Using Library Resource Materials to Integrate Deep Information and Externality Impacts into Semi-Live Finance Case Course Analyses

Abstract

This paper focuses on the manner in which business library research can be integrated into an upper-level case course in financial management to allow students to study the impact of externalities and what shall be referred to here as “deep information” in examining business decision making. The case class discussed herein analyzes firms contemporaneously, i.e., those facing current financial and operating situations. This differs greatly from traditional case courses that focus instead on historical company situations. In particular, the approach developed at The University of Toledo in its Advanced Financial Management course is examined. Tangentially, the interaction with other courses in the finance curriculum is also discussed.More particularly, the incorporation into the case analysis of the impacts of various factors that are outside of the control of a firm’s management, but that strongly influence and channel its performance, is showcased. Examples of these external factors include the impacts of economic trends and conditions, demographics, international developments, competition, and industry effects. In addition to research on external factors, two other areas in which library assistance can aid in the analysis of concurrent case companies include -- finding data and information that delves more deeply into company activities, e.g., by using corporate and other databases, and utilizing EDGAR to study the footnotes of a firm to uncover obscure and often less comprehensible issues behind its activities and behavior. In doing this, focus is placed upon the manner in which the synergistic efforts of the librarian and case instructor can effectively present and integrate this information into these contemporaneous cases to enhance student learning experience.