Newsletter No. 141
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FreePint
"Helping 61,000 people use the Web for their work"
http://www.freepint.com/
ISSN 1460-7239 24th July 2003 No.141
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IN THIS ISSUE
EDITORIAL
MY FAVOURITE TIPPLES
By Rupert Lee
FREEPINT BAR
In Association with Factiva
a Dow Jones & Reuters Company
JOBS
Researcher
Media Assistant
Careers Consultancy Researcher
TIPS ARTICLE
"The Psychology of Corporations and Corporate Officers"
By Sam Vaknin
BOOKSHELF
"Super Searchers on Madison Avenue"
Reviewed by Terry Kendrick
FEATURE ARTICLE
"Automotive Industry Sources:
What Forest? All I See Are Trees!"
By Penny Leidtke
EVENTS, GOLD AND FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
CONTACT INFORMATION
ONLINE VERSION WITH ACTIVATED HYPERLINKS
<http://www.freepint.com/issues/240703.htm>
FULLY FORMATTED VERSION
<http://www.freepint.com/issues/240703.pdf>
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**Marketresearch.com - Timely Research Builds Competitive Advantage**
Strategy Starts Here
Over 50,000 business intelligence publications from 350 of the
industry's most respected publishers make Marketresearch.com your
comprehensive, global information source.
Visit our Web site today by clicking:
<http://www.marketresearch.com/redirect.asp?progid=2230>
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>>> ABOUT FREEPINT <<<
FreePint is an online community of information searchers. Members
receive this free newsletter twice a month: it is packed with tips
on finding quality and reliable business information on the Internet.
Joining is free at <http://www.freepint.com/> and provides access to
a substantial archive of articles, reviews, jobs & events, with
answers to research questions and networking at the FreePint Bar.
Please circulate this newsletter which is best read when printed out.
To receive a fully formatted version as an attachment or a brief
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EDITORIAL
You won't know if something is going to work unless you give it a go.
This is probably one of the key things I've learned whilst working for
myself over the last few years.
When things do work then you give them more of your attention and it's
high time that FreePint had a bit of a make-over. If you've been to
our Web site in the last few days then you'll have seen FreePint's new
logo which has just been launched after a few months of design work.
We hope you like the new look and I believe it gives us the right
image to attract another 60,000-odd members to the FreePint network.
We've had some great feedback at the Bar about the new logo and even a
call to arms from one FreePinter who makes a totally voluntary
contribution to the FreePint coffers without fail every year
<http://www.freepint.com/go/b24641>.
Our 'Copyright Myths' report, which incorporates FreePint's new look,
has been selling like hot-cakes since its launch two weeks ago
<http://www.freepint.com/shop/report/copyrightmyths/>. It's surprised
us to have sold so many copies around the world, across Europe and
Scandinavia, from Canada to New Zealand, and in Dubai, Tasmania and
Botswana!
The positive feedback we've received (including many customers
purchasing a site license to put the report on their intranet) tells
us that FreePinters really like this kind of concise and affordable
advice. I guess this is why our afternoon Exchange workshops, like
yesterday's on 'Freedom of Information', go down so well.
However, it's a tricky balance between 'virtual' and 'real' offerings
when you have such an international audience. We've raised this
important issue in our interview with SLA's new president, Cindy Hill,
just published at <http://www.freepint.com/portal/events/sla-2003>. It
certainly makes an interesting read.
We hope you enjoy today's cosmopolitan mix of articles and tips,
wherever you are in the world. Do send us your feedback and help us
give you what you want and tell us where to focus our attention.
All the best
William
William Hann BSc(Hons) MCLIP
Founder and Managing Editor, FreePint
Email: <william.hann@freepint.com> Tel: +44 (0)1784 420044
Free Pint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2003
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>>> Copyright & the Internet: Myth and Reality <<<
This report explores issues relating to copyright and the internet,
and dispels some of the myths that have built up about how copyright
applies to the internet.
"I have read part of the report and find it very informative - it
certainly dispels some of the myths around the copyright issue."
<http://www.freepint.com/shop/report/copyrightmyths>
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MY FAVOURITE TIPPLES
By Rupert Lee
* <http://www.royalmail.com> - for their Postcode Finder facility.
Type in an address and it gives you the postcode straight away.
* <http://www.streetmap.com> - type in a postcode, and get a map
showing its exact location - useful if you want to visit it without
getting lost en route.
