Welcome to the April issue of Research Helpline!
We've been asked: What is an information professional (IP)?
An IP finds, filters and analyzes information to strategically advance the mission of an organization. Using tools, techniques, technology and training, an IP access resources, as he/she delivers (often hard to find) information to help a company meet its objectives and/or become more competitive. Work is often done under NDA, on a project or retainer basis.
Reflections on Research: Explosive Growth in Weaponomics
Prospects for small arms sales in the Americas' and expecially South America is robust.
Assault rifles, mortars, blasting explosives, revolvers, grenade launchers, hand grenades, ammunitions,and other munitions are all in demand, both through legal and illegal means. Using field reports, journalist accounts, primary market intelligence, market research studies, academic sources, forecast systems from firms such as Forecast International, Inc. (www.forecast1.com), global trade data, and various propretiary databases, a view of the market demand, and influences for the future can be compiled. The factors that determine market demand and sources are a function of many matters - socioeconomic, regulatory, legal and political. The availability of reliable historical data varies from country to country, as do variations in global and regional systems that are used to classify, compare and contrast global trade in these systems.
Not all countries report their military exports, though the U.S. is by far the largest importer of pistols and revolvers, sporting shotguns and small-caliber ammunition" according to "Small Arms Survey 2009" published by a Geneva-based group whose work is funded by various foreign ministeries around the world. Iran, North Korea, South Africa are lax in reporting, and China, Pakistan, Russia and Singapore report some information only. Authorized small arms sales rose 28% last decade. In 2006, the last year data is comprehensively available, the US. controlled 49% of the export market for military small arms, down from 68% in 2000. Is it a good thing that we're losing market share in weapons? I'd like to hear your thoughts.
One last sobering thought -- while your travel agent doesn't advertise it, South America with its historical violent gun culture constitutes 14% of the global population, and about 3.5-4.0% of the world's civilian firearms, but civilian homicides are 40% of the global homicide total according to a study funded by the US and a non profit weapons proliferation study group from Bogota, Columbia doing original research..
After that story, you may need some lighter fare. Go to http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-12-sites-watch-videos-youtube/ to see some alternatives to www.youtube.com.
We're pleased to offer a complementary white paper from Halpern Info Services -- The Ugly Truth About Finding, Using and Managing Information. To receive your copy, send an email to richard@halperninfoservices.com mentioning "Ugly Truth" in the subject line, or call 508346.3225.today.