Basic Country Coverage
CIA World Factbook (Reference G 122 .U56a2 2006)
An excellent starting point. Profiles of each country of the world. Covers geography, population, government, economy, climate, etc. This site also includes maps that can be downloaded.
Country Briefings - Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
Much free information, but items noted as "premium content" are only available by subscription.
Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook (Floor 2 Reference G 1 .C8702)
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Reference G 63 .W67 2004)
Also refer to the Web sites and printed resources listed in the Country and Regional Information Sources section of the International Business Web page and on the Country Resources for Business library guide.
Cultural Resources
Country Studies / Area Handbooks
Many are over ten years old; best used for geographic, historical, and cultural and social information. Milner Library also has printed copies of these books in the documents collection. There is a chapter focusing on the social system that provides a great deal of detail on the culture and social structure in each country. It is usually chapter 2. The Country Profiles update the Studies, but they do not contain much information about the culture.
Doing Business In ...
Guides for about 40 countries, from the accounting firm of HLB International. Provide information about typical labor contract provisions.
Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions
Profiles cultural dimensions information for each country.
Global Marketing Information Database (GMID)
Includes statistics on world consumer markets, marketing data and statistics, and consumer lifestyle reports. Lifestyle reports include information about racial/ethic tensions, gender differences in the workforce, working conditions, and differences among various demographic segments of the population. Restricted to onsite users and Illinois State University students, faculty, and staff.
Portals to the World
Part of the Library of Congress' Global Gateway site providing links to resources by country. Usefulness varies by country.
STAT-USA Globus & NTDB
Provides a wide range of data concerning international trade, including access to the Background Notes, CIA World Factbook, and the Country Commercial Guides. Chapters 3 - Selling U.S. Products and Services and 8 - Business Travel are most useful for cultural information. Restricted to onsite users and Illinois State University students, faculty, and staff.
World Bank - Countries & Regions
Provides general country information as well as a detailed overview of the business environment and all aspects of doing business in the country and also for regions. Look in the Data & Statistics section under the Investment Climate Snapshot for topics such as hiring and firing employees.
For some countries there are books with titles containing the words "doing business in." Search for these in the Milner Catalog. Also search under the subject heading BUSINESS ETIQUETTE (COUNTRY NAME).
Finding Books
Subject headings for books can be difficult to determine. Below are several groups of headings to use for various topics in your paper. In most cases you should qualify or narrow the topic by adding your country name, region, nationality, or a sub-heading such as CROSS-CULTURAL STUDIES.
General
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
CORPORATE CULTURE
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS (uses nationalities, e.g. Chinese or Dutch)
Also try the TITLE WORDS "DOING BUSINESS" with the country name
Business Negotiations/Communication
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION (use with the country name)
COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
NEGOTIATION IN BUSINESS
Hiring
EMPLOYEES RECRUITING
EMPLOYEE SELECTION
HUMAN CAPITAL
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Organizational Structure, Organizational Change, and Hierarchy
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
DECISION MAKING
INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT
INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Reward Systems
BONUS SYSTEM
COMPENSATION MANAGEMENT
INCENTIVE AWARDS
INCENTIVES IN INDUSTRY (use with region or continent)
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
Role of Women
BUSINESSWOMEN
WOMEN (use with country name)
WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE
Finding Articles
Business Source Elite is the major index to use to find articles. Many of the same subject headings that work in the catalog will work in Business Source Elite as well.