* <http://biome.ac.uk> - a hub for biological/medical websites. Sites
are only linked after they have been through a system of quality
control.
* <http://www.choirs.org.uk> - British Choirs On The Net - hub for the
websites of all the choral societies (but why can't they keep their
sites up to date?).
* <http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac940/weblibs.html> - the
UK Public Libraries page - provides links to the websites of most
major public libraries, including their online catalogues.
Rupert Lee is Information Expert (life sciences) in the British Library's
Research Service. A former zoologist, he specialises mainly in scientific
literature searching for fee-paying customers.
Submit your top five favourite Web sites. See the guidelines at
<http://www.freepint.com/author.htm>.
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****Subscribe to Factiva's InfoPro Alliance Newsletter****
As a member of the InfoPro Alliance, you will receive our
monthly e-mail newsletter telling you about the latest enhancements to
Factiva.com, product tips, TechTalk and links to our new online
sessions for advanced searchers.
<http://www.factiva.com/infopro>
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FREEPINT BAR
In Association with Factiva
a Dow Jones & Reuters Company
Topics always seem to go in waves at the Bar. One minute you have lots
of requests for help with Microsoft Excel formulas, and the next there
are a raft of statistic requests about specific markets from
automotive to telecoms to pharma; from property in Brussels to health
in Mexico; from companies in Spain to Germany to Eastern Europe.
Perhaps you can compare the company information products from
OneSource and Hoovers? <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24683>.
As usual, there's been lots of advice about moving into, or out of,
the information profession. The thread about an engineer trying to
choose between information work or plumbing provided some contrasting
and amusing suggestions <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24372>. There's
been smashing interview advice for someone going for a job in an R&D
library <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24769>. Whilst someone else wants
to be a children's librarian <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24802>.
There's good advice on removing 'spyware' which hijacks your Web
browser <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24673>. And if pop-ups are
winding you up then look at <http://www.freepint.com/go/b23884>.
Finally, we've appreciated the nice postings about FreePint and its
new logo <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24792>. Currently only one out
of 61,000 members makes a voluntary financial contribution to
FreePint, but she has put out a call from Austria for others to
consider doing the same <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24641>.
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The FreePint Bar is where you can get help with your tricky research
questions, for free! <http://www.freepint.com/bar>
Help with study for information-related courses is available at the
FreePint Student Bar <http://www.freepint.com/student>.
Twice-weekly email digests of the latest postings can be requested
at <http://www.freepint.com/member>.
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KeepingLegal
Weblog covering legal issues affecting the information
profession such as copyright, data protection, and freedom
of information. The blog is accompanied by a fortnightly
newsletter that people can register on the site to receive.
<http://www.keepinglegal.com>
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FREEPINT JOBS
<http://www.freepint.com/jobs>
FreePint Jobs -- the best place for information vacancies.
* VACANCY SEARCHING -- Free search and set up a weekly alert profile.
* VACANCY RECRUITING -- Complete the form and advertise a vacancy
for just GBP195 <http://www.freepint.com/jobs/submit/overview.php3>.
This week's selected listings are below. All new jobs are posted to
the Bar and Bar Digest (circulation 11,000+) and matched against the
1000+ live job seeker profiles. This week's Bar 'new jobs' listing is
at <http://www.freepint.com/go/b24810> and last week's at
<http://www.freepint.com/go/b24688>.
Here are some of the latest featured jobs:
Researcher
Join corporate info centre at City financial firm - suit recent
post-grad or someone with 1-2 years research exp - good pay & bens.
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment
<http://www.freepint.com/go/j2571>
Media Assistant
You'll support our acquisition activities as well as help with
cataloguing, documentation, selection, disposal and technical work.
Recruiter: BBC
<http://www.freepint.com/go/j2573>
Careers Consultancy Researcher
Proactive and confident researcher with two years plus experience
for exciting role with niche career consultants.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
<http://www.freepint.com/go/j2575>
[The above jobs are paid listings]
Find out more today at <http://www.freepint.com/jobs>
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TIPS ARTICLE
<http://www.freepint.com/issues/240703.htm#tips>
"The Psychology of Corporations and Corporate Officers"
By Sam Vaknin
The Remit of Corporate Psychology
---------------------------------
The psychological dimensions of the recent spate of corporate
scandals, malfeasance and bad governance have often been understated
or reduced to a caricature of greed and fear. But corporations, from
the smallest mom-and-pop store to the multinational behemoth, are
comprised of humans. They represent an intricate interplay between the
psychological makeup of the actors: their personalities, emotions,
hopes, fears, expectations, memories and drives.
