ENGL 417 - Written Communication for the Workplace

This guide contains resources and learning advice commonly needed for written communication in the workplace.

Library Research Guide

Industry Reports

Industry reports are be a valuable source of information for a strategic analysis, feasibility analysis, or business model canvas. Reports typically present overviews of industry trends, industry revenue, and revenue projections. Though reports may cover an industry that is broader than the area you are researching (for example, Sporting Goods Stores instead of Bicycle Shops), they are still useful for understanding the environment in which a new company may be operating.

IBISWorld
Paid for by K-State Libraries
K-State Libraries subscribes to IBISWorld US Industry Reports and US Specialized Industry Reports. The US Industry reports module covers over 700 industries. Reports have statistics and analysis on market characteristics, operating conditions, current and forecast performance, major industry participants and more. The Specialized Industry Reports complement the Industry Reports module and can be useful when researching small or new industries.

First Research Industry Profiles (available through ABI/INFORM)
First Research provides industry profiles for over 1000 US industry segments. Profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts.
Fitch Solutions Country Industry Reports (available through ABI/INFORM)
Fitch covers 20 major industries for the US and other global markets.

Consumer Research

The US Census Bureau provides free access to demographic information. Demographic information available includes age, income, educations levels for specific geographic areas of the US. However, information about consumers (psychographics, purchasing behaviors, etc.) can be difficult to find for free. The library provides some databases with consumer research.

Mintel Reports
Publication Dates Covered: 2001 - present Paid for by K-State Libraries
Mintel Reports is a market research database that publishes 200+ business to consumer reports each year for US consumer markets. Each report focuses on consumer attitudes and behaviors, including survey data to understand demographic and psychographic segmentation. Also included are market size, brand share, social media analysis, and category trends.
Statista
Paid for by K-State Libraries
Insights and facts across 600 industries and 50+ countries; includes Consumer Insights. Use as the starting point of your research to get facts and insights on topics that matter, expert research in condensed form, market outlooks, analyzed markets from 150+ countries, daily infographics, visualized global stories, and global consumer survey information.
WGSN: World's Global Style Network
Paid for by K-State Libraries
World's Global Style Network (WGSN) is the world’s leading fashion and style forecaster, providing daily access to images, graphics, forecasting, trend and market analysis, business resources, research on products, and branding. Broad topics covered include fashion, interiors and beauty. WGSN content may be printed but not downloaded.