 Master
7-9 Pro
5-7 In training
1-5 Newbie

_________________________________________________________________________________
McMaster University Libraries • library.mcmaster.ca • 905.525.9140 x22081 • library@mcmaster.ca
How Library Stuff Works Video Tutorials
library.mcmaster.ca > Research Help
 RJC Library Services & Resources
https://rjc.degroote.mcmaster.ca/library
https://library.mcmaster.ca/spaces/rjc
 Contact Information
• E-mail: rjclib@mcmaster.ca
• Phone: 905-525-9140
–ext. 20561 RJC Research Services Librarian
• Face to Face:
–Drop by the RJC Learning Commons/Innis Library
Service Desk or book an appointment with a
librarian
• Live Chat:
– http://library.mcmaster.ca/justask/