Corporate psychology encompasses the veteran fields of industrial and
organizational psychology. But it also includes the psychological
aspects of the management of human resources - manifest in career
counselling, executive coaching, employee testing and even ergonomics.
Professional Associations
-------------------------
As might be expected, there are numerous professional associations and
organizations, on both sides of the pond, which deal with industrial,
corporate, business and management psychology. They all publish
research, books and journals, schedule meetings, and maintain Web
sites and mailing or discussion groups.
Among the more prominent:
Academy of Management <http://www.aom.pace.edu/>
Association for Training and Development (ASTD) <http://www.astd.org/>
International Association of Applied Psychology <http://www.iaapsy.org/>
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology <http://www.siop.org/>
Chicago Industrial and Organizational Psychologists (CIOP)
<http://www.iit.edu/~ciop/>
European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (E.A.W.O.P.)
<http://www.tuta.hut.fi/eawop/>
European Network of Occupational Psychologists (E.N.O.P.)
<http://www.ucm.es/OTROS/Psyap/enop/index.html>.
Professional Publications
-------------------------
The Open Directory Project offers a comprehensive and up to date list
of relevant professional publications
<http://dmoz.org/Science/Social_Sciences/Psychology/
Industrial_and_Organizational/Publications/>.
Specific fields - Organizational Development and Science
--------------------------------------------------------
This is a vast field with thousands of online resources. I will
therefore confine myself to one Web site per category probably doing
injustice to hundreds of others in the process.
Organizational Science includes:
Inter alia, business transformation <http://www.bettermanagement.com/>
Communications management <http://www.prestonconsulting.com/>
Emotional Intelligence <http://www.eiconsortium.org/>
Employee relations <http://www.nbrii.com/>
Conflict resolution <http://www.cpradr.org/>
Motivation theory <http://www.incentivemag.com/>
The psychology of recruiting and retention
<http://www.employeeretentionstrategies.com/>
Knowledge management
<http://www.insead.fr/CALT/Encyclopedia/ComputerSciences/Groupware/Workflow/>
Leadership studies (more about this in a forthcoming issue of FreePint but
in the meantime): <http://www.ceoleadership.com/>
Organizational learning and institutional memory
<http://www-bus.colorado.edu/faculty/larsen/learnorg.html>
Game theory <http://www.economics.harvard.edu/~aroth/alroth.html>
Strategic planning with a view to organizational change and transformation
<http://www.changemgmtcenter.com/>.
Specific fields - Career Counselling and Career Tests
-----------------------------------------------------
Career planning and career change are now recognized to be intimately
linked with one's life goals and personality. Charting a realistic
career path is inextricably linked with one's talents, emotional and
cognitive background and potential or actual mental health problems
and conflicts.
The Five O'clock Club <http://www.fiveoclockclub.com/> is a good
starting point. It offers both resources and forums to discuss career
issues.
There are numerous professional tests available online for a fee ...
<http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Social_Sciences/Psychology/
Industrial_and_Organizational/Career_Tests/>
... but this page offers free tests
<http://www.queendom.com/tests/career/index.html>.
Specific fields - Employee Testing
----------------------------------
The testing and evaluation of human resources, employees and
executives alike, were among the first fields to develop within
industrial and business psychology. Inevitably, there are numerous
online service bureaux such as Brainbench <http://www.brainbench.com/>
and Management and Personnel Systems <http://www.mps-corp.com/>.
Specific fields - Executive Coaching
------------------------------------
Psychologists and even therapists and clinical psychologists
participate in the coaching and training of executives on all levels.
The process now includes the acquisition of leadership skills,
mentoring, peer group facilitation, networking capabilities, team
building, entrepreneurship, public speaking, and wealth and lifestyle
planning.
This emphasis on inner potentials and limitations, rather than on
external parameters, is reflected in the self-description of many of
the members of the Association of Independent Business Trainers
<http://www.aibt.org.uk/>.
Specific fields - Corporate Pathology
-------------------------------------
My own work is in another emerging field: the psychopathology of
organizations and collectives
<http://malignantselflove.tripod.com/14.html>. It is now thought that
corporate culture affects the behaviour of employees and bosses - and
the other way around
<http://samvak.tripod.com/corporatenarcissism.html> and
<http://www.nypress.com/16/7/news&columns/feature.cfm>.
