Business Research Sources .com

Sample Syllabus

For a Course on Business Research Reference Techniques
Any University
Course: XXX Business Reference
Research Techniques

I. COURSE OVERVIEW:

The purpose of this course is to help prepare senior students for employment in the industry of their choice. The student is assigned the responsibility for selecting an industry he or she is interested in and studying the parameters of that industry (e.g., productivity, unions, exports, technology, profits, legislation, etc.). Once the students have developed a foundation of knowledge in their industry, they must choose a company within that industry that they would like to study and possibly work for. A company profile is created that shows the history, personalities, product lines, marketing strategies, and so on, that best portray the activities of the company. Once the profile is created the student must select a product or service from this company and analyze it. Finally, the student must review the political, economic, social or technological issues (or a combination of issues) that pose an opportunity or threat to the company's profitability or even survival. Students should construct a matrix composed of industry, company, and product down the side, and political, economic, social, or technological issues across the top; then identify the appropriate box or boxes that are issue related. Having researched and analyzed these four important areas of the student's interest, he or she should be confident of competitively looking for a job in the student's chosen field.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Encourage independent research on the student's part that is pertinent to his or her career. The independent research is to be carried out in the library and through companies, associations, unions, government agencies, brokers, and other sources of vital information.
2. Develop teamwork by having students assist each other in obtaining information regarding their stated interests and goals. The corporate environment requires teamwork; preparation for this should be developed through students helping each other meet the requirements of the course (sharing reference discoveries, telephone numbers, and contact people).
3. Learn research techniques and obtain pertinent information that will be of use to the students in their careers. The goal of becoming specialists within an industry is enhanced by students collecting and maintaining information that can be the beginning of their professional literature and reference collections. These objectives will be met by individual research efforts, personal presentations, and report writing. The professor will be seeking to enhance the quality of the performance of the students by requiring that comprehensive reference searches have been conducted in all of the report areas. It's a lot of work, but as said by Viktor Frankl. . . "What is to give light must endure burning."

III. REQUIRED TEXTS:

1. F. Patrick Butler, Business Research Sources: A Reference Navigator, Chrysalis Publishing
2. Michael R. Lavin, Business Information: How to Find It, How to Use It, Oryx Press.

In addition, many textbooks used during the students' academic career are good initial sources to research their assignments. Most students do NOT have a sufficient command of the resources in the library and therefore will be expected to significantly improve their familiarity with the reference material available. The librarians are prepared for this course and will initiate a research "reference hunt" on one of the first library visits to introduce the student to the search techniques. The easiest solution to the problem of finding the right reference sources is to ask the librarian. This is not the way to learn how to research information. The reference librarians are to be used only as a last resort.

IV. COURSE OUTLINE:

The course will meet on specific days and times in the library or the classroom assigned or revised as the professor sees fit. The library session is independent research time on the student's part; however, the professor and aide will be present to assist and check on the progress of the student's activities.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Industry report:
   • 6 to 8 pages; typewritten/double-spaced.
   • Submitted/presented - (date).
   • Report criteria - student directed.
2. Company report:
   • Six to eight pages; typewritten/double-spaced.
   • Submitted/presented - (date).
   • Report criteria - student directed.
3. Product/service report:
   • Six to eight pages; typewritten/double-spaced.
   • Submitted/presented - (date).
   • Report criteria - student directed.
4. Issue paper:
• Six to eight pages; typewritten/double-spaced.
• Submitted/presented - (date).

VI. GRADING POLICIES:

Preparations are an example of quality of effort. Missed classes (3) either in the classroom or the library without the permission of the instructor; or missed or lack of preparation for presentations (1) will cost 20 percent of the student's final grade.

The format of the reports will be developed by the students with only steering assistance of the professor. The students must take the initiative to develop the best criteria possible and use this criteria to both write their reports and present their material

No final exam scheduled.
Any suggestions or comments for the improvement of this course are actively solicited by the professor.