Rock Camp for Music and Business

Which device manufacturer can best compete with Apple?

About

The Summer 2013 Business Cluster students are charged with determining which company is strategically positioned to best rival Apple in the future in the area of mobile touchscreen devices, such as tablets and phones. This guide will help them you to do an external analysis which entails researching and analyzing the industry, market, and competition to identify the trends and key success factors.

Analyzing your company

The resources in this section will contain company financial information, SWOT analyses, stock/equity/analyst reports, financial ratios and comparisons, and more. Some resources in this section also give industry overviews and analyses.

OneSource OneSource is another fantastic resource for company and industry information. It has company news, financials, SWOT analyses, ratio comparisons, peer analysis, stock reports and more. I prefer the Freedonia Reports when looking at the U.S. industry, and the BMI reports when looking at international markets. For company info, simply search for your company. S&P Net Advantage S&P NetAdvantage is a key tool to use when researching this industry. S&P NetAdvantage has an industry report for the “Computer Hardware” industry, which is updated every six months. This report will have information about phone and tablet manufacturers. The industry reports can be very useful in performing a PEST analysis, particularly when addressing the “economic” area. To find these reports, click on the Industry Tab in NetAvantage, then select the industry in the drop-down menu. Be sure to look for the “downloadable company data” link on the left side of the page as well. It has stock reports and company financials for major companies. The Compustat Excel Analytics are great when analyzing companies. This video shows you how to find them. Mergent Online Mergent Online is a great tool for looking at both company and industry information. It has Equity Reports for major companies. Take a look at this video for how to find Equity Reports in Mergent Online. It is a great way to compare companies in the same industry. This video shows you how to compare companies in the same home improvement retail industry with Mergent Online. (just change the companies to compare within your industry). SEC Filings

The 10-k (annual SEC filings) for individual companies contain financial information for companies, as well as textual descriptions of business strategies, risk factors, competition, and more. Look in Part 1, Item 1 and Item 1A for this information in a company’s 10-K report. This is a great resource to use for understanding how companies define their business, risks, competitors, etc.

Value Line Value Line, while a print resource, is a good place to find one-page snapshots of companies. The Value Line report is very similar to a stock report, and includes forecast information as well for each company Ask for Value Line at the 2nd Floor Service Desk in Alden Library. Current news and events around the companies and industries

If you are looking for current news about your company and industry, these resources will save you time.

Factiva Factiva is a great resource for looking for news about companies in the industry. You will also find company profiles, financials, ratios, and more in the “Companies & Markets” section of Factiva. This video shows you how to use Factiva effectively when analyzing your company. LexisNexis Academic LexisNexis is a great source for company or industry news, company profiles, legal cases, financials, family trees, accounting publications, law journals, and more. This is an especially good resource when looking for legal issues facing companies in the industry. Analyzing your industry and market

The resources in this section have broad industry analyses and overviews. Bear in mind that touchscreen device (tablets/phones) manufacturing is often done by companies that make computes, electronics, and other products.

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Faulkner's Advisory for IT Studies

Faulkner's Advisory for IT Studies (direct link) has technology reports that cover the industry, trends, and forecasts. A great resource for this particular project.