Some scholars, such as Michael Maccoby <http://www.maccoby.com/> and
Roy Baumeister <http://baumeister.socialpsychology.org/>, believe that
the milder forms of pathologies, such as narcissism, can actually be
beneficial and conducive to corporate vision and success. Dattner
Consulting has an excellent overview of the issue here:
<http://www.dattnerconsulting.com/presentations/narcissism/index.html>.
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Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited
and the Webmaster of <http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com> and
<http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/personality_disorders/narcissism/>.
He is also the editor of <http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/npd>
and the moderator of the Narcissistic Abuse List
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/narcissisticabuse/> and other mailing
lists (c. 4000 members).
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Related FreePint links:
* 'Employment/Recruitment/HR' articles in the FreePint Portal
<http://www.freepint.com/go/p43>
* Post a message to the author, Sam Vaknin, or suggest further
resources at the FreePint Bar <http://www.freepint.com/bar>
* Read this article online, with activated hyperlinks
<http://www.freepint.com/issues/240703.htm#feature>
* Access the entire archive of FreePint content
<http://www.freepint.com/portal/content/>
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>>> FreePint Interviews SLA President, Cindy Hill <<<
<http://www.freepint.com/portal/events/sla-2003>
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FREEPINT BOOKSHELF
<http://www.freepint.com/bookshelf>
"Super Searchers on Madison Avenue"
Written by Grace Avellana Villamora
Reviewed by Terry Kendrick
Business has its "airport" books and now the information profession
has a version - the Super Searchers series. Like business "airport"
books which give an inspiring look at a subject area without really
providing a great deal of information, "Super Searchers on Madison
Avenue" is a very readable and inspiring overview of the work lives of
thirteen advertising and marketing information professionals without
ever really revealing the nuggets you might hope for.
The subtitle of the book suggests that "top advertising and marketing
professionals share their online research strategies" but this is
really a misnomer. There is a significant commitment to discussing
print resources as well as online research strategies. Online search
strategies are covered but not in any systematic way. Each interview
ends with what should be a very useful section - "power tips".
Unfortunately they are not always that powerful. Occasionally they are
more a statement of the obvious than a tip - "an important part of my
team's job is to select the best resources and tools and make them
accessible to the people who need them so that they can do their best
possible work in the most efficient manner". Some "power tip"!
In its favour this is clearly a book for the beginner who wants to get
up to a reasonable level quickly. There is a good listing of
advertising-related websites (232 sites), books, annuals, newsletters,
magazines and articles (almost 100) and a few quick tips. It is
particularly good at giving the flavour of information search in an
advertising agency but not quite so impressive for those who are
interested in the broader aspects of marketing.
Key factors you may be interested in if you are considering purchasing
this book: it's entirely American in outlook; there is more about the
day to day working lives of the interviewees and their organisations
than their online search strategies; it's not very well edited (e.g.
www.excite.com but no WWW in epinions.com).
On the positive side, this is an excellent light book for potential
entrants to this area of the information profession. It is also good
to see the idea of "super searchers", adding a bit of glamour to the
all too often mundane world of information work.
But the title of the book still worries me. I was expecting a lot more
detail on online search strategies than is presented here and indeed
one suspects that in some cases the primary online researchers for the
agency are not those being interviewed - interviewees tend to be the
service heads.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable, if frustrating, read. Read it on your way
to the next conference.
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Terry Kendrick is Director of Information Now Limited, an information
and marketing consultancy set up in 1990. Originally trained as a
librarian (ten years working in reference libraries) Terry left
libraries in 1987 to develop approaches to information and marketing.
Since this date he has worked on marketing projects for over 50
organisations in 17 different countries. Although most of his clients
are private sector organisations Terry still teaches workshops for
library and information professionals through the auspices of CILIP
and others. He is CILIP's national trainer for the NOF funded net
navigator and information consultant modules.
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Related FreePint links:
* Find out more about this book online at the FreePint Bookshelf
<http://www.freepint.com/bookshelf/madison.htm>
* Read customer comments and buy this book at Amazon.co.uk
<http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0910965633/freepint0c>
or Amazon.com
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0910965633/freepint00>
* "Super Searchers on Madison Avenue" ISBN 0910965633, published by
CyberAge Books, written by Grace Avellana Villamora.
