Annual Reports: A Valuable Resource for Business Students and Faculty
Annual Reports at Academic Business Libraries: What They Are and Why They Matter
Annual reports are documents that provide information about the activities, achievements, financial performance, and future plans of a company or an organization. They are usually published every year by public companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and other entities. Annual reports can be valuable sources of information for various purposes, such as research, teaching, learning, decision making, investing, and more.
annual reports at academic business libraries
Academic business libraries are specialized libraries that serve the information needs of business students, faculty, researchers, practitioners, and others who are interested in business topics. They provide access to a wide range of resources, such as books, journals, databases, newspapers, magazines, case studies, datasets, multimedia materials, and more. Academic business libraries also offer services such as reference assistance, instruction, consultation, interlibrary loan, document delivery, etc.
In this article, we will explore the relationship between annual reports and academic business libraries. We will discuss the benefits of using annual reports at academic business libraries, how to find them using various search strategies and resources, how to use them for different academic purposes in various disciplines and contexts, and what challenges and limitations they may pose. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what annual reports are, why they matter for academic business libraries, and how to use them effectively.
What are annual reports?
An annual report is a document that provides information about the activities, achievements, financial performance, and future plans of a company or an organization for a specific fiscal year. It is usually published every year by public companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and other entities that want to communicate with their stakeholders, such as shareholders, investors, donors, customers, employees, regulators, and the general public.
The purpose of an annual report is to inform the stakeholders about the performance and prospects of the company or the organization, as well as to showcase its vision, mission, values, goals, strategies, initiatives, achievements, challenges, opportunities, and impacts. An annual report can also serve as a marketing tool to promote the brand image and reputation of the company or the organization, as well as to attract and retain potential and existing stakeholders.
An annual report typically consists of several sections, such as:
A letter from the CEO or the president
A summary of the highlights and key facts of the year
A description of the business model and strategy
A report on the financial performance and statements
A report on the social and environmental responsibility and impact
A report on the governance and risk management
A report on the future outlook and plans
An appendix with supplementary information and data
An annual report can vary in format, length, style, and content depending on the type, size, industry, and culture of the company or the organization, as well as the legal and regulatory requirements of the country or the region where it operates.
What are academic business libraries?
Academic business libraries are specialized libraries that serve the information needs of business students, faculty, researchers, practitioners, and others who are interested in business topics. They are usually located within or affiliated with business schools or colleges, or other academic units that offer business programs or courses.
The role of academic business libraries is to provide access to a wide range of resources that support business education, research, and practice. These resources include:
Books, journals, databases, newspapers, magazines, case studies, datasets, multimedia materials, and other types of publications that cover various aspects of business, such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, economics, international business, strategy, operations, ethics, etc.
Annual reports, financial statements, company profiles, industry reports, market research reports, and other types of information that provide insights into the performance and prospects of specific companies, industries, markets, and regions.
Reference works, guides, handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, bibliographies, and other types of information that provide definitions, explanations, overviews, and references on various business concepts, terms, theories, models, methods, tools, etc.
In addition to providing access to resources, academic business libraries also offer services such as:
Reference assistance: helping users to find, evaluate, and use information effectively for their academic or professional purposes.
Instruction: teaching users how to develop information literacy skills and how to use various information sources and tools.
Consultation: providing individual or group guidance on specific information needs or projects.
Interlibrary loan: borrowing or lending materials from or to other libraries.
Document delivery: delivering materials electronically or by mail.
How do annual reports and academic business libraries relate?
Annual reports and academic business libraries have a close relationship. Annual reports are one of the most important and popular resources that academic business libraries provide to their users. They are valuable sources of information for various purposes, such as:
Research: using annual reports to conduct empirical studies on various business topics and issues, such as financial analysis, corporate strategy, organizational behavior, social responsibility, innovation, etc.
Teaching: using annual reports to design and deliver courses and assignments that enhance students' learning outcomes and skills in various business disciplines and contexts, such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, etc.
Learning: using annual reports to acquire knowledge and understanding of various business concepts and practices, as well as to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.
Decision making: using annual reports to support decision making processes and actions in various business scenarios and situations, such as investing, consulting, How to find annual reports at academic business libraries?
Finding annual reports at academic business libraries can be challenging, as they are not always readily available or accessible for various reasons, such as:
Annual reports are not published by all companies or organizations, especially private ones.
