Business Administration: COMM 1100

Unlike library resources that have been chosen carefully, information on the web or in social media can be created by anyone, and as such they should always be evaluated carefully. Use the CRAAP test as a guide to evaluating sources:

• Currency:
  • When was the information published or posted?
  • Has the information been revised or updated? Are the links functional?
  • Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
• Relevance:
  • Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
  • Who is the intended audience?
  • Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources besides this one?
  • Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?
• Authority:
  • Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
  • What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations? 
  • Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
  • Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
  • Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
• Accuracy:
  • The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.
  • Where does the information come from?
  • Is the information supported by evidence?
  • Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
  • Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
  • Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
  • Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
• Purpose:
  • What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
  • Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
  • Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

APA (American Psychological Association) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. Business papers should use APA Style to format citations.

APA Style Guide for Business Sources at BCIT Library, including all research resources available at BCIT Library online.
Downloadable APA Style Guide for Business.pdf  
Tip: You can search the pdf APA Style Guide for specific examples of how to cite resources you use from BCIT Library, ie; 'PrivCo'. (Ctrl + f will open a search box)

Public Company Information. Corporate Filings including 10Q, 10K, MD&A, Annual Report, News.
Publicly traded companies are required to submit corporate filings such as annual reports, proxy circulars, prospectuses etc. with the securities regulatory authority.

SEDAR Canadian Securities Regulatory Authorities.
 The official site providing access to most public securities documents and information filed by public companies and investment funds with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). The SEDAR collection includes reports from 1997 or later.
Public Website: [ http://www.sedar.com/ ]

EDGAR US Securities Commission. Mid-1990s-present  Publicly traded US and Non-US companies
The 'SEC's EDGAR provides free public access to corporate information, allowing you to quickly research a company’s financial information and operations by reviewing registration statements, prospectuses and periodic reports filed on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. 
Public Website: [ https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml ]

Exercise:  Search for a Public Company.
Read some of the recent documents filed with the regulating agency.
Business and Management Discussion & Analysis MD&A documents are strategic documents.
Is there any information that is useful to your project?

Private Company Information

Since private companies in Canada and the US are not obligated to make public their financial data, finding reliable sources of this information can be difficult or impossible. Sometimes the best you can do is to piece together an estimate based on market share, industry type, and other information found in these databases.