LibGuides: BUS485: Strategic Business Policy I &amp; II Capstone: Modules 3 &amp; 4

Business Source Complete

Business Search Interface (EBSCO)
Content: Search Business Source Complete, Regional Business News, and Newswires for information covering topics including accounting, banking, economics, finance, international trade, marketing, management information systems, and more.
Purpose: This is a key database for business, accounting, and economics students.
Special Features: SWOT analysis functionality, market research reports, country reports, industry profiles, and more.

Market Atlas
Content: Covers corporate information for over 50,000 US and foreign public companies.
Purpose: This is a new product to replace Mergent Online. It provides access to current and historical (past 15 years) firm descriptions, statistics, financial information and ratios, annual reports, mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, long-term debt, capital stock, and insider trading.
Special Features: Includes tools for both interactive online research and predefined report access across Company, Sustainability, Industry, Country and Economic analysis modules.

Consider the following:

How is the corporation structured at present?
Is the structure clearly understood by everyone in the corporation?
Is the present structure consistent with the current corporate objects, strategies, polices, programs, as well as with the firm's international operations?
In what ways does this structure compare with those of similar corporations?

Try these searches in some of our Business-related databases:

Netflix AND ("organizational structure" OR "personnel management")
("media industry" OR "television industry) AND ("organizational structure OR "personnel management")

Consider the following:

Is there a well-defined or emerging culture?
Is the culture consistent with the current objectives; strategies, policies, and programs?
What is the culture's position on environmental sustainability?
What is the culture's position on other important issues facing the corporation (that is, on productivity, quality of performance, adaptability to changing conditions, and internationalization)?

Try these searches in some of our Business-related databases:

"best buy" AND ("corporate culture" OR "company culture" OR "organizational culture")

Consider Objectives, Strategies, Policies, & Programs for Resources like:

Marketing
- Position & mix in both domestic & international markets
- How big is the market & where is the company gaining or losing market share?
Finance
- Organizational performance in terms of financial analysis
- Financial performance compared with similar corporations
  - *TIP* Use the Mergent database for company annual reports & financial analysis.
Research & Development (R&D)
- Is the corporation receiving returns from its investment in R&D?
- Does R&D adjust to the conditions in each country in which the company operates?
Operations & Logistics
- Type and extent of operations capabilities
- How much is done domestically versus internationally?
- Are manufacturing or service facilities vulnerable to natural disasters, local or national strikes, reductions or limitation of resources from supplies, substantial cost increases of materials, or nationalization by governments?
Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Consider turnover, grievances, strikes, layoffs, employee training, and quality of work life
Information Technology (IT)
- Consider the corporation's IT performance in terms of providing a useful database, automating routine clerical operations, assisting managers in making routine decisions, and providing information necessary for strategic decisions