Research Guides: BA 6430: Customer Engagement: Audit Assignment

Company & Industry Resources

Mergent Intellect This link opens in a new window
Access to Hoover's private and public U.S. and international companies information including basic financials, family trees, and Company Brief for current news.
Also see First Research industry profiles for competitors, issues, trends, and opportunities.
To access First Research industry reports, click on First Research below the main search box and then, the orange Submit button on the left side of the page.
View the Company Searching tutorial for more insights.
Mergent Online This link opens in a new window
Access detailed company financial information.
Most data can be exported to Excel. Full company reports and tear sheets are printable in PDF format. View the Finding Financials tutorial for more insights.

General Company Research Guide
Try other databases to find more information about your company. Note tabs for Private Companies and Non-Profits.

Statista This link opens in a new window
Select Company DB at the top or Reports, then Brands and Companies for dossiers and company info.
View the Finding Data tutorial for more insights.

Broad Trend Resources

Connect This link opens in a new window
International business intelligence database analyzing political, economic, legal, tax, operational and security risk ratings. Obtain advanced forecasts and current ratings analysis at global, regional or country-specific levels.
Tip: Mouse over Geography and select your country. Then, click on Full Country/Territory Report Dashboard to see the Country Risk report.
View the Economic Research tutorial for more insights.

Pew Research Center
"Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research."

Library Search - Advanced This link opens in a new window
Articles, books, & media among SMU Libraries' collections & databases

Consumer Research Resources

Mintel Reports This link opens in a new window
Business-to-consumer focused market research reports. Find reports covering consumer packaged goods and the finance industry. Lifestyle Reports cover psychographic findings for a wide variety of demographic groups. Mintel reports are mainly US focused.
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
Passport This link opens in a new window
International business intelligence on industries, countries, & consumers
View the Market Research tutorial for more insights.
Gartner This link opens in a new window
Technology-focused analysis, insights, trends, best-practices and forecasts for multiple industries
Forrester Research This link opens in a new window
Information technology market research
Statista This link opens in a new window
Select Reports, then Consumer Reports at the top. Use the filters on the left for country and industry.
View the Finding Data tutorial for more insights.

Ipsos
This market research firm provides free reports on branding, customer experience, and more. Click on Innovation & Knowledge to browse.

Why Do I Need This Guide?

You will be doing a Customer Engagement Audit which requires you to find background information on your company and its competition and/or industry. Then you will consider broad economic, legal, environmental and political trends as they affect your business. You will also need to find research on consumers (Millennials and GenZ) and consider the role of digital marketing. This research guide will direct you toward potential sources to ensure success.

Related Guides

Further Your Skills with Workshops

The one-hour, hands on Demographic & Consumer Research workshop focuses on resources that provide demographic and psychographic data.

Business Research Workshops

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