BA 400 - Corporate Responsibility

Once you have selected the company you're going to use for your project, you will need to do some research on that company. This page will provide suggestions for databases to use for company research and some key types of information to look out for. Along with searching in these databases, you should also explore your company's website and their social media platforms. 

Databases for company research: 

• D&B Hoovers: Extensive access to public and private company profiles and regularly updated industry profiles. You can also find information about a particular company's main competitors, and SEC filings for public companies.
• Mergent Online: provides access to current and historical financial information on 15,000 U.S. and 20,000 foreign companies, both active and inactive. Included are firm descriptions, statistics, financial information, and annual reports. Mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, long-term debt, bond ratings, capital stock, insider trading, etc. are provided in the company records. 

Databases for industry research: 

• IBISWorld: Industry market research reports include information such as major industry changes and growth trends. Also available are company profiles at include SWOT analyses and market share concentration.

• FitchConnect: Use the "advanced search" capabilities. Type search terms into the search box and limit them to the "title and first paragraph" fields. For example, construction industry united states.
• Business Insights: Global: Scroll to the “Explore Industries” section to retrieve industry reports, market share reports or industry essays. Industry reports give the number of companies, number of employees, annual revenue, and NAICS code, among other data.

It is important to establish realistic research goals since company information varies in quantity depending on the type of company.

• Public Companies: SEC financial filings, numerous press releases, earnings calls, media events, conference presentations, mentioned in national press (Wall Street Journal, USA, Time, Fortune)
• Private Companies: No SEC financial filings, few press releases or public events, mentioned in regional/local press (Crain's Detroit Business, local newspapers, etc.)

For either type of company, these are some core things to look for: 

• Established (when, where, by whom)
• Public or private company
• Services or products
• Customers
• Industry status
• SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Future plans for growth
• Culture
• Hiring practices (contract employee vs regular employee status)