Research Guide to Business

This research guide provides information relevant to students in BUS100, although there is also information on business law in Arizona, as well as on marketing, finance and investment, and business writing. You may also find the Research Guide to Accounting helpful.

• Introduction/How to Search
• Reference Resources (Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, eBooks, Etc.)
• Online Databases
• Web Sites

 Indicates title is an ebook

Introduction/How to Search

Librarians do not simply buy materials and randomly put them onto the shelves. Each new item is classified-meaning it is examined carefully and assigned a number to make sure that materials on the same subject are shelved together. Pima College's Library uses the Library of Congress classification system, as does the University of Arizona. This system assigns each subject a combination of letters and numbers, then uses these letters and numbers to arrange materials on the shelves. (For more information see How to Read a Call Number.)

The following table shows how some basic subject headings in business are classified. Clicking on any of these subject headings will start a search for the subject in the Library catalog.

Reference Resources

This section lists a few business reference tools. Not all the print resources listed are available at all campus libraries. Check the Library catalog to verify the availability of titles.

• Atkinson, Toby D. Merriam-Webster's Guide to International Business Communications. 2nd ed. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996. Call no.: HF5718 .A765 1996. This handbook to business communications provides information about 47 countries, including very practical information about communicating via mail, email, fax and phone systems.
  
• Baker, Deborah J., Ed.Gale E-Commerce Sourcebook. Detroit: Gale, 2003.  Combines a variety of information, including how-to topics in e-commerce and directory listings of companies, services, associations, and government agencies related to e-commerce, to provide the most relevant information and resources. Organized into three sections: how-to topics, directory information, and a listing of the top 250 e-commerce companies worldwide. Also includes rankings by revenue and number of employees for the e-commerce companies listed.
• Bly, Robert W. The Encyclopedia of Business Letters, Fax Memos, and E-Mail. Franklin Lakes, N.J.: Career Press, 1999.  This handbook is a "collection of model business correspondence for every conceivable occasion."
  
• Delaney, Patrick S. Wiley CPA Examination Review: Business Law and Professional Responsibilities. New York: Wiley, 2001.  The goal of this title is "to provide study outlines of Business Law and Professional Responsibilities as it is tested on the Uniform CPA Examination." It also includes recent exam questions organized by topic.
  
• Dicks, J. W. How to Incorporate and Start a Business in Arizona. Holbrook, Mass.: Adams Media Corp., 1998. Call no.: KFA2613.Z9 D53 1998. This title addresses the legal issues for incorporating and starting a business in Arizona. It includes information on selecting an operating entity, raising capital, dealing with the law, and preparing contracts and leases. Also included are forms required in Arizona.
  
• Dow, Sheila, Ed. Business Leader Profiles for Students. Detroit: Gale, 2002.  Covers 350 prominent individuals who have made significant contributions to business and industry. Profiles range from 1,250 to 2,500 words in length.
• Downes, John Goodman, Jordan Elliott. Barron's Finance & Investment Handbook. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron's Educational Series, 1998.  This large handbook is divided into five major sections: how to invest your money; how to read an annual report; how to read the financial pages; dictionary of finance and investment; and finance and investment ready reference.
  
• Encyclopedia of Small Business. Arsen J. Darnay and Monique Magee, editors. 3rd ed. Detroit: Thomson Gale, c2007. This reference source is designed to provide entrepreneurs with how-to information that they can apply to their own business. The Encyclopedia contains detailed articles and overviews of all the key information needs of small business users, including financing; financial planning; business plan creation; market analysis; sales strategy; tax planning and more.
• Hoover, Gary. Hoover's Handbook of American Business. 2 vols. Austin, Tex.: Reference Press Inc., 1991-. Call no.: HG4057 .A28627. Provides profiles 750 major U.S. business enterprises, including both publicly and privately hend companies, mutual and cooperative organizations, and a selection of other enterprises.
  
