Library: BUS 40100 and BUS 59000: Session 4: External Environment

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PESTEL Best Bet Resources

IBISWorld
IBISworld includes detailed industry research, market research, and company information, with a focus on the US and China.

1. Search for your industry

2. Choose the best industry report

3. Use the tabs to navigate the full report, click the "iExpert" icon for a graphic overview, and follow other links for related market research and risk ratings.

MarketLine
Offers a collection of company, industry, financial, product and country profiles based on published research and primary and secondary data sources. Includes market overviews and market trends.

1. Search for your industry and "United States". For best results, choose "industry reports" in the drop-down box.

2. Use the options on the right side and across the top to narrow the results to the best industry and only the US.

3. View the entire report via the PDF near the top, or browse each report using the right-side menu.

4. Pay attention to the FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS of the industry!

5. Notice that you can download/export any of the charts to use in your own report.

P - Political

Regulations/deregulation
Copyright, patents, trademarks, intellectual property
Trade control, import/export, tariffs,
Taxes on corporations increase/decrease
Government increases/decreases funding for certain industries
Government friendly or unfriendly toward potential trading countries/partners

Helpful Resources:

Statistics for U.S. Businesses
The US Census Bureau provides practical information for entrepreneurs, including overviews of important government resources for key industries.
Importing and Exporting - USA.gov
e-CFR: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
Search federal rules and regulations for a topic, product, or industry.
International Trade Administration (US Dept of Commerce)
Browse this site for statistics and information about industry, country, and trade data including tariffs, exports, and more.

E - Economic

Fiscal policies
Growth rates, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates
Unemployment rate
Labor Costs, union –vs-non-union
Credit costs
C.P.I., levels of consumers disposable income
Price fluctuations and availability of raw materials
Weather, climate change influences
Price of transporting raw materials and finished goods

Helpful Resources:

Statistical Releases from the Federal Reserve Board
Various statistical releases such as: foreign exchange rates, interest rates, commercial paper, banks, flow of funds, etc. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual statistics both current and historical
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Detailed releases of a wide variety of economic statistics including: Consumer Price Index (CPI), productivity, consumer spending, wages and earnings, employment rates, and inflation. They publish the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), a survey of American buying habits (spending, earnings, etc.) as well as The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) that measures the amount of time people spend doing various activities.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
National economic indicators including the "US Economy At A Glance", Gross Domestic Product(GDP), Personal income, Balance of Trade, and other indicators for regions and industries.
Resources for Policymakers - Bureau of Labor Statistics
A variety of information to help you evaluate public policies on healthcare, retirement benefits, the minimum wage, workforce education and training, economic development, workplace safety, monetary policy, consumer spending, and other topics that affect the well-being of American workers, retirees, and their families.

S - Social

Population growth rate
Age of population
Health consciousness
Career attitudes-older workers not as willing to work long hours.
Buying habits
Attitudes toward buying foreign vs domestic made goods
Age and sex distribution
Attitudes toward perceived product quality and customer service
Attitudes toward “green products” & renewable energy.
Education and income levels
Lifestyle, habits, hobbies.

Helpful Resources:

Pew Global Attitudes Survey
Polling data that gauges public attitudes toward globalization, politics, and other issues. Both reports and datasets are available.
Pew Internet & American Life Project
"Produces reports exploring the impact of the internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. "

Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Provides current-event and issue-based information, including pro/ con essays, news, scholarly research, data, and more.
CQ Researcher
Investigates "hot" topics in the news and presents concise and well-balanced information from all sides of the issue. Each report is written by an experienced journalist and includes a "Pro/Con" segment, a chronology, and a bibliography. US focus with some coverage of international affairs.

T - Technological

Rate of technological change
Spending on Research & Development
Legislation regarding technology
Communication infrastructure
Internet infrastructure and usage
Is the industry/company technologically a leader or follower?
Social Media-usage and coverage. Is is positive or negative? Use in marketing and public relations.

Helpful Resources:

Morningstar Investment Research Center
Real-time access to comprehensive data and independent analysis on thousands of investments and companies. Most company overviews mention major information about technology. (The library's subscription only supports one user at a time.)
Nexis Uni
Search for company dossiers to find news, analysis, and recent patent information. Review recent SEC filings (10-K or 10-Q documents) and look for R&D and technology spending, often located in the MD&A (Management Discussion and Analysis) section.
Associations Unlimited
Find associations relevant to your company or industry and explore their sites for information about legislation, trends, communication infrastructure, and other indicators.

E - Environmental / Ecological

Weather influences
Climate Change
Laws regulating environmental pollution
Recycling and use of recycled materials
Waste management-costs, regulations, how is waste disposed of?
Attitudes toward “green” or ecological products and raw materials
Attitudes, support for and costs for renewable energy

Helpful Resources:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The US EPA provides information on major environmental topics, including laws and regulations.
Corporate Responsibility Newswire
Press releases, reports and news related to corporate responsibility and sustainability.
Corporate Watch
A provider of "critical information on the social and environmental impacts of corporations and capitalism."
Corporate Social Responsibility or Sustainability Reports
Most publicly-traded companies publish information about their environmental impact. Look at the "investor relations" section of their website. There may also be information in their annual reports or 10-K documents.

L - Legal

Anti-trust laws
Discrimination law
Copyright, patents / Intellectual property law
Consumer protection and e-commerce
Employment law
Health and safety law
Data Protection Rules & regulations
Legal cases/lawsuits-impacts and costs

Helpful Resources:

Nexis Uni
Find a company's dossier for quick links to recent patents, trademarks, and lawsuits.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Part of the US Department of Labor, OSHA creates and enforces standards related to safe and healthful working conditions.
Congress.gov
Search by legislation or member of Congress. See also date coverage.
Bureau of Consumer Protection
"The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting complaints and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities."
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
A US government agency focusing on consumer protection from the banking industry.
Guide to Antitrust Laws
Fact sheets, case studies, and FAQs about competition and antitrust laws from the Federal Trade Commission.