A.
Problem Based Learning
1.
Center for Educational Technologies' Problem Based Learning Model
What is PBL? Students are allowed to struggle and induct their own mental model of course concepts with only occasional "life-lines" from the instructor when concept processing falls off-track. Problem-based learning is most similar to case-based instruction, but in its purest form, PBL is more open-ended.
2. Understanding Problem Based Learning
More on PBL from Virginia Tech
B.
Steps in Research
3. Georgetown University's 15 Steps to Good Research
Always go back to this list to review the status of the research.
C.
Concept Maps
4. University
of Illinois' Concept Maps
Concept maps harness the power of our vision to understand complex
information "at-a-glance." The primary function of the brain is to interpret
incoming information to make meaning. It is easier for the brain to make
meaning when information is presented in visual formats. This is why a picture
is worth a thousand words. It is essential to your studies and career that
you can handle complex information; concept maps offer one method to do this.
5. CET's Concept Mapping
As you begin creating your concept map, start filling in the holes where you need to learn more using some the sources mentioned below.
| II. Understanding the Industry |
6. 
Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys
The Industry Surveys are the best place to start your industry research.
Basic global analyses and overview of 30-40 major industries with many
subject breakdowns within each industry. Statistical information includes
sales, profit margin, P/E ratios, and capital expenditures. Standard and
Poor's Net Advantage also provides additional company and industry information.
7. Industry Guide to Research
This guide describes selected resource materials for doing research on an industry. It has Industry Overviews, Industry Specific, Industrial Classification, Statistical Sources
Access to Articles, Books/Monographs, US Specific-Ratios, and Foreign Specific resources.
8. American Corporations Research Guide
This is a list of the more frequently used library materials on American corporations. It contains Financial Information (Financial Summaries and Primary Sources);
Directories of General, Specialized, Affiliates and Subsidiaries, Regional, and Rankings/Market Share, Company Histories with Mergers, Periodical Indexes,
and Strategies for Researching Private Companies.
9. International Corporations Guide to Research
Sources mentioned in this guide are designed for doing research on international corporations. It consist of Financial Information; Directories of
General, Rankings, and Affiliates & Subsidiaries; Company Histories, Regional & Industry Specific (Asia, Americas, Europe & Africa, Industry Specific);
Periodical Articles; and Comprehensive Websites & Handbooks
| IV. Investigating Similar Situations |
10. Business Databases
There are over one hundred databases relating to business. One of the ways to
do problem solving is to see how other people solved the problem; you do that
by looking at articles. The best articles are from trade journals like those
found in Factiva
and Business & Industry. For generic "how to" information use the Conference
Board's Business Knowledge Research. To search effectively use advanced
searching and using field to search and Proximity
Operators as much as possible, not free text searching.
| V. Operations and Supply Chain |
11. Under Construction
12.Mintel.
These market research reports of 100+ pages in length cover such subjects as
travel, finance, food, health, retailing, airlines, and lifestyles. Data sources
used come from Mintel's own surveys, Simmons, Infoscan's IRI, and trade research.
Acceptance of "Academic Conditions of Use" and registration are required to use
this database. Also
available
from http://www.library.georgetown.edu/advisor/
13.MarketResearch.Com
Academic.
This database provides full-text market research reports on industries
as diverse
as debit cards, cookies, and the consumer Internet market. Subject covered include Business Services,
Consumer Goods, Demographics, Food & Beverage, Hospitality, Heavy Industry, Life Sciences, Public Sector, and
Technology & Media. Some of the
reports are massive, over 200 pages; however, most of them are at least over
a year old. The more current results will be a brief Executive Summary. Also
available
from http://www.library.georgetown.edu/advisor/
14.Global
Market Information Database: GMID .
Global in scope, GMID provides lifestyle statistics and reports; market data
and analysis; company profiles, market share, and performance indicators; and
market forecasts.
15.Business
Insights
Contains over 200 market research reports in five broad categories: Consumer
Markets, Financial Services, Technology, Energy, and Healthcare. Reports are
dominated by a European focus, with additional reports for Asia and the Americas.
Also available from http://www.library.georgetown.edu/advisor/
16.Choices
3. Ref. Designated Workstation
This annual CD-ROM from Simmons contains data on United States
buying habits
of people based on their media habits. It measures usage of products and
services by brand name, demographic characteristics, exposure to differing media,
and other criteria. The marketing data was collected from more than 22,000
households, then projected to reflect the general population. Updates are
three years old. Purdue
University Tutorial.
