Business research
Business research looks at a company and the market around it: competitors, customers and the sector. A large part of the information is public, for example in the trade register, in annual reports and at statistics offices. A situational analysis combines these external findings with what you learn inside the company.
Company registers
What the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) and similar registers abroad can tell you about a company.
Annual reports
Where listed and larger companies publish their figures, and which numbers matter for your question.
Sector statistics
Statistics offices such as CBS StatLine for the size and development of a sector.
Situational analysis
Bringing internal and external findings together in one overview your client can use.
Questions to settle first
Which decision should your research support?
Which competitors and which market are you comparing against?
Which figures can you check in a published source?
Other topics
Desk research and literature
Where to find official statistics, published studies and sector reports on your topic, and how to tell a reliable source from a weak one.
- Statistics offices and open data
- Judging the quality of a source
Quantitative research
Research that collects data as numbers, usually with a survey, and analyses it with statistics: how often something occurs, how strongly people agree, whether groups differ.
- Sample size and margin of error
- Descriptive statistics and tests
Qualitative research
Research that collects data as words, in interviews, focus groups or observations, and analyses it by coding: what people say and do, and how they explain it themselves.
- Topic list and interview guide
- Coding the transcripts
Let NHL Stenden students research your business
Tell us about your business and what you want to find out. We will tell you where NHL Stenden students can help.