RESOURCES FOR COMMERCIALIZATION RESEARCH
GEB 6930 - SUMMER 2007
LIBRARIAN: Bruce Barron

---

Accessing Information:

The address of the Library’s web site is (http://www.fau.edu/library). In order to access databases from home you must use EZ Proxy. This can be done by going to Quick Links on the homepage and then selecting <Off Campus Connect>. You should then enter your Owl Card number. Make sure your number has been activated at the Library.

Business databases can be found by going to Index/Databases and then choosing the appropriate category in Databases by Subject. Databases can also be located in alphabetical order by selecting Databases by Title.

Evaluating Resources:

The World Wide Web can be useful for providing some types of information but normally research using Databases will provide better sources of information. Some sources in databases include market reports, investment reports, trade journals, industry newspapers, general business magazines, Wall Street Journal, business newswires, and scholarly journals.

These sources have different degrees of reliability. Check to see if the information is current and from an authoritative source. Also examine for objectivity and accuracy.

SELECTED DATABASES

You must use EZ Proxy to access databases from off campus.

Ø   Business and Company Resource Center  is a fully integrated resource bringing together company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies and periodicals. Search this database to find detailed company and industry news and information. Also included are industry overviews, information on research and technology, and contacts for companies and associations.

Ø    Business Source Premier contains full text coverage in all disciplines of business including marketing, management, finance and economics. Provides company profiles with material on products and services as well as industry profiles. Searches are possible for product reviews and market research reports.

Ø    S&P Net Advantage  is an invaluable source for finding an Industry Survey and learning about current environments and emerging trends. Industry references provide information on trade associations and research firms.  

Ø     Marketline can be used to locate industry profiles and is especially good for researching conditions in foreign markets. Detailed reports give market value, competitive landscape, leading companies, and market forecasts.

Ø    ABI/INFORM Complete supplies journal and newspaper articles from a vast array of publishers and trade organizations. Using Advanced Search you may choose to search by company name or find articles about industries by using NAICS codes.

Ø    Thomas Register provides information on over 158,000 companies indexed by name, product classifications, and specific brand names. Find out who would be interested in potential products or services. Gives links to online supplier catalogs, company web sites, and summary company profiles.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES 

Ø    Plunkett Research This resource provides industry sector analysis and research, industry trends and industry statistics. Subjects include competitive intelligence, account plan or sales guide data, market research, vertical industry marketing data, product strategy data, trends analysis, statistics, job search data, company profiles and executive lists. 

Ø    Global Market Information Database provides key business intelligence on countries, companies, markets and consumers. It is an integrated on-line information system covering over 350 markets and 207 countries. 

Ø    TableBase is an international database that specializes exclusively in tabular data dealing with companies, industries, products and demographics. Tables cover market share, rankings, forecasts, shipments, output, consumption, users, exports, imports, capacity and more. 

Ø    Mergent Online provides past and present financial information in a convenient and flexible format which allows downloading to Excel. Use Edgar to locate 10-K and other reports.  

Ø   Patent Information Research Guide provides links to information on the process of doing patent research and resources for doing patent searches. .  

Ø    Quicklook Commercialization Assessment is a web resource from the University of Texas which offers a possible method for researching commercial interest in an invention or area of research. Use FAU resources to investigate potential markets, find industry trends, locate industry forecasts, and identify company contacts.

Ø    More sources for business news coverage include LexisNexis Academic and Business Full Text. Detailed information on the business environment and market conditions in foreign countries can be found in Country Commerce and Country Watch.

FINDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE:

Ask-A-Librarian email reference help

Reference desk phone number: 561-297-3785

Make an appointment with a librarian: One-on-one reference consultation