Olin Library Research Guides: Business: CAP 601: Essentials of Project Execution -- Consulting

Scenario

Established by Joe Smith in 1951 to develop concrete products for residential and commercial construction, SMITHCONSTRUCTION has always been recognized as a fast-growing and innovative company with a specialization in building multi-level parking facilities, apartments and hotels. Due to the unique process employed in creating and transporting precast concrete, SMITHCONSTRUCTION’s market is somewhat limited (200-mile radius from site). There is a desire to diversify through entry into a different geographic market, specifically either Houston, Miami or Washington D.C. There are factors impacting a decision on what market to enter including new commercial construction, unemployment rate, ease of permitting, labor (union?), design talent, traffic infrastructure and more. SMITHCONSTRUCTION is looking for an analysis and a recommendation.

Prof Robinson's Example: Houston

Your Example (Group Work): Miami

Today We Are Using...

IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
Your go-to source for comprehensive industry research in the US, Canada, and China.
Statista This link opens in a new window
The "Swiss Army Knife" that can do most anything. Search for specific companies and industries for state and metro area. Rounded out by business and consumer statistics from a wide range of sources.
Access World News This link opens in a new window
When you can't find information on a private company elsewhere, check the local news media. Also great for local trends not captured in statistics.

Group Work (Zoom Breakout Rooms)

Open IBISWorld.
1. Find the report on apartment construction.
2. Find out industry revenue and profit.
3. Find percentage of relevant companies in Miami-Dade County.
4. Find major players in industry.
5. Goal: Understand the industry in general, including players and local information.
Open Statista
1. Search for IBISWorld major players in search bar. What is in here that's not in IBISWorld? Identify construction trends for multifamily homes in Miami and/or Florida. Focus on Miami, but zoom out to Florida if needed.
  1. Hint: try "condo" and "condominium," and see what happens.
2. Assess broader residential trends in Miami (and Florida, if needed). Who are some possible markets for SMITHCONSTRUCTION?
3. Goal: Understand the broader business climate for SMITHCONSTRUCTION in Miami.
Open Access World News
1. Go to the "More Search Options" screen.
2. Used "2023" as the Date and "Miami Herald" as the Source.
3. Search for trends in housing construction in Miami.
  1. Hint: Use terms like "multifamily," "multi-family," "residential" "condo(minium)" "townhome/house," etc.
4. Goal: Understand what's going on locally, not just statistical snapshots.
Groups will then each provide executive summaries of findings and trends.

Key Rollins Resources

Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
Provides full-text access to journals in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, MIS, POM, accounting, finance and economics.
If you are looking for Harvard Business Review, this is the only database that has it in full-text. Please be aware that a handful of the most popular articles are blocked by HBR from downloading, printing or linking. You will recognize these titles by a thin yellow banner at the top of the screen. This embargo is HBR's policy, and there is no way around it....but please be aware that you CAN read these articles online.
Gale Business: DemographicsNow This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Connect with a wealth of highly detailed demographic data on more than 24 million U.S. businesses and 206 million consumers with a variety of both standard and custom reports to help make informed decisions.
Washington Post This link opens in a new window
Learn how to create an account. The Washington Post is a major American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. Daily broadsheet editions are printed for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The newspaper has won 47 Pulitzer Prizes.

Other Resources

America's Infrastructure Report Card
"Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Report Card for America’s Infrastructure depicts the condition and performance of American infrastructure in the familiar form of a school report card—assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement."

You can look at infrastructure at the national level, or you can look at specific states.
Doing Business in North America
From Arizona State University, this is a report that ranks cities based on the ease of doing business. They use various criteria for these rankings, including registering property, employing workers, and starting a business.
IRS State Government Websites
The IRS has compiled a list of state-specific business information for all 50 states. It has links to information for state business taxes, incorporation agencies, and other resources.
Municode
You can use Municode to find out about business-related ordinances at the county and city level. For example, if you are operating in Miami, you may be subject to both city ordinances (City of Miami) and county ordinances (Miami-Dade County).
Open My Florida Business
An official portal for new businesses from the State of Florida.
SBA Business Guide
The Small Business Administration has a wide range of resources for business expansion.
Start a Texas Business
An official portal for starting a business from the Texas Economic Development Corporation.