Library Business Resources ENL 265 Business Communication

1. LibraryBusiness ResourcesENL 265Business Communication Kate Randall Haley Librarian, Business & Economics University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Claire T. Carney Library © Copyright 2010 Kate Randall Haley

2. Key Points of Contact • UMass Dartmouth Library Reference Desk • 1st floor library, ext. 8678 • Reference@UMassD.edu • Live Chat (instant message) service • UMass Dartmouth Business Librarian • Kate Randall Haley • Library Second Floor Office, x8670 • KRandall@umassd.edu

3. Analytical Reports • Assess Opportunities • Solve Problems • Support Decisions • Can also include recommendations, according to your textbook, Business Communication Today, chapters 13-15

4. Solve Problems • “Managers often assign troubleshooting reports when they need to understand why something isn’t working properly, from malfunctioning industrial processes to financial disappointments, and what needs to be done to fix it. • Failure analysis reports study events that happened in the past, with the hope of learning how to avoid similar failures in the future.”

5. Solve Problems • In this course we are going to focus on problem solving analytical report writing. • Areas under investigation will include how companies solve problems either related tosome aspect of cultural differences, or issues with customer satisfaction, or requirements for ongoing training and development for all staff. • Two articles will be required, using ABI/Inform Global as your source.

6. Solve Problems • Articles from ABI/Inform Global , a highly regarded management literature database, frequently examine company actions in regard to problems such as recent product recalls at Toyota, or make it possible to compare two or more companies with similar problems and review their solutions. • ABI/Inform Global contains newspaper, magazine, trade publication, and scholarly journal articles, as well as special reports.

7. UMD Library Resources • Find Articles & Databases: Business & Economics on the library home page • ABI/Inform Global • Newspapers such as Wall St. Journal • Magazines such as Fortune or Forbes • Trade Publications such as Marketing Weekly News • Scholarly Journals such as Academy of Management Journal • Other types of reports such as case studies, dissertations, or working papers

8. Where to Begin • Select ABI/Inform Global at the “Find Articles and Databases” link on the library home page. • Click on “Browse Topics” to determine your search phrase(s). • Click “Add to Search.” • Click the Search box and review your results, sorting by type.

9. ABI/Inform GlobalUsing Browse Topics

10. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Note the number of articles retrieved below; sorting by type reduces each set of results.

11. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Sort the articles retrieved by type: Scholarly

12. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Scholarly journal articles are usually longer, more in-depth or specialized, use a peer-review process, are available by subscription or in libraries, with lengthy bibliographies.

13. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Sort the articles retrieved by type: Magazine

14. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Magazine articles are usually short, more general or current-events based, are available in convenience or bookstores, with no bibliographies.

15. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Sort the articles retrieved by type: Trade Publication

16. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Trade Publication articles are often shorter, are likely to be more current, are generally focused on a specific industry or an area such as marketing, are available by subscription or in libraries, and may include bibliographies or references.

17. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Sort the articles retrieved by type: Newspaper

18. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Business newspaper articles are usually quite short, are likely to be the most current, are generally focused on a specific company or unusual recent event, are available everywhere, never include bibliographies but may reference other reports.

19. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Browse Topics Special reports such as case studies, dissertations, or working papers may also be available. Use these to add value to your understanding of your topic in this case.

20. ABI/Inform GlobalUsing Suggested Topics Suggested topics derive from your original search and can be broader, narrower, or related. Click on “cultural differences and globalization” to greatly narrow your results.

21. ABI/Inform GlobalResults Using Suggested Topics These results will typically be much fewer and a little less current, and may not include all types, but may be more relevant or specific. You may sort again by type to choose individual articles.

22. Your Analytical Report • Writing an analytical report begins with good writing and a focused objective. Remember that your goal is communication. • Choose TWO articles that you believe fully illustrate either the issue of cultural differences, customer satisfaction, or training and staff development. • Take the same steps, using “Browse Topics” or “Suggested Topics” as the examples shown to research customer satisfaction or training.

23. More information • Questions?? If you need help: • Email Reference@umassd.edu • the Reference Desk telephone 508.999.8678 • Live Chat service • Kate Randall Haley is available by telephone x8670, office on second floor of library, email KRandall@umassd.edu