1. Business Plan Workshop: Researching Business Databases
SIBL (Science Industry and Business Library) & NYC VE

2. Agenda Welcome & Introductions Part I: Researching business databases
Part II: Sharing research about Gotham Enterprises
Part III: Hands-on activity - Student research
Part IV: Assessing the economic environment
Recap/Q&A

3. Researching business databases (SIBL)
Introduction to the library:
Library card
Catalog
Holds and borrowing
Help with research
What is a sector/industry report?
Library’s databases with information on sector/industry reports:
How to get to the databases menu
Home and off-site access
Demonstration of sample searches/functionality
Saving searches

4. Sharing research about Gotham Enterprises (NYC VE)
Business Plan Competition Rubric
External Environment
Current economic conditions: A “snapshot” of the economic environment that may include information such as employment levels, interest rates, rate of inflation/deflation, rate of change of GDP, balance of trade, exchange rates, and/or any other information you think is appropriate.
Industry analysis – real & virtual.
Real: Demonstrate an understanding of the real world industry by providing information about size, profitability, current challenges, competitive pressures, etc.
Virtual: Provide evidence that research was done to obtain information about the status of this industry in the virtual economy, i.e, # of competitors, profitability, expected demand, financial condition of prospective customers, etc.
Competitive analysis: Identification and examination of characteristics of competing firms in the virtual marketplace. (If there are no direct competitors, analysis of indirect competitors.)
20%

5. Sharing research about Gotham Enterprises (NYC VE)
Review of the Office Supplies industry report
Kinds of information to look for in the industry reports
Industry Overview
Competitive Landscape
Products
Operations
Sales & Marketing
Customers, sales channels, marketing, and pricing
Finance
Sales, inventories, profit rate, and labor intensity
Technology
International Insights
Regional Highlights
Human Resources
Industry Growth Rate
Industry Indicators
Industry Forecast
Industry Drivers
Critical Issues
Business Challenges
Trends
Industry Opportunities

6. Hands-on activity - Student research
Research databases to find information relevant to your VE firm’s real-world industry
Share out the results of your research

7. Assessing the economic environment (NYC VE)
Business Plan Competition Rubric
External Environment
Current economic conditions: A “snapshot” of the economic environment that may include information such as employment levels, interest rates, rate of inflation/deflation, rate of change of GDP, balance of trade, exchange rates, and/or any other information you think is appropriate.
Industry analysis – real & virtual.
Real: Demonstrate an understanding of the real world industry by providing information about size, profitability, current challenges, competitive pressures, etc.
Virtual: Provide evidence that research was done to obtain information about the status of this industry in the virtual economy, i.e, # of competitors, profitability, expected demand, financial condition of prospective customers, etc.
Competitive analysis: Identification and examination of characteristics of competing firms in the virtual marketplace. (If there are no direct competitors, analysis of indirect competitors.)
20%

8. Assessing the economic environment (NYC VE)
Review of the framework to assess the economic environment
“There is nothing more fundamental about an economy’s performance, than whether human needs are being met. An economy functions well when we produce the goods and services we need to stay alive and get the most out of life. Evaluation of economic performance depends on subjective criteria(s) that different individuals, classes, and communities choose.”
Jim Stanford, Canadian Progressive Economist

9. Assessing the economic environment (NYC VE)
How to apply this framework to meet the requirements of the business plan competition
Some other measures to consider:
GDP
GDP Growth Rate
GDP per Capita
GDP per Capita Growth Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Participation Rate
Life Expectancy at Birth
Infant Mortality Rate
Mean Years of Schooling
Adult Literacy Rate
Primary School Enrollment
Secondary School Enrollment
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Healthcare Expenditure
Income Inequality
Relative Poverty Levels
Happy Planet Index
Human Development Index

10. Recap and Q&A
Any comments or questions?