Handbooks and encyclopedias often give a good overview of a subject area and provide relevant background information, as well as key terms that can be used when searching the databases.  Search for them in the library's catalogue by Keyword.  

• The Blackwell encyclopedia of management 
  12 volumes with each volume covering a different stream within business.  
• The AMA dictionary of business and management  
• ​The leadership skills handbook

Writing & Citing

For help with writing reports, do a subject search in the library catalogue for:

• Business report writing
• Report writing -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
• Purdue OWL - Geneneral Writing Resources
    Explore section The Writing Process for tips on Creating a Thesis Statement, Developing an Outline and more

Suggested Titles

• AMA handbook of business writing   HF5726 .A55 2010
• Wall Street Journal guide to information graphics: the dos and don'ts of presenting data, facts and figures - HF5718.22 .W65 2010

Guides

• Chicago Manual of Style Online
• Purdue OWL - Research and Citation Resources

Citation Management

There are many free citation/document management systems available.   

Company Information

Begin with the company's 10K or annual report - usually found on their web site or by doing a google search of company name and 10K or annual report.   Read the Management Discussion and Analysis - (MD&A) section of the Annual Report or 10k.   Read the letter to the shareholders from the CEO in the company's annual report. 

Provides profiles and investment assessments for Canadian companies with assessments of 33 Canadian industry sectors. 

• SEDAR 
• Frasers
  Online Canadian business and manufacturing directory, searchable by company, product or brand name.
• ScottsInfo 
  Online Canadian business and manufacturing directory of more than 115,000 companies and 210,000 executive contacts. Allows searching by geographic and demographic indicators, by products and by contact information indicators.

Global (includes Canadian data)

• Bloomberg 
  Global financial information network with access to access to current and historical financial information. See our help guides for instructions and tips.  
• Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS)
• CRSP
  1925 US stock database and CRSP historical indexes
• Mergent Online
• EDGAR
• Factiva

SWOT Analysis

• Passport Select Companies from the top tab and key in your company name.  Select relevant segment and open the profile.  Look in the table of contents for a SWOT analysis
• Business Source Complete Search for your company and limit to SWOT from filters listed below the search box.

Industry Information

• Business Source Complete - search your topic, product, company or industry.  Under Refine your results choose Industry Overview and Industry Profile.
• Bloomberg 
• Mergent Online - when connected, select the Report Search tab from the menu.   Select industry of interest and then geographical region.  
• Factiva - mouse over Companies/Markets from menu bar at top of page, select Industry.   Select industry from the list provided.  Published profiles are found under Analysis and Profiles from menu on left.
• Passport - Select Industries from the menu tab and narrow by country.   Tip - choose the industry plus specific parts of industry as there is often more than one industry profile.
• Conference Board of Canada e-Library - Browse by topic -> Industry Sector Economics for industry profiles or enter industry name in the search box.
• HighBeam Business: Industry Reports    Free industry reports from The Gale Group on US industries. 

Specialized reports from reputable sources: 

•  World Energy Outlook 2016 from the OECD
• Global Auto Report from Scotiabank
   

Look for valuable information and data from industry associations and NGOs
     Lobbyists (industry associations) are the interface between government and business.  They work for the best interests of the industry and try to persuade governments to support them on issues.   They often provide information and data to the public.   To find the relevant association(s) for your industry,  search google for  the industry + country + association.   A few examples:

• Canadian Toy Association
• Retail Council of Canada
• American Apparel & Footwear Association
• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
• Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) 

Many non-governmental organizations are critics of industry.  They act as a watchdog for the public and lobby governments to be diligent in overseeing activities of an industry.  To find relevant NGOs, search google by keyword(s) + protection or organization.  A few examples:

• Consumer Federation of America (CFA)
• Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN)
• Automobile Protection Association

Government Sources

• Canada -  Statistics Canada CANSIM
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2012
• United States - Census Bureau - Industry Statistics Portal