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Business

Grey Literature

Grey literature refers to materials and research produced outside of traditional academic or commercial publishing channels. It's not found in regular bookstores or academic journals. Think of it as the "unpublished" world of information.

Why is Grey Literature Useful for Your Studies?

  • Unique Insights: Grey literature offers a direct window into the practical applications of business theories and concepts. You'll find market analyses, company reports, industry forecasts, and case studies that reflect real-world challenges and solutions.
  • Competitive Intelligence:Gain an edge by accessing competitor analyses, industry benchmarks, and market trends that may not be readily available in academic publications.
  • Emerging Trends: Grey literature often captures emerging trends and innovations before they become mainstream, giving you a glimpse into the future of business.
  • Diverse Perspectives: Explore a range of viewpoints from different stakeholders, incluing business, government agencies, NGOs, and think tanks. This diversity can enrich your understanding of complex business issues.
Feature Grey Literature Academic Sources (Books, Journal Articles)
Publication process Informal, non-commercial channels Rigorous peer-review
Availability Can be harder to find, often through specialised sources Widely available in libraries and online databases
Authors Varied: companies, government agencies, consultants, individuals Primarily academics and researchers
Purpose Diverse: inform, persuade, market, document Disseminate scholarly research, contribute to knowledge

 

Types of Grey Literature You Might Encounter:

  • Market Research Reports: In-depth analyses of specific markets, industries, or consumer segments.
  • Industry Reports: Overviews of industry trends, forecasts, and challenges.
  • Company Reports: Annual reports, sustainability reports, and investor presentations.
  • White Papers: Authoritative reports on specific topics or solutions.
  • Case Studies: Detailed examinations of real-world business scenarios
  • Consultancy Reports: Expert analyses and recommendations on specific business issues.
  • Government Publications: Economic data, policy papers, and regulatory reports.
  • Conference Presentations: Summaries of presentations given at business conferences, .
  • Working Papers: Preliminary research findings before formal publication.
  • Dissertations and Theses: In-depth research by postgraduate students, often containing original research.

For a more detailed list of different types of grey literature, vist this link at GreyNet.org

Where to Find Grey Literature:

 

Google:

In addition to using Google to find sources of grey literature, you can also use the Advanced Search to search within particular sites or domains as well. This is often more effective than using the site's own search engine, plus you can specify types of files (i.e. most reports and publications will be .PDF files) and date updated.

To search within a particular website using Google Advanced Search, put the domain URL in the 'site or domain' field - for example, .gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury. This will search just within the HM Treasury site. Using .britishchambers.org.uk/ will just search within the website of the British Chambers of Commerce.

(If you're not sure which part of the URL to use, basically take everything after the www, including the full stop.)