Plunkett Research Plunkett Research has a section for Games, Apps, and Social Media, where you can find Market Research and Statistics. IbisWorld IbisWorld is a good place to get broad industry analysis on computer manufacturing, wireless telephone and data services, computer software, and other broad industries in which Apple and its competitors operate. First Research First Research provides industry profiles on over 600 industry segments covering the competitive landscape, products, operations, technology finance, regulation, and more. Simply search for “mobile ” to get some excellent reports such as “Mobile Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturing” Passport GMID Passport GMID has an excellent reports that addresses industry growth, competitive environment, buyers, suppliers, bargaining power, and more. To get to the reports, use the industry browse tab to look for Consumer Electronics. Also be sure to Consumer Lifestyles section under the “Countries and Consumers” tab. Passport GMID also offers essential macroeconomic information that can be really useful in performing a PEST analysis. This video shows you how to find information from GMID that addresses the broad Political, Economic, Social, and Technological trends affecting industries. This video shows you how to find information from Passport GMID for your PEST analysis. Mintel Oxygen Mintel Oxygen is an excellent source for market research reports pertaining to this industry. Simply browse in the “Technology” category to find reports on Mobile Phones, Digital Trends, Mobile Apps, Mobile Phones and Table Accessories, and more. Statista Use Statista to find interesting statistics, facts, and figures about the mobile device industry. Simply search for the company or brand name to find relevant statistics and reports. Be sure to check out the relevant Statista Dossiers (found under reports) for various companies and products/markets. Finding Trade Press and News

The resources in this section can help you find information from trade publications and journals within the industry. Since these publications are often written by industry insiders, they can give you great information for understanding the companies and industry.

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Business Source Complete

Business Source Complete has a lot of useful information that can take your research to the next level. I have it listed here last not because it is the least important, but because I would us articles and reports from Business Source Complete to fill in the gaps of your research. You will find Industry Profiles and Trade Publications that can enhance the broad coverage of other industry reports.

Computers & Applied Sciences Complete

While Computers & Applied Sciences Complete (direct link) may look identical to Business Source Complete, it indexes different publications. For this project, many of the more computer and tech-focused publications may be of great help.

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Italy on the Map

The Ohio University Global Consulting Program is going to Italy, and they need to brush up on some business customs, etiquette, culture, negotiations, and more.  Some key resources covering those topics can be found below.

Some suggested search terms for this topic:  Italy, business etiquette, protocol, negotiations, communication, intercultural communication.

In addition to the resources below, you might try searching for the above terms to find related information in Business Source Complete, Hospitality & Tourism Complete, and Communications & Mass Media Complete.

Passport Italy : Your Pocket Guide to Italian Business, Customs & Etiquette Click to connect to Passport Italy This ebook contains lots of information on cultural stereotypes, strategies for success, negotiations, dress and appearance, communication styles, and much more. Italy:  A Comprehensive Guide for Business Click to connect to the resource I will admit that this is not the best resource on the page, but it is useful for some content on business dress code, business manners, and negotiations. Global Road Warrior:  Italy Click to Connect to Global Road Warrior (available via Course Reserves) This is a wonderful resource for the business traveler. For business etiquette information, as well as dress, negotiations, and more, look to page 31 of the pdf. The information at the beginning of the document offers great tips for business travelers. Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands : Italy Click to connect to Kiss Bow..Italy via Course Reserves An excellent resource for business travel, negotiations, etiquette, and more. Management in Europe:  Italy Click to connect to Management in…..Italy via Course Reserves Contains great information on Italian managerial qualities, attitudes, behaviors, and relationships. Business Travel in Italy Click to connect to Business Travel in Italy This ebook offers lots of tips on “making a good impression”, “doing business”, negotiations, and more. Country Watch Country Watch offers business culture information for each country.  The “Do’s and Taboos” section can help keep you out of trouble. Intersource Country Insights Intersource Country Insights contains country facts and cultural information on the countries of the world. Intercultural issues may include: Conversations, Communication Styles, Displays of Emotion,Dress, Punctuality, and Formality, Stereotypes, Relationship building, Preferred Managerial Qualities, Conflict in the Workplace, and much more. Please note that some information is from a Canadian perspective. globalEdge Italy

The section for Italy in globalEdge offers a lot of information, including coverage of business culture.

Italy Career Guide Click to connect to Italy Career Guide This is a really large pdf that contains a lot of useful content.  Business Culture/Etiquette information begins on page 124 of the pdf, and covers Time Management, Communication Style, Office Protocol, Management Styles, Corporate Hierarchy / Boss and Subordinate Relations, Business Practices, Women in the Workplace, and more. Minding Your Manners Click to Connect to Minding Your Manners Note:  This particular ebook only allows one user at a time.  If you get the “Sorry, ebook is in use” message, try again later. Contains information on business and office protocol, delegation, teamwork, competition, and more.

