Business and Industry: Company Information

As you begin your research, focus on some preliminary facts. Knowing these will help you in locating information:

Is the company is public or private?

What relationship(s) does it have to other companies.

• Is it a division of a larger company?
• Owned by another company?
• Does it have divisions of its own?
• Does it own other companies?

What names or codes refer to the company.

• Variant names
• Registered name
• Doing-Business-As name(s)
• Ticker symbol

Has the company been in the news?

• Locally
• Regionally
• Nationally
• Internationally

Contacting the Expert

• Call or email. Politely inform the person that you're a college student doing research for a presentation, project or paper, and that you hope they might have a few minutes to talk with you about your topic. Have your calendar on hand as you set up your appointment. Now is a good time to ask if they'll mind if you bring a recording device along.

Before the Interview

• Prepare a few questions. You might start with their name (including spelling) and position title. Have a few focused, open-ended questions.

Conducting the Interview

• Strive to have a conversation. People like to talk about what they know, but don't appreciate getting drilled. 

After the Interview

• Thank your interviewee, and ask if you may contact them again if you have any further questions.
   
• Write down what you learned and flesh out your notes as soon as you can.
   
• Send a thank you card or email.

Additional Tips

The Hawaii State Public Libraries provide access to several business databases:

Log in to the Hawaii State Public Libraries' Databases with your public library card number. Some databases will also require your public library PIN (usually your phone number).