MGT 390: Total Quality Management
Biographical Sources & Company-Quality Systems Sources
This assignment guide was created to assist students in locating sources for Professor Chow's Library Research Assignments. The 1st assignment requires students to locate biographical sources on a quality 'guru'. The 2nd assignment requires students to analyze a specific company's quality systems and processes.
The guide focuses on suggested strategies and best places to begin research efforts. For information & assistance in using any of the sources, please contact library staff:
Biographical Resources
Biography Reference Bank
"Wilson's largest biography database has combined the in-depth, original profiles of Wilson Biographies Plus illustrated, plus the thorough periodicals coverage of the Biography Index, full-text articles, page images, and abstracts from the complete range of Wilson databases (including biographical profiles, feature articles, interviews, essays, book reviews, performance reviews, speeches, or obituaries). It covers over 500,000 people and includes over 36,000 images."
- On the advanced search screen, begin by selecting the 'Biography Reference Bank' & 'Reader's Guide Retro' databases at the top of the screen.
- Use the pull-down menu to select either 'Person' or 'Keyword' and enter search terms in the first search box .
- Choose appropriate materials from the results lists. To print or email, click on 'Print/Email/Save' from the left menu.
- If articles are not available in full-text they may be available in the University Library or may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.
Business Source Premier (EBSCO)
Provides the full-text for more than 8,800 titles covering all areas of business.
Click on advanced-search at the top and try the searches listed below.
- In the first search-box, enter the name of the quality guru [last name first, first name] and use the pull-down menu to select 'People'. On the results list, look to the left for ways to narrow search results.
- If you do not have a specific guru in mind, the following search may lead to various articles that may mention someone you would want to research further. In the first-search box, enter total quality management. Use the pull-down menu to select 'Subject'. You could also add any of the following terms to narrow your results: guru, leadership, contributions, history, etc.
SOUTHcat (Library Catalog)
In addition to articles, remember to look for books about the life of your guru or authored by them.
- To locate materials that about the life of a quality management guru, conduct a *Subject Heading Browse* search in the catalog. Enter your guru's name with last name, first name.
- To locate materials that your guru has authored, conduct a search by Author. Enter your guru's name with last name, first name.
- To locate any material that mentions your guru, conduct a keyword search. Enter your guru's name (first name AND last name) as a Boolean search.
If you need further information on how to search the library’s catalog:
Using the SOUTHcat Catalog
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Google Scholar
Sample Searches:
"w. edwards deming" +biography
"w. edwards deming" +guru
Google Scholar is a beta test product for academic researchers. “It provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations. Google Scholar helps you identify the most relevant research across the world of scholarly research.” Researching your topic through Google Scholar allows you to utilize features of Google search technology with which you are already familiar.
Since Google Scholar is an index to scholarly literature, it may or may not provide the full-text for the secondary data sources it cites. Never purchase information from Google Scholar as you will be able to search Our Journal List OR SOUTHcat to locate materials that are available at USA.
So that you will be able to integrate the features of Our Journal List, whether you are on-campus or off-campus, remember to set Scholar Preferences and set a library preference for the University of South Alabama. Type ‘University of South Alabama’ in the library link box and click on ‘Find Library’. Once our library appears on the selection list with USA eText next to it, click in the box and at the top right of the screen select ‘Save Preferences’. You may also set preferences for English language only articles.
On the results list, anytime you see a citation with USA eText beside it, click on the link and it will search Our Journal List to see if the citation is available in full-text. If you are off-campus, you will be asked to provide your last name plus the first two letters of your first name and either your J Number, the last 4 digits of your social security number or your library barcode.
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Company - Functional Area Articles & Books
Business & Company Resource Center
A comprehensive database for industry and company information including company profiles, company brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies, and periodicals. Search this database to find detailed company and industry news and information. Coverage is from 1980 to the present.
- Click on the 'Advanced Search' graphic from the database home page.
- Select 'News/Magazines' from the Content Area using the first pull-down menu .
- Enter your company's name in the first search box and use the pull-down menu to select 'Subject' .
- Enter quality in the second search box and use the pull-down menu to select 'Subject'.
Business Source Premier (EBSCO)
Provides the full-text for more than 8,800 titles covering all areas of business.
