Researching an Industry Industries or Specific Company Companies

The following instructions have been written to aid those learning about a new industry or a specific company. If you are only interested in a specific company, start at step 8, and then lightly cover some of the other areas to learn about industries the company operates in.

How to learn more about a company by examining its products

Reviewing competitors products can provide insights into future directions the company may take. Most of the comments apply to evaluating products, many could also apply to evaluating a service.

How to Review, Evaluate, and Critique a Web Site

Comments on how to review a business web site in terms of a user, in terms of its technical construction and in terms of how to learn more about the company from a competitive intelligence standpoint.

How to Conduct a Patent Search

We encourage examining patents closely to find additional possible product features, identify other potential uses for products, determine the predominate companies recently receiving patents in the area (potential licensees)... You can learn a great deal from those who have gone before.