17.Mediamark
Reporter. Ref. Designated Workstation
This annual statistical source provides data regarding products and magazine
audiences. Market research at the national and top 10 MSA levels lets
users look at tables crossed-tabulated by products, brands, demographics, and
media habits. Defaults to national data. To see Teen Market, B-to-B, Upper Deck
(Affluent), and top 10 local markets, change Show to "Annual" report. This source
is easier to read and use than Choices 3.
18.
Seasons
of Business: The Marketer's Guide to Consumer Behavior. Ref.
HF 415.33 .U6 W35 1992
This sources explains consumer trends for every month of the year. Trends
such as business travel in August, credit cards in November, Super Bowl in January,
spring break in March, and marriage in June are all explained.
19.Merchandise
Line Sales <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0244sxsb.pdf>
Merchandise Line Sales is a part of the Economic Census, retail sector. There
are two types of information: by store and by product. For example, in online
stores what is the percentage of different products sold, i.e., 19% computer
equipment
and 9.1% prepackaged software. Or who sells more computer equipment and software,
i.e., computer stores 39.1% and online establishments 40.6%.
20. Investext. 1995-
.
Full text of approximately 40,000 analysts' reports, covering more than 11,000
global companies and over 50 industries. Investext reports contain in-depth
information on companies and industries, including industry trends, market
share, and emerging technologies.
21. Path
to Investing <http://www.pathtoinvesting.org>
The Foundation for Investor Education’s Path to Investing site is a collection of material covering all aspects of investing for individuals and families. Clear, in-depth explanations of all things related to investing are provided as is a stock market simulation game called the Investor Challenge.
22. Sharkrepellent.
Great database, bad name for a takeover-defense and corporate governance database.
This database compiles source information from a company's articles of incorporation,
bylaws, shareholder rights plan (poison pill) and state takeover statutes.
23. Socrates: The Corporate Social Ratings Monitor.
SOCRATES has in-depth profiles on the social and environmental records of over
650 US and international corporations, including every company on the Standard & Poor's
500, and KLD's Domini 400 Social Index. Portfolio managers can rank companies
on issues related to community, diversity, employee relations, environment,
non-US operations, products, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and
military contracting.
24. Standard
and Poor's NetAdvantage: Companies/ Outlook.
Standard and Poor's Outlook analyzes companies and forecasts market trends.
Makes purchase recommendations for selected stocks. Current S&P stock price
indexes are included at the end of each issue. Standard and Poor's NetAdvantage
also provides additional company and industry information.
25. Value
Line Research Center.
Investment information and performance ratings for over 3,000 public companies
with 250 data fields. Evaluations and comparisons of 92 industries are also
included. Additional information on mutual funds, options, convertibles, exchange
traded funds (ETF), and special situations.
| VIII. Searching For Books |
26. Lauinger Library - Search GEORGE, the online catalog, by:
--Subject: Use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH),
the red volumes located near the Reference Desk, to identify the
precise terminology assigned to your topic. Or look up a title you
know and click on one of the subject headings listed in the entry.
You will probably want to search under several headings. Examples:
Broad topical headings:
e.g.,
Strategic planning
Business
failures
Personnel management
Strategy
Organizational
change
Management
Subheadings applied to political or geographical entities:
e.g.,
Barriers to entry (Industrial organization) -- Mathematical models
Success
in business -- Case studies
Organizational
effectiveness -- Evaluation
--Keyword: When you can't determine a relevant Library of Congress
Subject Heading or when you want to combine headings, search by "keyword." This
technique locates words in books' titles, subject headings, and other
fields within the record and is especially helpful for finding new
terms or concepts. If you need help with GEORGE or searching by topic,
please ask
a Reference Librarian.
If there is a book you know of and it's checked out from our library or we do not own it, then you can still get it by first checking to see if any library in the area owns it.
Borrowing from Washington Research Library Consortium
Direct Borrowing in person from other libraries
Also be aware that we have electronic books and a media collection available too
Electronic book collections or by title in GEORGE
Checking out materials from the Gelardin
New Media Center and putting videos and other media on Media
Reserves
Other Issues to remember while searching for strategy:
- Industries dominated by publicly-traded companies will have more coverage in the press.
- If you can't find industry specific trends, factors effecting the industry's leaders, suppliers, and customers will be part of the industry trends.
- Industries that are regulated will have government
sources and will be influenced by government actions.
- When you have geographic dimensions to an industry or company, it will
be harder to find information. Search in the foreign language and don't be
afraid to use the telephone or email to talk to industry leaders in that country.
Please
send us your comments or suggestions
Content updated: 09/06,
jb
Links updated: 09/06,
jb
