MNGT 381:
Human Resources Research
Prof. Y. Ji
September, 2009
Ms. Shana Gass, MSLS
Reference Librarian
sgass@towson.edu
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 public companies only
For Strategy – look for “Letter to Shareholders” section
Manager’s Discussion & Analysis also key
Of course, financials are of interest… (10-Ks include more financial detail)
What image is the company trying to convey?
Which employees do they discuss/illustrate?
A blog – who is the author?
A web site – who is responsible for it?
Other Views?
Always
consider:
who is writing?
What does
s/he/they have
at stake?
“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 Dossier
Click 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
• ValueLine
Short overviews written from investment perspective
• Datamonitor Industry Profiles in Business Source
Complete
Facts & figures, trends, top companies,
national/regional/global
Industry Associations
Great 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 Gass
Reference Librarian for Management
Cook Library, Towson University
sgass@towson.edu / 410-704-2395
Thanks and good luck!