Research Guides: Master of Business Administration (MBA): Industry Research

Industry Research Tutorial

Learn how to conduct Industry research using some of our business databases. Learn how to navigate to these databases and how to search each to get industry reports, articles, and financial information.

Before You Begin

Prior to initiating research on an assigned industry consider the following points:

Identify types of information required for your assignment or project
Industry growth: increasing, declining or stagnate?
Products or services (current and new)
Companies that lead the market in revenue and products and services
Current trends (economic or technical)
Future forecast, factors and threats that may affect the industry, such as: natural disaster and political strife
Major consumers
Major competitors
Structure of the industry
Compare industry and market data

Use the industrial classification and research boxes on this page. Contact a librarian for assistance.

Industry Research

IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
US and global industry reports, including overviews, industry performance, and outlook, key companies and statistics, operating conditions, and useful infographics.
Business environment profiles, including consumer behavior, demographics, economics, commodities, and financial markets.
Search by NAICS code or keywords.

Country Profile Reports
Find Country Profile Reports from Country Watch in the Business Source Complete database.

To find a report for a specific country, follow these instructions:

After clicking on the link above, you will be directed to a listing of country reports.
Type the country name in the second search box from the top, then click the Search button.
Click on your the title of the Country Report e.g. Morocco.
After clicking on the title, select the PDF link on the left for the full report.
To download or print the report, use the menu that appears at the top of the PDF.
You can also email the report to yourself or get the citation information by using the menu on the right hand side of the page.

World Data Atlas
World and regional statistics, national data, maps, rankings

Global Road Warrior This link opens in a new window
Provides information about 175 countries, including "culture, customs, history and language."

Classification systems are utilized by economists and statisticians to organize company and industry information.

Standard Industrial Classification Code (SIC)
Provides industry description and sub-classifications.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
The standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
SIC to NAICS Crosswalk
Beginning in the 1930s, the industry coding system used to assign industry codes was the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). Due to changes in economic conditions the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was established in 1997.

Standard and Poor's Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)
The GICS structure consists of 10 sectors, 24 industry groups, 68 industries and 154 sub-industries. Their methodology has been widely accepted as an industry analysis framework for investment research, portfolio management and asset allocation.
Standard International Trade Classification
The United Nations Statistics Commission created this system for use in the analysis of international merchandise trade by interested countries and international organizations.

Industry News

Market Watch
U.S. Industry News

Global and international industry news from The Wall Street Journal.