This webinar presentation outlines how to use the Business Insights: Global database for business school assignments. It details the various types of resources available in the database that can help students complete typical assignments involving analyzing company histories, strengths/weaknesses, opportunities/threats, and developing international business strategies. Resources discussed include company profiles, industry reports, rankings, newspapers/journals, and country profiles providing economic and risk data. Steps are provided for using specific BI:G content to complete each part of a sample strategic analysis assignment.

1. Dinah Ramirez
Training Specialist
Gale Cengage Learning
dinah.ramirez@cengage.com
800.877.4253 x8047
Please Note: Audio for this webinar will come from your
computer speakers and will begin at the start of the session.
Using Business Insights: Global for
Business School Assignments

2. Today’s Agenda

3. • Company Profiles
• Industry Overviews
• SWOT Reports
• Brands/Products
• Industry/Company Rankings
• Market Share
• Investment Reports
• Company Histories
• Newspapers
• Journals/Trade Magazines
• Industry Associations
• Case Studies & Country Profiles
What’s in it?

4. Typical Business School Assignment:
Complete a Strategic Analysis for a Company
1) History, development, & growth of a company over time
2) Identify the company's internal strengths and weaknesses
3) Identify the company's opportunities and threats
4) Analyze corporate-level strategy
5) Make Recommendations: Interpret & Analyze Findings

5. Step 1:
History, development, & growth of a company over time
Go to BI:G for…
Comparison Charts

6. Step 2:
Identify the company's internal strengths and weaknesses
Go to BI:G for…
SWOT REPORTS

7. Step 3:
Identify the company's opportunities and threats
Go to BI:G for…
SWOT REPORTS

8. • Company Hierarchies
• Subsidiaries
• Acquisitions
• Mergers
Step 4:
Analyze the corporate-level strategy
Go to BI:G for…

9. Step 5:
Make Recommendations: Interpret & Analyze Findings

10. You’ll need the previous information plus….
country profiles, country comparison charts, and country risk overviews!
Background of Citizens for a country (or countries)
• Literacy Rates
• Average Life Expectancy
• Population Growth
Economic Environment
• GDP/GDP Growth
• Inflation
• Unemployment Rate
Country Risk
• Political Risk Outlook (Political Climate/Corruption Perception)
• Economic Risk Outlook (Currency depreciation/Unemployment)
• Commercial Risk Outlook (Business profits/Credit Risk/Loan Quality)
Develop an International Business Strategy for a company

11. Assign Case Studies
Create reading lists by using the “Share” feature
• Read
• Analyze
• Discuss

12. How to Access: www.mel.org

13. Questions?
Dinah Ramirez
Training Specialist
Gale Cengage Learning
dinah.ramirez@cengage.com
Deb Biggs-Thomas
Michigan eLibrary & Outreach Coordinator
BiggsThomasD@michigan.gov
Randy Riley
Michigan eLibrary & Outreach Coordinator
RileyR1@michigan.gov