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Business & Economics, Charles J. Keffer Library, Database Highlights & Trials

Finding SWOT Analyses

swot-analysis-imageBusiness students often ask how to find SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses of companies.   

SWOTs are very useful tools.  According to the  The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management:

An acronym of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, SWOT analysis provides a simple but powerful tool for evaluating the strategic position of the firm. It is especially useful for senior executives undertaking a fundamental reappraisal of a business, in that it permits a free thinking environment, unencumbered by the constraints often imposed by a finance driven budgetary planning system

Did you know UST Libraries currently have two sources for ready-made SWOT analyses?

(you can also find both of these databases in our libraries’ A-Z list of Databases)

The SWOT analyses are always part of a company report.  Find them by searching for a company by name and clicking the “company report” radio button within Business Source Premier.

Find them by searching for your company within the “Companies” field.  Remember, most companies in Global OneSource are large, publicly traded corporations. Once you’ve identified your company among the search results (yours will usually be the one headquartered in the US, with a US stock listing), click on its name to open up a company profile.  There will be a menu on the left-hand side with a  link to the Strengths/Weaknesses analysis

refusa intl SWOT itself

Can’t find a SWOT?  Don’t panic.

A SWOT analysis is not difficult to make.   First grab a SWOT from Reference USA International (using the process outlined above), to use as a template.  Use Proquest Newsstand Complete, Mergent, and Business Source Premier to retrieve press releases and media articles on a company and its executives for the past twelve months.  (Focus on CEO, Chairman, and CFO interviews, new product releases, earnings releases, and stock analyst opinions on the industry or company.)    Within Business Source Premier, also look for a Datamonitor company profile.  If the company is public, go to their website or to Mergent Online–usually the “investors” or “company information” sections–to find the company’s SEC 10-K, 10-Q, and 14-A filings.

Using the information you’ve found, it should be fairly easy to make your own SWOT analysis of any company, public or private. 

(Look familiar?  This is a repost of a blog post we made in June of 2011.  The interfaces have changed a bit, so we decided it was time for an update.  If you already knew this, please pat yourself on the back for being a database guru!)

September 21, 2011 by
Business & Economics

Now I know why those birds are always so angry

Not only do they have to deal with smug and noisy pigs all day, but now they are being blamed for costing businesses over a billion dollars in lost wages because so many people fling them about while at work. I was immune to this craze for a very long time and therefore had a fleeting sense of superiority until I finally tried my hand at the game and because as addicted as everyone else.   However I know that I can curtail my new habit at least while I am at work.  And so now if you will excuse me I have a Facebook status to update.

September 15, 2011 by
Business & Economics, News & Events, Uncategorized

Census 2010 data is ready… but different?

Census logoSince the 2010 Census was completed last year, data has been rolling out. But this year, the data looks different. Many researchers have been waiting for specific sets of data to be released, and are disappointed to find out that it is not going to be released at all as Census data is rolled out.  Why?  Where can we find it?

The answers:

The bulk of the Census data (including much of what we think is the most interesting!) is now being collected through what is called the “American Community Survey” (ACS).  Because of this, the 2010 Census form was “short” for everyone, meaning that it included only very basic information.

Data has been collected for the “American Community Survey” since 2005 on a form very similar to the old “long” form to the Census (which 1 in 6 household used to receive simultaneously with their “short” form).  It releases data three times annually in three data sets: 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year. 2010 was the first year the 5-year data was  released.

All of this data is still easily available online.  The Census’ official data reporting website, American Factfinder, has been updated to reflect these changes in reporting structure.

For more information, feel free to ask any of your friendly UST librarians or visit the Census website itself at http://www.census.gov

NYC’s “Gotham Gazette” also has a great overview of some of the major changes in the way Census data is being collected and can now be retrieved.

August 16, 2011 by
Business & Economics, Libraries, Recently Read

Have you heard of a ‘hassle map’?

When doing business research – especially when doing market research – we oftentimes spend a lot of time trying to predict customer behavior.  We work hard to look at what customers want and what customers need, and we try to invent new ways of fulfilling those needs.

According to analyst Adrian Slywotzky, who just wrote a book entitled, “Demand: Creating What People Love Before They Know They Want It” (available in a library near you this fall!), perhaps we should be looking at and addressing  some of the reasons they have those needs, and the problems that cause them in order to help determine demand before customers even realized they have it.  He calls this creating a “hassle map,” and gives the examples of  ways that Netflix, Bloomberg,  and  Factset have all used this idea to their advantage.

