Library Classroom Connection

Finding STAT-USA

I just got a question about how to find STAT-USA on our business school website... You're right, it's not there! I'll fix that, but it will take a few days.

There IS a link to it from our main library web site: STAT-USA. Because it is run by the U.S. government, you can also find it online, via Google, etc. The passwords we shared in class will work from either location.  If you can't find your passwords,  email me mollman@wustl.edu - I'd rather not post them on a public blog.

One other 'heads up', we currently have access for only one person at a time (this is one of the few government services with subscription rates). If you can't get in immediately, just try again later. I'll investigate the cost of more access for the next class. I know, it doesn't help you now! Thanks for being patient-

EIU Country Reports Coverage

You may have noticed that the EIU Country Reports are limited in our contract to about 40 countries. That means you may not find your assigned country on the list. This semester, the 'missing' countries are Vietnam, Sweden and Spain.

The good news is that we do have access to EIU reports for these countries, but you have to go through another database, Business Source Premier . Under the browse section of the opening page, choose 'Country Reports'. Then put in your particular country, and follow the links.

As always, contact me if you need help- Carol Mollman  mollman@wustl.edu

EMBA 29 Opportunities & Challenges of Global Economy (China)

I understand your handout from class has a broken link on it for EIU.com  Here's how to reach it from the business library website:

• Go to Databases A-Z in the grey navigation box.
• Choose 'E' and jump to  EIU Country Reports, and click on link.
• Choose China from the country list.
• Hint: if you choose the HTML format, you can browse through the headings.

Finding local demographic information

When you need demographic or lifestyle information specifically about the St. Louis area, you can find it several ways...

• Demographics USA Zip edition- HF 5415.3 D 463 2005
• Lifestyle Market Analyst- HF 5415.33.U6 L54
• NEW... online, check out 'neighborhood lifestyle' profiles by zipcode at ESRI Sourcebook America (http://www.esri.com/data/community_data/index.html) Ignore the links to buying the product- we have these CDs at the reserve desk allowing you to work with the data in a mapping format. You won't need the CDs to run some interesting analysis of 'neighborhood tapestries'- just put in your zipcode and it will give you the three top profiles for your area.  It's pretty nifty... here's a sample:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Segment 09 Urban Chic

Urban Chic residents are well-educated professionals living an urbane, exclusive lifestyle. Most own expensive single-family homes with a median value of $633,000. Married-couple families and singles comprise the majority of households. The median age is 41.4 years. Urban Chic residents travel extensively, visit museums, attend dance performances, play golf, and go hiking. They use the Internet frequently, to trade or track investments or to make purchases (especially concert and sports tickets, clothes, flowers, and books). They appreciate a good cup of coffee, while reading a book or newspaper, and prefer to listen to classical music, all-talk, or public radio programs. Being civic-minded, they are likely to work as volunteers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few more links for international marketing projects

It occured to me after class yesterday that I hadn't covered all the products/countries when we talked about resources. In the spirit of 'equal time', I've added a few more links to resources. (I'll add more as time allows):

Match.com/India  Take a look at a posting in livemint.com, called "25 million users will access jobs and matrimonial sites in 2008"(This site is a collaboration between HT Media and the Wall Street Journal, publishing Journal branded news and information in India)   http://www.livemint.com/2007/07/19153511/25mn-users-will-access-jobs-an.html   

Crest White Strips/Netherlands   Here's a report on dentistry in the Netherlands: http://www.fdiworldental.org/resources/assets/facts_and_figures/2000/netherlands.pdf It's for 2000, but it still gives you good information about the Dutch health infrastructure...

Axe/Israel Here's the summary page from Dun & Bradstreet Israel for Unilever israel. they sell the Axe line of products in Israel... http://duns100.dundb.co.il/companies/600014799/index.asp

-Carol 

mollman@wustl.edu

935-6465

Using SIC and NAICS codes to build a list of companies

What are SIC and NAICS codes?

The Standard Industrial Classification (abbreviated 'SIC') is a United States government system for classifying industries by a four-digit code. Established in the 1930s, it is being supplanted by the six-digit North American Industry Classification System, which was released in 1997; however certain government departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), still use the SIC codes. Many databases allow you to search by SIC or NAICS code.

