When looking for company information it is important to identify what type of information you need. Generally the information available falls into three categories:

1) Company documents (e.g. annual reports)

2) Company data (e.g. pre-tax profit)

3) Company analysis (e.g. a SWOT analysis compiled by independent researchers)

The Library has databases that provide access to each type of company information. For more information, visit our Finding Company Information tutorial.

Company Documents

Company Data

Company Analysis

Finance Databases

Accounting and Tax Databases

Use the Databases A-Z List to access all the resources available to you.

You can browse by subject (e.g. Finance) or type (e.g. News) or search to find your required resource.

Please note, most databases have their own built-in help and guidance, usually located in the top right hand corner.

Academic Research 

Company Research

• Factiva LibGuide
• Factiva Search Video
• Fame User Guide
• Filings Expert User Guide
• Orbis User Guide
• Statista Help Centre
• Statista Webinars

Market Research

Accessing Academic Journals and Business Databases

Case Studies can be found across a range of resources including in books, journals, professional magazines, databases, company websites and online.

View the Finding Case Studies page for additional information and recommended resources.

• Statistical data can be found on a huge variety of subjects, for example the economy, employment, the environment, government, health, international trade, manufacturing, and population.

• They can be a vital source of information for your studies.

Find out more on the Statistics LibGuide.

Visit the Official Publications LibGuide for guidance and recommendation on accessing:

• UK Parliamentary papers; including debates and legislation
• Official European Union publications
• Information from key international bodies; including the OECD, World Trade Organization and the World Bank

Access Harvard Business Review online (link opens in a new window)

Click on the image below to open PDF with instructions.

You will need to sign in with your Exeter University email address and SSO whenever you use FT.com, to get the full subscription content.

You can access the FT via the university system using the link above, or access directly via FT.com.

Signing in

Enter your University of Exeter email address, click Next and click SSO Sign in.

Basic Search

Once you have logged in to FT.com the simplest way to search is by using the box in the top right

The results are categorised at the top of the screen as All of FT, Articles, Blogs and Multimedia. Click on any of the headings to limit your search or use any of the other filters below (Date, Companies, Section, Region, etc.)

Browsing FT.com

The latest news in UK and international business is broken down into different areas along the banner. This includes financial, economic and political news, comment and analysis. Run your mouse over a heading to browse different sectors, geographies and companies.

App

Download the FT app and log in via SSO with your Exeter University email address.

Financial Times LibGuide

• Economist (this link opens in a new window)

  Full text access to The Economist magazine and web content. Log in via SSO with your Exeter University email address and search for University of Exeter. 

   

Searching Online         

Conduct basic searches with the search box at the top of each page.  Click on the Search icon to open up the search box.

What is available?

You can search for articles and content from The Economist newspaper since June 1997, along with blogs and web-only content.

For earlier content you need to use the Economist Historical Archive Service which covers the period 1843 - 2014. 

Browsing

Use the print edition contents page lists and links to all articles in the current print edition. To view the contents of earlier print editions, browse the cover index.

You can also browse Economist articles by topic and view the collection of special reports.

App

Download the Economist app and Log in via SSO with your Exeter University email address. 

• TED.com is a nonprofit platform devoted to spreading ideas. You can explore TED Talks related to topics such as Business, Finance, Marketing and lots more from the TED homepage. 

A range of financial information databases are available to staff and students of the Business School.

The list of databases managed by the Business School can be found here.

For access to login ID and passwords for online databases for existing students and staff, please visit the database login information page on the Business School Intranet.

Support & Guidance

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation defines CSR as follows

Corporate Social Responsibility is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business  operations and interactions with their stakeholders. CSR is generally  understood as being the way through which a company achieves a balance  of economic, environmental and social imperatives (“Triple-Bottom-Line- Approach”), while at the same time addressing the expectations of  shareholders and stakeholders.

As you can see from this definition, CSR is a wide ranging and multi disciplinary concept.

Use the Search Tools guidance in this guide to explore the various information resources you can use to research this topic.

What is a thesis?

A thesis or dissertation is a document submitted in support of candidature for a higher degree or professional qualification, presenting the author’s research and findings.

They consist of substantial primary research in specialised topics and provide very detailed data and analysis. They may be so specialised that they provide information that is unavailable elsewhere and their bibliographies can be a useful source of wider reading on a topic. They are extremely valuable sources of information.

Before you begin your research, it is important to discover what else has been written on your topic.

When starting doctoral research, it is crucial to establish that the specific research that you intend to do has not already been carried out. You will therefore need to look at previous theses in your field of study, both at the University of Exeter and elsewhere.

Explore the Theses LibGuide for help with finding full text theses from the University of Exeter, the UK and around the world.

• It is  easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer breadth of information available to you.  

• Academic Skills: Skills for Referencing online support

Find out more about the skills support available to help you develop a range of study skills including essay writing, referencing, critical reading and getting the most out of lectures.

Study Skills Support

Sage Research Methods Online (SRMO) is a great resource to use when you are planning and conducting your research. 

It is targeted at social science researchers but is useful across all subject areas as it covers key research methodology topics that are applicable across the research spectrum.

Sage have produced a comprehensive LibGuide to help you get the best from the resource.

Linking the University of Exeter Library to Google Scholar 

Google Scholar is an online, freely accessible search engine for locating scholarly literature  from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites. But not all full text content is free to access.

However, it is possible to link the University of Exeter online library to  Google Scholar, making it quick to identify and access library full text content.

Just follow these instructions:

Click on Check for this @ Exeter or Access this @ Exeter options to view full text article:

Find out more here: Making the most of Google Scholar