• ---. Hoover's Handbook of World Business. Austin, TX: Reference Press, 1991-. Call no.: HG4009 .H66. Offers profiles "300 of the largest and most interesting enterprises headquartered outside the United States." Each profile includes up to 10 years of financial data, as well as information on key personnel, events, products, and strategies.
  
• Hoover's Handbook of Private Companies. Austin, Tex.: Hoover's Business Press, 1997-. Call no.: HG4057 .A28616. Provides in-depth company profiles of some 900 major U.S. private companies. Features ‘the personalities, events, and strategies that have made these enterprises major players.’
  
• International Directory of Company Histories. Chicago: St. James Press, 1988-. Call no.: HD2721 .I63. This large, multi-volume encyclopedia contains detailed histories of the world's largest companies. Each entry also includes the company's legal name, mailing address of its headquarters, phone number, and whether the company is publicly owned, privately owned, or state controlled.
  
• The Irwin Business and Investment Almanac. 18th- ed. Burr Ridge, IL: Irwin Professional Pub., 1994-. Call no.: HF5351.D68x. This almanac contains "useful industry statistics, stock market averages, general business and economic indicators, and other data" from a variety of sources.
  
• Kaliski, Burton S., Ed. Encyclopedia of Business and Finance. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. Presents a depth of information on wide-ranging areas concerning business, including accounting, economics, finance, information systems law, management, and marketing. Arranged alphabetically, this two volume set includes extensive cross references and a comprehensive index.
  
• Morrison, Terri, Wayne A. Conaway, and Joseph J. Douress. Dun & Bradstreet's Guide to Doing Business around the World. Rev. ed. Paramus, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2001. Call no.: HF1416 .M78 2001. This handbook provides cultural, political and trade data for individuals and businesses interested in export marketing, international trade, and intercultural communication.
  
• Newman, Peter K., Murray Milgate, and John Eatwell. The New Palgrave Dictionary of Money & Finance. 3 vols. New York: Stockton Press, 1992. Call no.: HG151 .N48 1992. This multi-volume dictionary contains 1,000 essays on money and finance, including topics such as institutional analysis and description, monetary history, and problems of financial regulation.
  
• Nicholas, Ted. The Business Agreements Kit. Chicago: Upstart Pub. Co., 1996. This work provides information on "how to legally protect your business with more than 110 contracts, letters, agreements and forms."
  
• Pearce, Lynn, Ed. Encyclopedia of American Industries.  4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005.  Business reference encyclopedia providing detailed, comprehensive information on a wide range of industries in every realm of American business.
• Rosenberg, Jerry Martin. Dictionary of Business and Management. New York: J. Wiley, 1993. Call no.: HF1001 .R79 1993. This dictionary provides definitions of over 7,500 words, terms, and concepts, including terminology from over 30 business areas.
  
• Schaaf, Dick. Business Speak : 4,000 Business Terms, Buzzwords, Acronyms, and Technical Words : All You Need to Say to Get Ahead in Corporate America. New York: Warner Books, 1994. Call no.: HF1002.5.S32 1994. This small dictionary provides definitions of 4,000 business terms, including acronyms to buzzwords.
  
• Scott, David Logan. Wall Street Words : An Essential A to Z Guide for Today's Investor. Rev. ed. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. Call no.: HG4513 .S37 1997. This dictionary contains definitions of some 3,900 terms used in the world of investment, securities, and the stock exchanges.
  
• Shim, Jae K., and Michael Constas. Encyclopedic Dictionary of International Finance and Banking. Boca Raton, Fla.: St. Lucie Press, 2001. Call no.: HG3880 .S55 2001. This dictionary "covers virtually all important topics dealing with multinational business finance, money, investments, financial planning, financial economics, and banking."
  
