LibGuides: General Business Research: Industry Information

North American Industry Classification System

Begin by identifying your industry of interest and finding relevant SIC and NAICS codes by visiting the Standard Industrial Classification Search (SIC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) websites.

Once you have identified your industry and its associated code, you may locate industry surveys, overviews, and reports in the Library databases.

NAICS Codes for IT

511210 Software Publishers This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in computer software publishing or publishing and reproduction. Establishments in this industry carry out operations necessary for producing and distributing computer software, such as designing, providing documentation, assisting in installation, and providing support services to software purchasers. These establishments may design, develop, and publish, or publish only. These establishments may publish and distribute software remotely through subscriptions and downloads.
517311 Wired Telecommunications Carriers This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or providing access to transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired telecommunications networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination of technologies.
518210 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing infrastructure for hosting or data processing services. These establishments may provide specialized hosting activities, such as Web hosting, streaming services, or application hosting (except software publishing), or they may provide general time-share mainframe facilities to clients. Data processing establishments provide complete processing and specialized reports from data supplied by clients or provide automated data processing and data entry services.
541513 Computer Facilities Management Services This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing on-site management and operation of clients' computer systems and/or data processing facilities. Establishments providing computer systems or data processing facilities support services are included in this industry.
517919 All Other Telecommunications This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing specialized telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and radar station operation. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in providing satellite terminal stations and associated facilities connected with one or more terrestrial systems and capable of transmitting telecommunications to, and receiving telecommunications from, satellite systems. Establishments providing Internet services or Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are also included in this industry.
541511 Custom Computer Programming Services This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in writing, modifying, testing, and supporting software to meet the needs of a particular customer.
334614 Software and Other Prerecorded Compact Disc, Tape, and Record Reproducing This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in mass reproducing computer software or other prerecorded audio and video material on magnetic or optical media, such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, tapes, or cartridges. These establishments do not generally develop any software or produce any audio or video content. This industry includes establishments that mass reproduce game CDs and cartridges

Library Databases for Industry Information

Learn how to find industry reports in our FAQ - How do I locate industry reports?

ABI/INFORM This link opens in a new window
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Contains industry surveys from First Research (U.S. Reports) and Business Monitor International (U.S. and International). Select "Industry Report" from the Document Type menu, as shown below. Enter your industry keyword on the top search line, and change the drop down menu to Document title - TI.
Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
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Contains Industry Surveys from Datamonitor, Global Insight and EIU Economist Intelligence Unit Industry Forecasts.Select "Industry Profile" from the Publication Type box. Enter your industry keyword on the top search line, and change the drop down menu to TI Title.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
Provides worldwide industry news articles and reports. On the homepage, search for any company (does not have to be related to your industry) using Get Company Info box. Next, click on the Industry tab at the top of the screen. Now you may search for an industry by keyword, SIC code, or browse the industry hierarchy, as shown below. Once you have selected an industry, click on it to go to the overview and then click on the Recent News or Industry Reports tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
Mergent Online This link opens in a new window
Provides broad coverage of 24 of the largest global industries in North America, Europe, Asia, and global geographic areas. Click on the Industry Analysis tab at the top of the screen, then use the “Search by Industry” box.
Statista This link opens in a new window
Provides 60 industry reports with a focus on Germany and 41 on the US as well as the UK. The individual industries are selected by analysts based on data availability and relevance. To access, to to the Industry tab at the top of the screen, and then select "Search for Industry Reports" as shown below.

Selected Websites for Industry Information

Export.gov Country Commercial Guides
Market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business customs for over 125 countries prepared by trade and industry experts at U.S. embassies worldwide.
Industries at a Glance
These pages display a ‘snapshot’ of national data obtained from different BLS surveys and programs. Many programs also produce additional industry detail, including state, county, and metropolitan area data.
Data and Statistics about the U.S.
Find data about the U.S., such as demographic and economic data, population, and maps.
North American Classification System (NAICS)
The standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
This page allows the user to search the 1987 version SIC manual by keyword, to access descriptive information for a specified 2,3,4-digit SIC, and to examine the manual structure.

Five Forces Analysis

According to Porter (1980), "the state of competition in an industry depends on five basic competitive forces" (p.3).

The five forces are:

threat of new entry,
threat of substitution,
bargaining power of buyers,
bargaining power of suppliers,
and competitive rivalry.

Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors. New York: The Free Press.

It may be possible to locate some ready-made Five Forces analysis reports in the Library's Business Source Complete database.

Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
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Content: Business research database 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.
Help using this database.

Select the Advanced Search option in Business Source Complete. Enter your industry in the first search box, and "five forces" in the second box. Note that these reports may come from magazine articles; you do not want to limit your search to scholarly/peer-reviewed journals.