LibGuides: Accountancy, Finance and Economics: Troubleshooting eResources

Can't Access an Article?

Some eResources just provide citation details and an abstract (a short summary) rather than the full article. You can use the abstract to decide if the full text is worth reading.

If you want to read the full text and it is not available:

Use "Is it @ SSU?" button to see if the article is available anywhere else in the Library
Alternatively, look up the journal title (not the article title!) on the Library Catalogue to see if we have a subscription
Still no luck? Check Google and Google Scholar for a copy - easily done if you search by "article title"
I really want this article and can't get it! Apply for an inter-library loan - you can have a certain amount of these for free whilst at Solent. Please remember that there is a charge for the Library so only request items that you really need:

Inter-Library Loans

If you only want to see articles that are available:

Restrict your searches to Full Text using the options provided
Set up Google Scholar library links (see Google Scholar tab).

Picking Relevant Results

Sometimes you will get quite a few results and you will need to pick out the most relevant.

First, ensure you have a good set of results to choose from:

your initial search uses all relevant words, "phrase searching", truncatio* and more
sort your results by relevancy
apply any relevant filters such as fulltext/peer reviewed/location/subject

Now look through your results:

Note where your search words appear in the title/sentences - this helps you decide if something is worth clicking on.
For each relevant article, click through and read the summary/abstract. If it looks of interest, read the conclusion or last paragraph. If it is still of interest, download and read the entire article.
Repeat multiple times!

Video: Simple Searching

video icon Getting too many or too few results? Watch Simple Searching to find out how you can improve:

OSIRIS - Basics

Quick Search for one company

Osiris search screen, companies tab, with arrows pointing to search bar and company name

Enter the company name in the top search box and double-click on the appropriate company name to select it from the list - this opens the company report.
Scroll down to find the key financials and ratios.
Under Global Standard Format you can see the Balance Sheet and Income Statement. This is followed by Global Ratios categorised under Profitability, Operational, Structure, and Per employee.
Continue to scroll down for additional information.

Searching for more than one company and comparing

Click on Company name in the lower search box
Enter a company (e.g. Kraft Foods Inc.) and then tick the box to the left of the name to select the required company or companies.
Repeat this name as many times as necessary (e.g. search and add another company such as Kellogg)
Select OK at the bottom of the screen and ensure you have the correct number of results listed.
Click View list of results. You can now view the company reports or create an analysis (see over...)

Peer Analysis

To do peer analysis you need more than one company listed on your screen (as per the instructions in the previous tab): Screenshot of Osiris with Peer analysis button circled

Click on Peer analysis and New analysis.

Select your variables and click Next.
Select years required and click Next.
Select how to display the results.
Click on Finish.

To make your bar charts clearer you can:

Remove the Median, Standard deviation, and Average by unchecking the radio boxes.
Display by year and not company.
Maximise or remove sections from your report.

Osiris peer analysis chart with arrows pointing to checkboxes and the options button circled

You can export to Word, Excel (allows you to edit and alter your graph colours etc.), PDF and other formats, or print or send (email) all the data in your report using the options at the top of the screen. Osiris export, send, and print options

Use the breadcrumb trail at the top to go back to the List format. Here you can add columns to show more data - click on Add to the right of the list. For example, type in Audit fees for this information to be added.

Peer Reports

To compare a company to its peer group - the closest ten international companies within a GICS code (Global Industry Classification Standard) - select your chosen company and show the report on the screen. On the right, at the bottom, use Peer Report:

Screenshot of Osiris with Peer report section circled

Display the information as a table or chart: An Osiris Peer report table

Searching Mintel

The Mintel home screen has recently changed and no longer has the "Category Overview" menus which featured on the previous version. The best way to find reports on Mintel is to search by keyword from the home screen, then use the filters to narrow your results by sector, demographic etc. This video gives an introduction to searching on Mintel:

video icon Please ensure you log into SOL in order to view this video: log into SOL

TGI Snapshot Introduction

This is an introduction to TGI Snapshot from Johnston Business Library in Canada. The data set demonstrated is Canadian. Solent's subscription offers access to UK data only.

Library Chat

Our chat service is available 24/7 so no matter when you contact us there will always be a librarian on hand to help. During library staffed opening hours we provide a locally staffed service, where you will chat to a member of Solent Library.

During evenings, weekends, and bank holidays or University closure periods, your chat may be directed to our staffed "out of hours services" in another university library which may be located anywhere in the world. If they are unable to answer your question directly they will be able refer it back to Solent library staff who will be able to respond by email accordingly.