• Siegel, Joel G. Schaum's Quick Guide to Business Formulas: 201 Decision-Making Tools for Business, Finance, and Accounting Students. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998. Designed for students taking accounting, finance, or statistics courses, "this study guide assembles 201 of the most common financial tools--formulas, tables, models--used in business today."
  
• Snell & Wilmer. Doing Business in Arizona : A Legal Guide. 2nd ed. Tucson: Published for Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. by the Univesity of Arizona Press, 1998. Call no.: KFA2481 .D65 1998. This handbook "brings together in one place the essential legal information for anyone who is planning to start a business, locate a facility, or invest in Arizona." It is organized in three broad sections: a brief factual look at Arizona; the U.S. legal system; and selected legal subjects.
  
• Staff, David A. The Routledge Dictionary of Business Management.  3rd ed. New York: Routledge, 2004. This dictionary defines terms in business, finance, corporate strategy, management accounting, marketing, and similar related areas.
  
• Wasserman, Paul. Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources. 16th ed. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., 2002. Call no.: HF5353 .E52. This source book contains 34,000 citations, useful web sites, e-mail addresses, and an alphabetic "sources cited" section, all "dealing with more than 1,100 business, financial, and industrial topics." These include topics business functions (e.g., accounting, administration, personnel management), computer-related subjects, foreign trade, and information industry topics.

Online Databases

Unless otherwise indicated, the databases below are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a student ID or a faculty/staff Library card.

• ABI/Inform provides access to thousands of periodicals in business, finance and economics. At PCC, we have configured ABI/Inform so that you will also simultaneously search the contents of several other ProQuest business databases including: Accounting & Tax (newspapers, journals and magazines on accounting, tax, and finance topics); Banking Information Source (for essential banking industry publications); Pharmaceutical News Index (for pharmacological news, research, and regulatory information); Asian Business and Reference (for the latest business and financial news from Asia); and European Business (for the latest business and financial news from Europe).
• Lexis-Nexis Academic offers over 6,000 titles covering General News, Business, Legal Research, Reference and Medicine. The service covers newspapers, magazines, wire services, federal and state court opinions, federal and state statutes, federal regulations, and SEC filings such as 10-K’s, 10-Q’s and their exhibits. News information is updated daily and wire services several times daily. Research areas in Lexis-Nexis Academic cover top news, general news topics, and news transcripts; non-English language news sources; company, industry, and market news; legal news; company financial information; accounting, auditing, and tax information; law reviews; federal case law; U.S. Code; state legal research; and financial and economic information on countries.
  
• Providing the full text for more than 2,300 journals, Business Source Premier provides full text back to 1965, and searchable cited references back as far as 1998. This database provides full text coverage in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, MIS, POM, accounting, finance and economics. Additional full text, non-journal content includes market research reports, industry reports, country reports, company profiles and SWOT analyses. Regional Business News is a supplemental database to Business Source Premier. With daily updates, it provides comprehensive full text from more than 50 sources for regional business publications (including titles from Crain Communications).
• If you are looking for information about companies, industries, and the people who lead them, Hoover’s Company Records will be an appropriate resource. Featuring profiles of more than 40,000 companies, 600 industries, and 225,000 key executives, Hoover's Company Records provides easy access to the most thorough and up-to-date business information available.
  
• Oxford Reference Online  provides access to several several book-length reference sources in accounting, economics, finance and banking, human resource management, and statistics.
• Providing articles from a variety of sources (mostly magazines and newspapers), SIRS Knowledge Source comprises several databases, including one entitled "SIRS Researcher." This database provides information on business, money, and work.
  
• For students of international business, Countrywatch provides information on economic conditions, macroeconomic data, key sector data, global ranking tables, achievement, political, investment climate, taxation, key enterprises, and stock market for 192 countries.
  
• For biographical information on better known figures in the world of business, finance and economics, you can use Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated, which contains biographies and obituaries on over 111,000 famous individuals.

Web Sites

There are a number of web sites devoted to business; some of these sites are listed under Internet Business Resources.