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This ebook

This guide lists tons of resources to help you analyze your company.

This page contains resources and tips for OICP students who are researching a company  and the industry in which it belongs.  While not meant to be a comprehensive list, the suggestions offered here will get them well on their way. While a full suite of company information resources can be found here, and lots of industry resources here,  these are the best ones for this specific project.

OneSource OneSource is one of the best places to start if you know nothing about a company, or are new to company and industry research.  It is an excellent database for company profiles, industry and market research reports, SWOT analyses, analyst reports, and more. Tip:  Once you enter OneSource from the Business Blog, you have to click the “OneSource” link at the bottom of the Reference USA  page (under “Available Database”)  to get to the database.  OneSource is fairly simple to use.  Just search for your company or your industry in the search boxes on the home page. Click here for video tips on using OneSource. LexisNexis Academic LexisNexis is a great source for company or industry news, company profiles, legal cases, financials, family trees, accounting publications, law journals, and more. Tip:  Your best bet is to use the “Get Company Info” box on the right side of the page to search for you company.  On the company page you will find a good deal of financials, news, and more. You can find video tips on using LexisNexis here. Mergent Online Mergent Online offer extensive company financials, filings, equity and industry reports, and much more. Information can be screened, selected, and downloaded.  The company comparisons feature of Mergent is also very robust. Use “Reports” tab in Mergent to find Equity Reports for your company, and industry reports for the industry.  Bear in mind that the industry coverage is pretty broad, so there may not be a report on your specific industry (check IbisWorld and First Research for more industry coverage).  Also, Mergent may not have Equity reports for all companies, but you may be able to find a similar report in OneSource or NetAdvantage. The “Competitors” tab is also very useful for quickly benchmarking a company against its peers You can download up to 15 years of financial information for your company Click here for video tips on using Mergent Online. Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage S&P NetAdvantage provides online access to a variety of company, industry, and country reports, including Standard and Poor’s Stock Reports, EDGAR filings, Standard and Poor’s Industry Surveys, and much more. Use the industry tab in NetAdvantage to find comprehensive Industry Surveys and to download Industry Financial Data.  Note that only about 50 of the largest industries are covered.  For more industries, look at IbisWorld or First Research. The Stock Reports are also extremely useful in analyzing a company The Compustat Excel Analytics provide excellent financial comparisons among industry peers Click here for video tips on using NetAdvantage. SEC Filings

The 10-k (annual SEC filings) for individual companies contain financial information for companies, as well as textual descriptions of business strategies, risk factors, competition, and more.  Look in Part 1, Item 1 and Item 1A for this information in a company’s 10-K report.

IbisWorld

IBISWorld contains in-depth, regularly updated industry reports for over 700 United States NAICS-classified industries that include analysis, forecast, ratios, market share, and more.

First Research First Research provides industry profiles on over 600 industry segments covering the competitive landscape, products, operations, technology finance, regulation, and more. Factiva Factiva is a very powerful database that can be used to find company, industry, and business news, as well as company profiles, stock prices, and more.  Be sure to check out this video on how to track a company’s interest in Factiva. Business Source Complete Business Source Complete allows you to find articles about your company and the industry in which it belongs. One of the best places to look for industry information is in the trade publications that cover the specific industry. Just search for your topic in BSC, and the limit to “Trade Publications” in the options on the left side of the results page. Mintel Oxygen

Mintel Oxygen provides market research reports about consumer markets.  Simply search for your company’s product, or the company itself, to see if relevant reports are available.

Passport GMID

Passport GMID has both market research reports for product categories in over 70 international markets, as well as industry reports for the United States.