3.7 Tips for researching the business environment

Researching the business environment requires a research strategy, critical thinking, creativity and an open mind.

Next to the tips in the previous chapters, we have a few additional tips for you:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examples of industry classifications

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC).

 

Statistical classifications are a key requirement to produce reliable, comparable and methodologically sound statistics.

 

Examples of official statistical classifications

Classifications maintained by UNSD;

national classifications, and;

for trade statistics, the HS code (Harmonized commodity and coding System).

 

Note: Some databases (also) use database-specific classifications. EMIS uses both the NAICS classification and their own classification of industries.

An example of a national statistical classification is the Dutch SBI-code. This code is used by e.g. the Central Bureau of Statistics (database Statline), the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and the database CompanyInfo.