How do I determine what SIC or NAICS codes to use?

One easy way to find a code is to use the Business and Company Resource Center database. Choose the Industry button from the opening page. Put in a keyword describing your industry. This can take some time. For instance, if you are looking for biotechnology companies, you won’t find any results under ‘biotechnology’ but you will find something under ‘research’:

SIC:  8731 - Commercial Physical and Biological Research

NAICS: 54171 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

If you’re having difficulty identifying the right keywords, another way to find an SIC or NAICS code to use is to look up a company who is a leader in the field. Both Business and Company Resource Center and Hoover's Online Business Network are good sources for company searches, because they automatically list the primary SIC and NAICS codes for the firm.

What are the best databases to search using SIC and NAICS codes?

To find lists of companies, you can start your search in:

·         Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Database

·         LexisNexis Academic    Choose ‘Business’ from the red bar at the top of the page, then look on the right column and choose’ Dossier Create a Company List’

·         Sorkins    To use SIC or NAICS codes, choose Combo or Industry searches, rather than Company.

MKT Analyzing the Competition

http://www.bnet.com/2410-13238_23-57058.html?promo=808&tag=nl.e808

This is a segment of a larger article on Profiling Competitors...

Analyze Competitors’ Promotional Activities

By monitoring your competitors’ advertising, promotions, exhibition presence, press activities, and Internet information, you can assess their strategies. These are some of the possible scenarios:

• Heavy advertising expenditure could indicate a competitor trying to win greater share or attempting to remedy losses in that market.
• Price promotions may indicate that your competitors want to be perceived as value-for-money suppliers, or they may be an emergency response to declining sales.
• Press announcements about new production facilities could indicate that your competitors are trying to increase their business significantly. They may become more cost-effective and able to offer lower prices, or may be taking on additional overhead that they must finance.
• Announcements about new branch or dealership openings could mean that competitors are expanding into new territories.
• Recruitment drives may signal a change in direction, a growth strategy, or a sudden loss of staff.

To gain a better idea of your competitors’ financial health, you may be able to obtain information from credit reference agencies.

MKT 477 (Xie) Finding PRS Political Risk Yearbook

Looking for the PRS Group Political Risk Yearbook?  We carry it in electronic form, instead of the print version.  Here's how you find it:

1. Search for it in the library catalog. If you put in Political Risk Yearbook, you will get a list of all the countries available.
2. Go directly to Business Source Premier .  For instance, if you need the report on Argentina, just type in: Political Risk Yearbook Argentina.

Any questions? Just email Carol Mollman at: mollman@wustl.edu or ask for help at the business library circulation desk.

MGT B63 Asian Business Networks Resources

Here's another source worth looking at for current information about the Asian business environment:

Database: ISI Emerging Markets (You can navigate to it through our business library web pages by clicking on Articles>Databases and scroll down alphabetically to ISI Emerging Markets)

Choose the country you are interested in. If you want to see all the Asian publications, start by clicking on China. Then choose 'Source' from the dark blue bar near the top of the page.  You may also want to choose 'English' if you don't speak Mandarin.  You'll see dozens of newswires, newspapers, magazines and reports.

This database is available remotely to all business students, and on site at the business library for all others. Need more help? Email Carol at mollman@wustl.edu for an appointment, or just stop by the business library and ask for Carol or Ron.

Global Info Portal from MSU

Michigan State University has a website/database at http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/ that's worth a quick look.

This database is unique because it's searchable in all kinds of configurations. Categories include:

• World region or country
• Thematic area ( e.g., environment, gender, international development, travel and geography)
• Constituency group (e.g., Business and Labor,  K-12 teachers)
• Resource type (e.g., maps, news sources)

There's also an option to start with Country Pages.  These include:

• basic facts
• news headlines
• news sources
• maps
• travel info
• background info
• a search tool for other websites

Just like the GlobalEdge portal, its mostly open access. If you find a resource that is restricted to MSU students, check our business library website (or email us) to see if we have access through Washington University.