Find out more about this unique take on demand theory by reading other books by Slywotzky, or check out this interview with him that was recently published in the New York Times.

August 10, 2011 by
Business & Economics, Database Highlights & Trials

Introducing… Euromonitor Passport!

Over the past week, the ever-useful Euromonitor database has adopted a new interface, now called Euromonitor Passport.

Passport users can still access the information they are used to retrieving, but they are now assisted by an enhanced search builder, personalized account settings,  more powerful data downloads, and several more new features.  A new user guide is available on the database’s homepage to give users a tour of the new features.

Euromonitor Passport provides market research on countries, markets and companies. It includes country demographics and economic conditions; consumer lifestyle profiles; sales volume, value and forecasts for 350 retail products; information on major brands and companies. Data can be downloaded into Excel spreadsheets.

If you have additional questions or concerns about this change, please do not hesitate to contact your friendly UST librarians!

April 20, 2011 by
Business & Economics, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Holiday CPI

Yes, you’ve all been waiting for it – the annual CPI. Consumer Price Index? Oh, no. It’s the Christmas Price Index®!  

Compiled every year by the PNC Financial Services Group, this CPI tracks how much it would cost to buy each of the gifts in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (did you know, there are 78 of them?)

Despite the down economy, the 2010 CPI increased a surprising 9.2% over last year. Big increases were seen in the Five Gold Rings (30%), as well as higher costs for wages and benefits for some of the entertainers. The Twelve Drummers and Eleven Pipers both went up 3.1%, Lords-a-Leaping increased 8%, and the dancing Ladies saw a 15% rise (note that none of these performers had a raise last year.) The Maids-a-Milking did not receive an increase, as the federal minimum wage stayed flat at $7.25 an hour.

What about the wildlife, you ask? Bird prices increased due to rising costs of feed and demand for certain fowl. The biggest increase was for the Three French Hens (up 233%) and the Turtle Doves (up 78.6%.)

 Interestingly enough, if you do a Summon search on the Twelve Days of Christmas, there are over 22,000 items, including classic New England activities for the holidays, a newspaper article on cruise lines, an article from Mathematics Teacher, and an article from Australian Doctor. And there are 45 books, from such authors and illustrators as Anne Geddes, John O’Brien, Jack Kent, and one of my favorites, Jan Brett.

Happy Holidays!

December 7, 2010 by
Business & Economics, News & Events

Minnesota tops in turkey production: 47 million gobblers

We’re projected to raise 47 million turkeys in 2010, tops among the 50 states. So that’s 94 million drumsticks, give or take, right?  Not to be outdone, our neighbors to the east lead the nation in cranberry production at 435 million pounds, more than double its closest competitor.  For these and other fascinating bits of useless trivia, see the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features: Thanksgiving Day 2010.

November 1, 2010 by
Business & Economics, News & Events, Recently Read

For the College Educated: Increasing Employment … Lower Unemployment …… and Higher Earnings.

 An interesting report and data summary on issues relating to higher education from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

By the numbers:

  • Over the 1992–2009 period, the number of college-educated workers increased from 27 million to 44 million.
  • In 2009, the unemployment rate for workers with college degrees was 4.6 percent. The rate for workers without a high school diploma was 10 points higher.
  • In 2009, the median weekly earnings of workers with bachelor’s degrees were $1,137. This amount is 1.8 times the average amount earned by those with only a high school diploma, and 2.5 times the earnings of high school dropouts.

These and myriad other data on degree attainment, student’s time use (1.5 hrs/day traveling? lots of commuter students I guess), degree attainment in U.S. compared to other countries, higher education workplaces, costs, etc.  Includes this interesting chart on Professor pay and employment by discipline:

prof_pay

September 28, 2010 by
Business & Economics, Database Highlights & Trials

New Mergent Interface

If you’re accessing Mergent Online on July 6th or later, you’re in for a surprise.  The UST Libraries’ best tool for getting public company financials, SEC documents, and more has changed its look.

company lookup

You’ll find a better company lookup tool and more options for finding company information more quickly.  Getting ratio reports and historical pricing for the company is easier, too.

Click here quick tips for using the new Mergent Online.  All of the old features of Mergent Online are still available.  Getting to them has been made easier.

quick tip sheet

July 1, 2010 by