590ACL Advanced Business Information Services

Instructor: Yoo-Seong Song

101 Main Library

1408 W. Gregory Dr.

Urbana, IL 61801

(217) 333-8091

Course Description:

The role of business researchers has changed dramatically recently, and business researchers must be capable of not only identifying and locating relevant pieces of information but also synthesizing and communicating their research in various forms of deliverables to clients. Students will learn the basics and practices of competitive intelligence and knowledge management, as these are the fields where business researchers can translate their knowledge in information resources into solutions for complex business needs. Students will also learn and practice how to manage, design, and present research deliverables for widely diverse clients’ needs. Furthermore, this course will discuss the importance and best practices of marketing research services to internal clients in an organization.

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to help students to:

At the end of the course, students should:

a)be able to apply basic principles of business analysis to creating research deliverables

b)be able to design and develop research products and services based on clients’ structured and unstructured research requests

c)have clear understanding of competitive intelligence and knowledge management practices at different types of organizations

d)understand opportunities and limitations of competitive intelligences and knowledge management for business researchers

e)be able to translate complex business research needs into clear knowledge solutions

f)be able to design optimal business research process for an organization

g)understand issues in marketing business research services within an organization

Grading:

  • Final presentation: 30%
  • Discussions: 30%
  • Project 1: 20%
  • Project 2: 20%

Readings:

There is no required textbook assigned for this course. Assigned readings will be announced prior to class time. In addition to assigned readings, you are strongly encouraged to follow business news daily, using your favorite news sources.

Assignments:

Projects 1&2 will be designed in collaboration with current practitioners, and they may involve actual company names. The projects will be announced two weeks prior to the deadlines.

Your response to a discussion question must be posted prior to the class time.

3-4 groups will be arranged by the instructor for the final group project.

Course Calendar:

Please check the course page frequently to see any changes made.

January 21

Introduction

oCourse overview: goals, formats, resources, assignments, and project

oDiscussion: Changing roles of business information specialists

January 28

Business information resources at the Business & Economics Library

Skills required for business information services

Competitive intelligence (I): Background

oOverview: Development and current trends

oTypes of CI for a variety of settings

Discussion: Changing Role of Business Information Professionals

Feb 4

Competitive intelligence (II): Introduction to CI analysis and practices

oBusiness analysis: fundamental concepts and tools

oEnvironmental scanning: internal and external information assets

oInfrastructures: technology, culture, and work process

oUser assessment

Feb 11

Competitive intelligence (III): Sources of intelligence

oSources for CI

Primary & Secondary

Internal & external sources for CI

Industry analysts

oUsing financial filings for CI

Feb 18

Competitive intelligence (IV): Sources of intelligence

oSources for CI (Cont’d)

oDeliverables: identification, creation, and presentation

Feb 25

CI deliverable: identification, creation, and presentation

Managing relationship with vendors and analysts

Evolving information products

March 5 (LEEP)

March 11

Competitive intelligence (V): Real-World Examples and Future

oGuest speaker

oFuture of CI

oImplications for librarians/information specialists

Due: Project 1

March 18

Review of Project 1

Knowledge management (I): Foundation

oDefinitions

oHistory and development

March 25 (Spring Break)

April 1

Knowledge management (II): Applications

oEnabling technologies

oSelecting a KM tool/practice for your organization

Manufacturing

Service

Academic

Non profit

oDeveloping policies for KM

April 8

Review of Project 2

Working with complex business problems: from problems to solutions

Designing a business research process for your organization

Discussion: Opportunities & Challenges for KM Practices

April 15

Re-conceptualizing business information services

oMarketing management

oRunning an information services business

oImplications for an academic business library

Due: Project 2

April 22

Guest speaker: Managing client expectations for consulting practices

Discussion: New skills for business information specialists

April 29

Course review and project assignment

Group sessions

May 6

Online presentations