Annual reports are not always distributed or archived by the companies or organizations that publish them, or by the libraries that collect them.
Annual reports are not always indexed or cataloged by the databases or websites that provide them, or by the libraries that subscribe to them.
Annual reports are not always consistent or comparable in their format, content, and quality, as they vary depending on the type, size, industry, and culture of the company or organization, as well as the legal and regulatory requirements of the country or region where it operates.
Therefore, finding annual reports at academic business libraries requires using various search strategies and resources, such as:
Annual Reports at Academic Business Libraries Database
One of the most useful resources for finding annual reports at academic business libraries is the Annual Reports at Academic Business Libraries Database. This is a searchable list of annual report holdings held by 12 leading academic business libraries, including Harvard Business School, MIT, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Purdue, University of Alabama, University of Western Ontario, and the Science/Industry/Business Library of New York Public Library.
The database allows users to search for annual reports by keyword, company name, industry, or university. It also provides information about the availability and accessibility of the annual reports at each library, such as loan policies, reproduction services, contact details, etc.
The database is updated regularly and covers over 800,000 annual reports from more than 42,000 companies dating back to the 19th century.
The database can be accessed at https://apps.lib.purdue.edu/abldars/
Other databases and websites for finding annual reports
In addition to the Annual Reports at Academic Business Libraries Database, there are other databases and websites that provide access to annual reports, such as:
EDGAR: a database maintained by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that provides access to annual reports (Form 10-K) and other filings of public companies in the U.S. It can be accessed at https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
Mergent Online: a database that provides access to annual reports and other financial information of public companies in the U.S. and internationally. It can be accessed through subscription by academic business libraries.
ProQuest Historical Annual Reports: a database that provides access to historical annual reports of over 800 companies dating back to 1844. It can be accessed through subscription by academic business libraries.
AnnualReports.com: a website that provides access to free online annual reports of over 5,000 companies in various industries and regions. It can be accessed at https://www.annualreports.com/
Company websites: many companies provide access to their annual reports on their own websites, usually under sections such as Investor Relations, Corporate Governance, Financial Reports, etc.
Tips and tricks for searching annual reports
To find relevant and reliable annual reports using various search strategies and resources, here are some tips and tricks to follow:
Identify the company or organization that you are interested in, and its type (public or private), size, industry, and location.
Determine the year or period that you are looking for, and whether you need current or historical annual reports.
Use multiple sources and compare the results, as different sources may have different coverage and quality of annual reports.
Use keywords, filters, and operators to refine your search, such as company name, industry code, date range, etc.
Check the format, content, and quality of the annual reports, and look for indicators such as logos, signatures, auditors' opinions, etc.
Cite the annual reports properly according to the citation style that you are using, and provide the URL or DOI if available.
How to use annual reports for academic research and teaching?
Annual reports can be used for various academic purposes in different disciplines and contexts, such as:
Using annual reports for financial analysis and accounting
One of the most common and important uses of annual reports is to conduct financial analysis and accounting of companies and organizations. Financial analysis and accounting are the processes of examining and evaluating the financial performance and statements of a company or an organization, such as income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, etc.
Using annual reports for financial analysis and accounting can help to:
Analyze the profitability, liquidity, solvency, efficiency, and growth of a company or an organization.
Compare the performance and position of a company or an organization with its competitors, industry, market, and benchmarks.
Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a company or an organization.
Assess the value and risk of a company or an organization.
Make informed decisions and recommendations regarding investing, lending, auditing, consulting, planning, etc.
To use annual reports for financial analysis and accounting, here are some steps to follow:
Select the company or organization that you want to analyze, and obtain its annual report for the year or period that you are interested in.
Read the annual report carefully and critically, and extract the relevant financial information and data from the financial statements and notes.
Calculate and interpret various financial ratios and indicators, such as profitability ratios, liquidity ratios, solvency ratios, efficiency ratios, growth ratios, etc.
Compare and contrast the financial ratios and indicators with those of other companies or organizations in the same industry or market, or with industry averages or benchmarks.
Draw conclusions and implications from the financial analysis, and provide recommendations or suggestions for improvement or action.
