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MBA Resource Guide: Industry Research

A resource for conducting research and accessing library resources for the Masters of Business Administration academic program.

Industry Research

This page provides tips on conducting industry and market research. This type of research generally analyzes market share, key competitors and peers in an industry, industry size and trends, business environment and risks. Market research also analyzes demographics and consumer behavior. 

Research can be done using library databases such as First Research, ValueLine or Business Source Complete according to the instructions illustrated below. Or, consider using some of the suggested websites for sources such as government data or trade and professional associations.  

Sources and Instructions for Industry Research

EBSCO's Business Source Complete includes company profile MarketLine reports and Barnes Reports in addition to business-related articles from scholarly and trade publication journals.


Step 1: Browse or Search for an Industry by keyword or NAICS code


 

Here is an example of searching by NAICS code

 

Step 2: Limit your results by Source Types. Choose Industry Profiles (where you will find Marketline and Barnes Reports). 

Industry Research Tips

Questions Asked in Industry Analysis...

  • Industry Codes: What is the designated S.I.C or NAICS classification codes for the industry? 
  • News, Trends, and Forecasts: Where is the industry now? Where might it be in 1-5 years? Is the industry in growth or decline mode?
  • Economic Indicators: What factors might influence the economic forecast of the industry? Is the industry cyclical or non-cyclical? How much does the price of commodities used in production effect the overall price?
  • Market Shares: Who are the dominant players in the industry (companies & countries)? What is the size of the market that they control or influence?
  • Financial Information: What is the total financial size of the industry? 
  • Innovations: Is the industry innovative with new products? Are the products on a predetermined cycle (certain times of the year designated for new product announcements)?
  • Legal Issues: What are the current or future regulatory issues effecting the industry? What are the major state, federal or international bodies influencing the industry? Are there pending bills or regulations that may have a significant impact on the industry?

Industry Classification Codes