FYS Library Instruction: BTF101 Business & Tech. FYS

Optional assignment: 

BTF 101 - Business

Activity: Profiling the Global Impact of a Company

Location: Computer Lab during Studio Hour

Introduction:

Searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative, requiring the evaluation of a range of information sources and the mental flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as new understanding develops. Business research frequently relies on using often-expensive information products to gain or protect some sort of market advantage or position. This lesson will introduce students to the idea that information is a valuable and essential tool for solving business problems.

This session will result in students gaining hands-on experience working with a variety of business research tools, with students focusing on the global aspects of business. Students will learn the process of using specific business research tools for specific kinds of research, mirroring the type of work they will be expected to perform as part of the workforce.

Slides available here: https://shortlib.org/s/btfesson

1. Review agenda.(2 minutes)

2. Think/pair/share: What makes information valuable to people working in the business world? Encourage students to think about things like market research and competitive intelligence, where scarcity and exclusivity might add value. Ask students to consider the research they might do to launch a business or a new product. Discuss how these parameters might also apply to academic research. (10 minutes)

3. Go through slides, introducing the different types of business information:

   1. Popular

   2. Trade/Industry

   3. Directory

   4. Scholarly

Discuss the value of each format of information. Remember that recency isn't absolute. (10 minutes)

4. Briefly demonstrate one to two databases, showing how to find information by format (Consider showing Statista or eMarketer for flashy graphs and market data; Business Insights: Global and Business Source Complete each cover all four formats, although BSC doesn't have great directory information... Business Insights and Business Source Complete are both used in the homework assignment):

Show some searches that address the global impact of the businesses, like Royal Dutch Shell and global. Show how to pull out the global aspects of a search (shown in slides). You might also do a directory search, pull up articles about the company, and then show how you scan the articles for keywords. (10 minutes)

5. Introduce the homework assignment. (3 minutes)

(Optional) Homework / ePortfolio Assignment:

Research Reflection

Today you learned how to find four different kinds of research information.

1. Choose one of the global companies below to research (stock symbols are in parenthesis).

• Walmart (WMT)

• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS)

• Exxon Mobil (XOM)

• Toyota Motor (TM)

• Apple (AAPL)

• BP (BP)

• Alphabet, aka Google (GOOG)

2. Choose an information format and use either Business Insights: Essential OR Business Source Complete to research your company and its global impact:

3. Post a screen capture of what you found and briefly answer these two questions on your ePortfolio:

1. Do you consider the information you found valuable? Why or why not?

2. What makes information valuable?