Changing Information Requirements for Local Company Projects

Abstract

Students in their senior-level capstone strategic management class at an Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited business school analyzed issues facing local companies for their project, rather than studying Fortune 500 companies. Although area small and mid-sized enterprises benefitted from the analysis and students gained valuable experience through the “consulting” project, business reference librarians had to adapt their library orientation for locating business information and identifying resources for the local companies, most of which were privately held. Integrating the library orientation and assistance into the closed loop assessment is discussed. Suggestions for replicating the project as well as areas for future research are included.

KEYWORDS:

• business
• strategic management
• case study
• library resources
• SMEs
• business information
• information literacy
• academic libraries
• library instruction