The library provides access to a wide variety of data sources. However, the amount of information available will vary by type of company:
- Determine the type of company is public or private.
- Location – U.S. or international?
- Required information – Confidential?
- Clients, suppliers, competitors and operating costs are a few examples of information that companies consider proprietary information and rarely disclose.
Business research on companies may involve:
- Obtaining contact information and description of a company.
- Researching company news, company leadership, competitors, and history.
- Researching the company's products, markets or business lines.
- Looking at a company's strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats (SWOT analysis).
- Retrieving financial data to decide whether to invest in or do business with a company.
- Preparing for a job interview.
Once you find the company information you need, you may want to put the information into a larger perspective by obtaining information on the industry in which your company is involved.
