Master of Management - UBC Okanagan

Hello!

This guide is to provide research resources and strategies for Master of Management students at UBCO.

As you start to think about your Applied Projects, I am available to help you! We can talk about how you might get started with finding literature, whether you are sure about your topic or just starting out thinking about it! I can help you with strategies for searching including keywords and places to search such as databases or websites.

I've provided some top library-subscribed sources in this guide to get you started in various areas, but if you have questions about how to research your specific topic, please get in touch (kim.buschert@ubc.ca) and I'm happy to meet up in person or via Zoom and I am flexible to be available at a time that works for you. Feel free to also review my presentation slides from the intensive last summer. Please note: I am on leave from January 2024 through December 2025 - contact MJ D'Elia for assistance.

As general starting points, UBC Library's Summon search tool (library home page search box) and Google Scholar are both excellent tools for locating a wide range of sources. Beyond these general search tools, this guide highlights some specific places to search. The important part is finding good, relevant information that you can use to learn about your topic.

Google, Google Scholar, Summon, database? With all these tools available it can be difficult to decide where to begin.

Generally, the more specific the tool, the more specific your results will be - this also means fewer results for you to sift through.

Here's a brief rundown of the different options:

Google: Searches all of the Internet. Millions of results! Lots of evaluating for you to verify credibility of the sources. 

Google Scholar: Searches all of the Internet for scholarly sources. Still lots of results, and you might not get full-text. Connect Google Scholar to UBC Library for better luck (see the Google Scholar page of this guide for instructions).

Summon: Searches all Library sources. Fewer results! But can still be a lot, and you still need to evaluate.

Subject database: Searches publications specific to subject areas. Examples for Management are Business Source and ABI/INFORM. Even fewer results! But you still need to evaluate.

Sub-topic database: Specific to certain types of materials, e.g. company profiles, industry profiles or market research. Examples for business reasearch include IBISWorld (industry overviews) and Mergent (company profiles). Guess what? You still need to evaluate the source.

The Library Access browser extension simplifies your access to UBC library materials when you are searching online. You’ll have access whether you’re studying abroad, in a coffee shop, or at home. 

After downloading, the extension will notify you when you’re on a website that your library has a subscription for. Then, it’s just a single click to open the site through the library’s systems and get access to all licensed material on that site. The browser extension works with most common browsers and is computer based. A mobile version is not currently available. 

The Library Access browser extension doesn’t collect any personal information unless you actively share it. And it doesn’t collect your IP address or your device’s unique device IDs. Read more about Lean Library's Privacy Policy.

Step 1: Download and install the extension: leanlibrary.com/download

Step 2: Select University of British Columbia

Step 3: Start searching! When off-campus, Library Access will let you know when you are on a website that the library has access to.

Step 4: Login with your UBC CWL (campus wide login)