* Search for and purchase any book from Amazon via the FreePint
Bookshelf at <http://www.freepint.com/bookshelf>
* Read about other Internet Strategy books on the FreePint Bookshelf
<http://www.freepint.com/bookshelf/strategy.htm>
To propose an information-related book for review, send details
to <bookshelf@freepint.com>.
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>>> Free Access to Complete FreePint Archive <<<
There are many ways to access FreePint's extensive archive of
information research articles. By year, by topic, by issue.
Whilst you're there, check out FreePint's new look logo:
<http://www.freepint.com/issues/issues.htm>
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FEATURE ARTICLE
<http://www.freepint.com/issues/240703.htm#feature>
"Automotive Industry Sources:
What Forest? All I See Are Trees!"
By Penny Leidtke
Anyone that has had to prepare industry overviews or provide
industry-related information is familiar with the sinking
realization that the industry in question is too small, too obscure,
or too fragmented for there to be any substantial coverage by the
media, trade associations, or government entities. More often than
not, however, there is enough readily available and publicly
accessible information to provide the client with the information they
need.
On the other hand, there are some industries for which information
abounds. These industries are so much a part of the everyday fabric of
the economy that it is easy to lose sight of your objective as you
gather detail after detail about the industry's inner workings.
Essentially, you're so surrounded by trees (the details) that you can
no longer see the forest.
The automotive industry is just such an industry. While the
automotive industry didn't really start to take shape until the late
1800s, it is now such an integral part of society and the economy that
government agencies, trade associations, consulting firms, and
publications are dedicated to tabulating data and reporting on the
state of the industry in the U.S. and abroad.
It's not possible to list every source available on every aspect of
the industry here. Therefore, what appears below is a small sampling
of resources that might help you get started. Given the global nature
of the automotive industry, most sites include domestic and
international information. Many also provide links to other
industry-related resources.
Government
----------
Government agencies frequently provide a wealth of information, much
of it statistical in nature, and most of it free or for a modest
charge. Specific industry information may only be a small part of a
larger report on the economy in general or it may be the primary focus
of the information. Regardless, pay attention to the dates as some do
not have current data available.
In the U.S., the Bureau of Economic Analysis <http://www.bea.doc.gov/>
provides national and international economic data, forecasts, and
analysis. Automotive data is included, but the site covers every
aspect of the U.S. economy. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics
<http://www.bts.gov> covers all forms of transportation. For more
targeted information, the International Trade Association's Office of
Automotive Affairs at <http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/auto> provides
information on both domestic and international markets. Statistical
data, special reports, and industry links are provided. They also
produce an annual industry report entitled The Road Ahead, which is
available on their site. The U.S. government also maintains
<http://www.export.gov> an export portal that includes links to country
and industry market reports from the U.S. Commercial Service, plus
country information and trade statistics.
Other governments besides the U.S. provide information on the
automotive industry. In the U.K., The National Statistics Website at
<http://www.statistics.gov.uk/> is the source for official UK
statistics on all aspects of the U.K.'s economy. The Department for
Transport's Transport Statistics site at
<http://www.transtat.dft.gov.uk> provides information on all forms of
transport. However, the Auto Industry site from the Department of
Trade & Industry's Automotive Unit and The Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders at <http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/index.asp>
might be more relevant, depending on your needs. It provides
directories, word and acronym dictionaries, statistics, and articles.
The governments of other European countries also maintain sites that
may prove useful, e.g. the National Institute for Statistics and
Economic Studies <http://www.insee.fr/en/home/home_page.asp> which
provides some general information on the French economy. Some other
governments, however, do not have an English version. For harmonized
European statistical information, Eurostat at
<http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/eurostat/eurostat.html> provides various
data compiled from reports from member countries. Vehicle prices
within the European Union are also available at
<http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/car_sector/>.
For general information on the Canadian economy, including some
automotive data, go to the Department of Finance Canada's site at
<http://www.fin.gc.ca>. Depending on your needs, Statistics Canada
<http://www.statcan.ca>, Industry Canada <http://www.ic.gc.ca>, or
Strategis <http://strategis.ic.gc.ca> may provide more relevant
information. Check out the Guides to Canadian Industry on the
Strategis site for links to other resources including directories,
contacts, statistics, international trade, journals, and regulations.
Much of the information is outdated but it may be useful for an
historical perspective or as a starting point for further research.
Trade Associations
------------------
Trade associations exist for almost every segment of the automotive
industry. Again, only a small sample is provided here. Don't forget,
many associations provide a links page for additional information.