- Click on the 'Advanced Search' tab at the top of the search page.
- In the first search box, use the pull-down menu and select 'CO company entity' and enter the name of your company. Note: Company names may be entered in various ways--ex. IBM versus International Business Machines.
- In the remaining search boxes, use 'Select a Field (optional)' and enter additional words such as quality OR continuous improvement OR Six Sigma, etc.
- Click the 'search' button at the top of the screen.
- On the results screen, you may be able to focus your results to a specific topic area by clicking on subject terms to the left of the screen.
Business Index ASAP
Perform in-depth research on management issues, economic indicators and business theories and practices, as well as on the activities of companies and industries worldwide. The benefit of using this database to search for articles is that it provides a subject guide that helps you narrow your topic.
- Click on ‘Subject Guide’ to the left of the screen.
- Enter your company's full name in the search box and click on the ‘Search’ button.
- From the results list, locate your company. You can either ‘View’ the complete list of articles on that topic OR narrow by subdivision. Narrowing by subdivision is useful in locating articles that will relate to your specific need.
- Look for the term 'quality management' and then click on 'View'.
- Click on the link to 'Check for Full-Text' to see if it's available. If articles are not available in full-text they may be available in the University Library or may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.
Emerald Library
Includes the full-text for 139 journals focused on management and marketing.
- Click on ‘Advanced Search ’ to the left of the screen.
- Enter your company's name in the first search box, choose 'Company Name' from the first pull-down menu.
- Enter quality in the second search box, choose 'All Fields (Excluding Full-Text) and click on the orange ‘Search’ button at the top right.
- Review results and if needed click on 'modify search' or 'search within results' links at the top of the results list .
SOUTHcat (Library Catalog)
Books about your company may include chapters or provide information on quality management.
- To locate materials that about your company, conduct a *Subject Heading Browse* search in the catalog. Enter your company's name.
- To locate any material that mentions your company, conduct a keyword search. Enter your company's name AND quality as a Boolean search.
If you need further information on how to search the library’s catalog:
Using the SOUTHcat Catalog
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Our Journal List
Usually, you find a reference/citation to an article that may fit your research needs either through Google Scholar or listed in a bibliography at the end of another article or book chapter you have read. The next step is to try to locate the full-text so you can read and evaluate it further.
Our Journal List allows you to type in the title of a journal or magazine and directs you to a list of databases the library subscribes to which may provide the full-text of an article you need. Once you click on Our Journal List, enter the name of the journal, magazine or source in the first search box. If the title is indexed in any of our databases, it will appear on a results list. Across the top of the screen, you will find the dates of ‘Online Coverage’ per database for the title, a link to ‘Full-Text Access’ as well as a link to the library’s catalog record for the print title if available.
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Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Although the library subscribes to a number of full-text article databases and print journals, you may find a journal article citation that you would like to incorporate in your paper and USA does not provide the full-text. The library can ask other libraries for a copy of the full-text article once you fill out an ILL request.
The first time you request an article you will need to register. Journal articles and books located in libraries in Alabama will be obtained for you at no charge—undergraduates are limited to 5 requests in process at any time. Although articles may come sooner, please allow 7-10 days. Most of the time, articles are sent as PDF attachments and are delivered to your ILL web account. When they arrive, you will be sent an email to the account you listed when you registered for the service.
Often you will be able to find additional full-text articles in databases the library subscribes to without having to utilize ILL. Contact the Service Desk in the MCOB Library if you need assistance in locating other secondary sources for your team’s research paper.
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Citation Sources
[For assistance in writing your papers, contact the University Writing Center.]
American Psychological Association (APA):
American Psychological Association (APA) Format (Purdue)
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed.
MCOB Reference BF 76.7 .P83 2001
Modern Language Association (MLA):
Answers to frequently asked questions about MLA style
MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue)
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed.
MCOB Reference LB 2369 .G53 2003
Chicago Manual of Style (Turabian) :
Chicago Manual of Style (Turabian) (Colorado State University)
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, & Dissertations (7th ed.)
MCOB Reference LB 2369 .T8 2007
Other :
Online! Citation Styles
Uncle Sam - Brief Guide to Citing Government Publications
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Last Updated: 8/17/08 DLH
