untangling_the_web

DID: 4046925
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Using the Internet to Research Companies
One of the main issues researchers face when looking for information about
companies is there either seems to be too much or too little available data. How is it
possible to have both a superfluity and a paucity of information at the same time?
When it comes to businesses, there is too much data that is not useful
(advertisements, sale's pitches, etc.) and too little of the kinds of data most
researchers need (details about ownership, personnel, products, contracts, etc.).
However, there are some good starting points for researching companies on the
Internet, and I have put together a set of tips and techniques to address this
challenging topic.
But what about using free Internet resources to research companies? Yes, it can be
done with success and sometimes there is information on the Internet that is not
available anywhere else. What follows are some of the steps I recommend for
researching companies on the Internet using only free and non-subscription
resources. Those that require payment and/or registration are not discussed here.
Company Research Guides & Tutorials
Several sites have excellent online tutorials
businesses.
and guides for how to research
Researching Businesses and Non-Profits on the Web
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/technology/1028068074.php
From the University of Southern California's Online Journalism Review; heavily USoriented.
Researching Companies Online
http://www./earnwebskills.com/company/
Excellent tutorial that includes separate section on identifying international business
resources.
Virtual Business Information Center
http://www.vbic.umd.edu/
From the University of Maryland School of Business; offers a segment devoted to
international business and specific countries.
Virtual International Business and Economic Sources
http://library.uncc.edu/display/?dept=reference&format=open&page=68
From the University of North Carolina, Charlotte; the site's emphasis is entirely
international.
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