You can also call them directly and ask if they have what you need or
if they can point you in the right direction if they don't.
In the U.S., manufacturers are represented by the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers <http://www.autoalliance.org>, which is
composed of 10 car and light truck manufacturers that account for over
90% of U.S. auto sales. The aftermarket segment of the auto industry
is represented by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
<http://www.aftermarket.org/home.asp>. The association's reports are
available to non-members for a fee. The Motor & Equipment
Manufacturers Association <http://www.mema.org>, which represents
manufacturers of auto components, equipment, and supplies, also sells
its reports to non-members. If you need information on the dealership
segment of the industry, the National Automobile Dealers Association
site at <http://www.nada.org> provides, among other things, a yearly
review of the dealership industry in the U.S. free of charge.
There are also numerous trade associations in other parts of the
world. In the U.K., The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
<http://www.smmt.co.uk> works to promote the interest of the motor
industry and provides some basic U.K. industry data. They also
publish the U.K. Motor Industry Directory. The U.K.'s retail motor
industry is represented by the Retail Motor Industry Federation
<http://www.rmif.co.uk> which provides facts and figures on the retail
segment of the industry. The European Automobile Manufacturers
Association (ACEA) at <http://www.acea.be> represents 13 European car,
truck and bus manufacturers and provides key figures, economic
outlooks, vehicle registrations, production, trade, and accident data.
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association
<http://www.japanauto.com> provides information on the Japanese
automotive industry with statistics on production and sales. The
German Automobile Industry Association provides various facts and
figures on the industry as well. The English version of their site is
at <http://www.vda.de/index_en.html>. The Canadian Vehicle
Manufacturers Association <http://www.cvma.ca> and the Automotive
Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) <http://www.apma.ca> provide
general information on the industry. APMA also has publications that
are available to the public for a fee. Finally, the International
Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA)
<http://www.oica.net>, composed of 42 trade associations from around
the world, provides statistics by country and by manufacturer.
Publications
------------
As you would expect, there are a substantial number of publications
dedicated to the automotive industry. Given the importance of the
industry to the world's economies, it's also not surprising that key
information is regularly featured in major newspapers such as the Wall
Street Journal and The Financial Times. Industry-specific
publications include Automotive News <http://www.autonews.com>,
Automotive News Europe <http://europe.autonews.com>, and Ward's Auto
<http://www.wardsauto.com>. These Websites provide access to basic
industry information free of charge. Other information is available
for purchase or by subscription. For example, Ward's publishes
newsletters, magazines, annual reference works, and provides data
through its AutoInfoBank service. Automotive World, through its
AWKnowledge.com site <http://www.awknowledge.com>, provides global
automotive news, analysis, reference data, and third party reports via
subscription or purchase only.
Other Sources
-------------
There are countless other resources, both hardcopy and online, that
could be useful depending upon your needs. Services as Dialog,
Factiva, Lexis-Nexis, Hoovers, and others can provide access to a wide
range of industry information. Market research reports or analysts'
reports can also be helpful but expensive. There is also a
possibility that some may be biased. Portals, like Just-Auto.com
<http://www.just-auto.com> offer access to industry news, articles,
research, discussion forums, trade events and links to industry
resources.
Finally, there are consulting firms that track the automotive industry
and produce various reports, some of which are made available to the
public but which can be extremely expensive. J.D. Power & Associates
<http://www.jdpower.com> produces three subscriber-based automotive
publications that cover the global automotive industry. Individual
issues are searchable and available for purchase. Two other well
known sources are PriceWaterhouseCoopers' AutoFacts service
<http://www.autofacts.com> which covers the global automotive industry,
and Harbour & Associates <http://www.harbourinc.com> which publishes
the Harbour Report each year covering North American automotive
manufacturers. Selected summary data is available to the public free
of charge. Automotive Industry Data <http://www.eagleaid.com> also
covers the auto industry through newsletters and special reports.
The information available through these sources usually comes with a
higher price tag than those listed here in previous sections. But, if
the budget permits, they are often excellent resources that can save
you a substantial amount of time. Otherwise, you'll need to gather
the relevant information from free or lower-cost services. The data
is there, it just takes longer to pull everything together and not get
bogged down with all the interesting, but not always relevant,
details. Remember to keep your eyes on the forest.
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Penny Leidtke, principal of On-Target Information Services, has over
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- Publication Date: 23rd July 2003
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