Business Information Sources: A Beginner's Guide

Citation

Chawner, B. (2008), "Business Information Sources: A Beginner's Guide", The Electronic Library, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 131-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470810851806

The subtitle of this book suggests that it will provide readers with an introductory level guide to sources of business information, and that is exactly what it does. O'Hare starts by identifying different types of business information sources (for example, company information, share prices, country profiles, statistics, and trade directories), types of business information providers (free, pay‐as‐you‐go, priced online or CD‐ROM, and print), and the different legal structures for a business (sole trader, partnership, and company). The next five chapters each focus on a different type of information source, covering company information, business statistics, market research, biographical information, and international trade. The final chapter covers the important (and often overlooked) topic of keeping up to date. O'Hare's extensive experience in this area shows not only in her clear explanations of key concepts, but also in the examples she uses. She includes typical questions people ask about businesses, news, markets, statistics, people, and international trade to give a context for the sources she covers. Tables are used to present categories of information and relationships concisely; one helpful example is Table 3.1 on page 33, identifying the type of information available about companies, who provides it, and the primary reason for its availability. The chapter on keeping current identifies key blogs, conferences, professional networks, and sources of formal training. The book has a strong emphasis on sources relevant to the United Kingdom, which limits its relevance to other jurisdictions. For example, the discussion of standard industry classifications discusses the UK and EU codes, but does not mention the US NAICS system, or other international systems. Each chapter includes a list of references for the sources covered. A high proportion of these are URLs for web resources, and the lack of a companion web site to facilitate access to them is a disappointment. There is a glossary of key terms and an index. The quality of the indexing is variable, listing some, but not all, of the sources mentioned in the book. Overall, this is a useful text for someone based in the UK who is new to the field of business information, and people wanting a quick refresher on specific topics will also find it useful. It is recommended for library studies and business collections.