Out of the Ordinary

The primary purpose of business research is to gather information in order to aid decision-making. While there are many different users of business information, this chapter will focus on those in an academic setting. A wide variety of general and specialized resources exist to support the teaching and research needs of business students and faculty. For several reasons, the nature of these resources is complex and can be confusing. This chapter analyzes various types and subject areas within the discipline of business and considers various criteria used to select the most appropriate resources for curricular and research needs. The chapter recommends ongoing stewardship of the resources and suggests various methods of educating users about them.