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Business Research: Finding Company Information

This guide provides an overview of how to conduct detailed company research..

Finding Organizatinal Structure

An organizational structure is a visual diagram of a company that describes what employees do, whom they report to, and how decisions are made across the business. Organizational structures can use functions, markets, products, geographies, or processes as their guide, and cater to businesses of specific sizes and industries.

From:  Organizational Structure

What is Corporate Structure?

Corporate structure refers to the organization of different departments or business units within a company. Depending on a company’s goals and the industry in which it operates, corporate structure can differ significantly between companies. Each of the departments usually performs a specialized function while constantly collaborating with each other to achieve corporate goals and values.

From:  CFI:  Corporate Structure

Finding Organizational Structure using Library Databases

Access ABI/INFORM Collection (use your credentials to login)
  •  Click "Advanced Search"
  • Enter "company name" and update the filter to right for Company/organization - ORG field selection
  • Next line,  organizational structure  
  • Select the  Search button

                                           Example:  "Ford Motor" AND organizational structure

Click to view a larger image

ABIInform company organizational strucure search example 

 

On the results page, look to the left for the filter options:  Subject & Company/organization

                    Selected  Subject, More:  ford motor co. ; organizational structure

                    Company/organization:  Ford Motor Co.

Click to view a larger image

ABIInform search filters for organizational strucure search example

 

Access Business Source Complete (use your credentials to login)
  • Enter company name and update the filter to right for: CO Company Entity
  • Enter organizational structure in the next search box

                                             Example:  Apple Inc.  AND organizational structure           

 Click to view a larger image

Organizational Structure Business Source Complete search example

Helpful Web Link Tips

Try a Google search for "enter your company name" and hierarchy

Google search example for company hierarchy

Tip:  may wand to add filetype:pdf (or filetype:doc or filetype:ppt) as this may help in locating this information

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