Business Intelligence Resources

The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the business information landscape, and to help you navigate this complex and ever-changing environment.  We will discuss how business information is typically used by students and executives alike, and will review how business information is typically created, packaged and delivered to users. Specific search strategies for different types of information will be explored as well as a range of highly specialized resources and tools. Throughout the class, greater emphasis will be on the critical analysis and evaluation of the resources examined, rather than memorization of specific features of any give resource. We will also discuss larger issues that arise as individuals attempt to do research in today’s world - ranging from information overload to the question of online privacy to the transparency and accessibility of market and corporate information.

Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes:

Objective 1:  Students will develop a deeper understanding of the unique nature of business information upon completion of this course. Specifically, each student will be able to:

• List 3-5 characteristics of business information.
• Describe 8-10 typical uses of business information.
• Explain how business information is created, packaged and accessed.
• Explain how all of these factors impact the availability of information and your research path.

Objective 2:  Students will be able to recognize the nature and extent of information needed for assignments common to most college level business courses. Each student will be able to

• Confer with instructors, participate in class discussions and peer work groups to identify a research topic.
• Identify key concepts and terms that describe the information needed.

Objective 3:  Students will be able to select the most appropriate resources to successfully complete assignments. Each student will be able to:

• Identify the value and differences of potential resources in a variety of formats.
• Identify the purpose and audience of potential resources (e.g. popular vs.  trade vs. scholarly).
• Investigate the scope, content and organization of information resources.
• Formulate and describe criteria used to make information decisions and choices.

Objective 4:  Students will recognize the importance of critically analyzing information and will begin to do it themselves.

• Evaluate information resources on a number of different criteria including but not limited to: reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness and point of view or bias.
• Recognize the importance of the context within which information is created.
• Establish his/her own criteria for determining validity of information.

Objective 5:  Students will understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and will access and use information ethically and legally.Specifically, each student will begin to:

• Recognize the unique nature of business resources, and its underlying market value.
• Comply with licensing restrictions and copyright law and understand the legal and moral implications of not doing so.
• elect an appropriate documentation style and use it consistently to cite sources.