Prof. Y. JiSeptember, 2009

Ms. Shana Gass, MSLSReference Librariansgass@towson.edu

MNGT 381: Human Resources Research

This presentation highlights some of the key sources for your term project.

Click the screenshots to try sites/databases.

For additional sources, see the Research Guide:

• http://pages.towson.edu/sgass/courses > MNGT > Researching HR Management & Strategy

Consider your assignment.Where will you go first to look for info?

Company (Corporate) Web Page

You might have to hunt for the corporate site!

Careers

•Which job categories are listed? •Which kinds of job are advertised, in which locations?•Which candidates are they making a special bid for? (notice images, internships, targeted info)

Press Releases on the Company Web Site(look for links to News, Press Room, Media…)

•Mainly good news(New products, awards, expansion…)•Publicizing unseen innovations (possibly HR related)•Feel good stories! Social marketing…•Quarterly financial announcements•Bad news – occasionally (it’s gotta be pretty bad)

Annual Report/10K*

For Strategy – look for “Letter to Shareholders” sectionManager’s Discussion & Analysis also keyOf course, financials are of interest… (10-Ks include more financial detail)

*for public companies only

What image is the company trying to convey? Which employees do they discuss/illustrate?

Other Views?

Always consider: who is writing? What does s/he/they have at stake?

A blog – who is the author?

A web site – who is responsible for it?

“Ok, where else can I go to learn more about my company?”

Cook Library Web Site: http://cooklibrary.towson.edu …and Subject Gateways:http://cooklibrary.towson.edu/management http://cooklibrary.towson.edu/humanresources

Databases from Off-Campus!

• Click Towson University• Log in with 14-digit number from front of

TU OneCard + last name

Library Databases – Company Background

• LexisNexis Company DossierClick Business to get to the Dossier (and other choices)

Factiva – Build a Report

Million Dollar Database…brief info on public & private companies

You can also search by industry, geography, revenue, etc. to get a customized list of companies

SWOTs from Datamonitor in Business Source Complete

• Stay tuned…

Org Charts

Usually no official version available to general public

Some intriguing new “unofficial sources” –wikis (freely editable) – see Shana’s web page

The Competition

• Various competitor lists in co. profiles…

• Market share in a Library database: RDS Business Suite > TableBase

• More market share: Market Share Reporter

I’m in the Reserves section of

the library

HR Benchmarking!

Issue-Based Rankings

Regional Rankings

Rankings within an Industry or Profession

• Look for these on the Web & in Trade & Professional journal articles (in library databases)

Speaking of Industry…Some Examples of Industry Profiles in Library Databases

• Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage > Industry Surveys Very in-depth on broad industries like Advertising, Banking, Household Durables

• ValueLineShort overviews written from investment perspective

• Datamonitor Industry Profiles in Business Source CompleteFacts & figures, trends, top companies, national/regional/global

Industry AssociationsGreat sources of news, statistics, analysis, perspectives on an industry… Identify relevant associations & look at their web sites.

Professional Associations

Jobs!• O*Net > Find Occupations

> Career Cluster OR > Job Family

A must visit for job analysis & forecasts!

Occupational Outlook Handbook

HR Law

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission• Department of Labor

Books in the Library Reference Section

Finding Articles: RDS Business Suite

• RDS Business Suite• Business magazines, newspapers,

trade publications• Special Feature: Statistical Tables in Table Base

RDS: Steps to Search Business & Management Practices

• Click Advanced Search• Uncheck other databases, leaving Business &

Management Practices checked• Select Department: Human Resources• Type company name, and/or select industry• Search• Enjoy HR-specific articles on your

company/industry!

RDS Business Suite: TableBase

• All statistics, all the time!• Advanced search is best• Check out the Concept terms….

Finding Articles: Business Source Complete

• Business Source Complete• Special Features:

SWOTS & Company Profiles, Industry Profiles

Finding a SWOT in BSC

#1: Searched for a company

#2: Then Narrow to SWOT Analyses

Click box, then PDF icon to see a sample SWOT!

BSC Tips

• Try a simple search, then narrow by document type, subject, on the left side

• Don’t simply string search words together:– Connect essential concepts with the word and– Connect synonyms with or

• Keep an eye out for the subjects that tag an article – useful to plug in to your search as appropriate

• Try Advanced Search for more precision & power!

Sample Advanced Search in Business Source Complete

• Notes:– * allows alternative word endings to be found: innovate, innovative,

innovation, etc.– Connecting search terms with or gives you options:

articles can contain any (or all) of these words in box #3– Notice the connector and between each box (pulldown menu): The

articles must mention 3m and some incarnation of what’s typed in box #2 and box #3

– When I run this search I get some odd results. Can you think of any ways to improve this situation? Answers in notes field of the PPT.

Questions?

Shana GassReference Librarian for ManagementCook Library, Towson Universitysgass@towson.edu / 410-704-2395

Thanks and good luck!