Using annual reports for marketing and strategy
Another common and important use of annual reports is to conduct marketing and strategy of companies and organizations. Marketing and strategy are the processes of identifying, creating, delivering, and capturing value for customers, stakeholders, and society in a competitive and dynamic environment.
Using annual reports for marketing and strategy can help to:
Analyze the market trends and opportunities, such as customer needs, preferences, behaviors, segments, niches, etc.
Analyze the competitive advantages and challenges, such as product features, quality, price, distribution channels, promotion methods, brand image, reputation, etc.
Analyze the external and internal factors that affect the performance and prospects of a company or an organization, such as political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal factors (PESTEL), as well as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT).
Formulate and evaluate various marketing strategies and plans, such as market penetration, market development, product development, diversification, etc.
Implement and monitor the marketing strategies and plans, and measure their effectiveness and efficiency.
To use annual reports for marketing and strategy, here are some steps to follow:
Select the company or organization that you want to analyze, and obtain its annual report for the year or period that you are interested in.
Read the annual report carefully and critically, and extract the relevant information and data from the sections such as business model, strategy, market overview, competitive landscape, social responsibility, future outlook, etc.
Conduct a PESTEL analysis to identify the external factors that affect the performance and prospects of the company or organization.
Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify the internal factors that affect the performance and prospects of the company or organization.
Conduct a Porter's Five Forces analysis to identify the competitive forces that affect the performance and prospects of the company or organization.
Conduct a marketing mix analysis to identify the four Ps (product, price, place, promotion) that affect the performance and prospects of the company or organization.
Draw conclusions and implications from the marketing analysis, and provide recommendations or suggestions for improvement or action.
Using annual reports for management and organizational behavior
Another common and important use of annual reports is to conduct management and organizational behavior of companies and organizations. Management and organizational behavior are the processes of understanding and influencing the behavior and performance of individuals, groups, and organizations in various contexts and situations.
Using annual reports for management and organizational behavior can help to:
Analyze the organizational culture, values, goals, and vision of a company or an organization.
Analyze the organizational structure, design, and change of a company or an organization.
Analyze the leadership, power, and politics of a company or an organization.
Analyze the motivation, satisfaction, commitment, and engagement of the employees of a company or an organization.
Analyze the communication, teamwork, conflict, and negotiation of the employees of a company or an organization.
Analyze the diversity, ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability of a company or an organization.
Apply various theories, models, methods, tools, and best practices of management and organizational behavior to improve the performance and well-being of individuals, groups, and organizations.
To use annual reports for management and organizational behavior, here are some steps to follow:
Select the company or organization that you want to analyze, and obtain its annual report for the year or period that you are interested in.
Read the annual report carefully and critically, and extract the relevant information and data from the sections such as vision, mission, values, strategy, governance, social responsibility, future outlook, etc.
Conduct a cultural analysis to identify the values, beliefs, assumptions, norms, symbols, and artifacts that shape the organizational culture of the company or organization.
Conduct a structural analysis to identify the division of labor, coordination mechanisms, span of control, centralization, formalization, and complexity that shape the organizational structure of the company or organization.
Conduct a leadership analysis to identify the styles, traits, behaviors, skills, and outcomes of the leaders of the company or organization.
Conduct a motivation analysis to identify the needs, drives, incentives, rewards, and recognition that influence the motivation of the employees of the company or organization.
Conduct a communication analysis to identify the channels, modes, directions, barriers, and feedback that affect the communication of the employees of the company or organization.
Draw conclusions and implications from the management and organizational behavior analysis, and provide recommendations or suggestions for improvement or action.
Using annual reports for entrepreneurship and innovation
Another common and important use of annual reports is to conduct entrepreneurship and innovation of companies and organizations. Entrepreneurship and innovation are the processes of creating and exploiting new ideas, products, services, and business models that create value for customers, stakeholders, and society.
Using annual reports for entrepreneurship and innovation can help to:
Analyze the sources, types, stages, and outcomes of innovation of a company or an organization.
Analyze the opportunities, challenges, risks, and rewards of entrepreneurship of a company or an organization.
Analyze the processes, methods, tools, and best practices of ideation, design thinking, prototyping, testing, launching, scaling, and sustaining innovation and entrepreneurship of a company or an organization.
Analyze the factors that affect the success or failure of innovation and entrepreneurship of a company or an organization, such as creativity, c