MANA 3001 - Leader analysis: Home

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About this guide

This guide was written for Dr. O'Neill's Behavior and Organization (MANA 3001) course.

Off campus access methods (authentication)

Brief description of 3 authentication methods:

  1. New Library Login (OpenAthens):  Many library resources use this method for logging in; requires no setup. When prompted, select "Marquette University Libraries (AZURE)" and then sign in using your Marquette email/password.  
  2. Library Login (legacy version):  This method is quick and requires no setup.  Just login before clicking on library database links or when prompted to do so. A few library databases will not work with it. 
  3. VPN (virtual private network): The VPN requires you to download an app onto both your cell phone and your computer. A few library databases require it for off-campus access. Outline of the steps required for the VPN:
    • Register for Duo Mobile if you haven't already (see "detailed VPN instructions" linked just below).
    • Download Duo Mobile app onto your cell phone. Allow push notifications for it.
    • Download GlobalProtect app onto your computer. Complete GlobalProtect setup on your computer.
    • Find detailed VPN instructions from ITS here.

About leadership

Below are links to both encyclopedia articles and encyclopedias.  

CEO Lists and more

Below are some lists of CEO's (mostly!) that may help you decide who to research.

Note that these lists may include some people who are not affiliated with a public company!

Company documents (filings)

Primary source material for your leader analysis!

Public companies are requried by law to provide a lot of information to the business world. In addition to a company's own website, two databases below will give you access to the disclosure documents of public companies.

  • Mergent Online has both financials and company filings (aka reports or documents).
  • Refinitiv Workspace has more content: more international companies; more financial analyst reports; and it has market and industry reports. Requires registration for an individual account.

About the annual reports:

There are two types, and they have different intended audiences! Although there is considerable overlop bethween the two types, there isalso some unique content in each. For larger, more consumer-oriented companies, the differences are likely to be most apparent.

  1. 10-K: this report is the mandated disclosure document that the company files with the SEC. Its organization and format are more funcitonal and less aspirational.
  2. ARS, or Annual Report to Shareholders: this report is sent to all current and potential investors. It usually presents the company as it wants to be seen.
    ➤ You may have to look for these on company websites. Companies used to submit these to the SEC routinely (even though it was not required), but no longer do so consistently.

Sections to look for:

At least skim a good portion of one of these reports. But here are two specific recommendations on sections to look at:

–   10-K:  the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A; sometimes repeated in the ARS).
–   ARS:  the CEO's letter to shareholders.  Read several of these letters to get a better sense of the CEO.

Other company documents to look for:

  1. Proxy statements:  these are the documents that contain the most biographical information about the company's upper management and board of directors. 
  2. 8-K reports:  these report on current events of a material nature; must be filed within 10 days of the event's occurrence.

Tracking ethical issues

For this area, in addition to the business news, below are two sources that may help.  Things to note:

 –  In ESG Manager, look for the ESG Controversies report.
 –  ESG Manager only covers public companies.
 –  Violation Tracker does cover some private companies.