Abstract
A research and analysis was made by OUG in order to present a comparative picture (U. S. vs. Japanese) of the state of the art in the use of online industry/management or business databases. The study was performed in the form of questionnaire surveys in both countries (Japan in 1983; U. S. in 1985). Respondents were all responsible persons in charge of information management at innovative companies and research institutions. The valid response rates were very high in both Japan and the U. S., in which international mailings were used for request and reply. Survey items were : (1) data on users or non-users, (2) sections in charge of business information retrieval work, (3) sections of actual users, (4) subject matters often searched, (5) major cases of using business information retrievals, (6) public relations campaigns, (7) SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) services, (8) information analysis or processing by using business databases, (9) plans for the effective use of business databases, and (10) data files in use and connection time/times of use per month. The "composite profiles" of typical U. S. and Japanese database users were constructed based on the survey findings, and prospective trends in the use of business databases were explored.
