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Publications
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(117,172)
- Faculty Publications (2,464)
- February 1997 (Revised June 1999)
- Background Note
Committed and Flexible Resources
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Stresses the difference between costs committed in advance of knowing actual demand (committed costs) and cost incurred proportional to demand. Committed costs appear fixed since their supply is independent of the amount actually used. Flexible resources are supplied... View Details
Keywords: Cost
- February 1997 (Revised July 2001)
- Background Note
Introduction to Activity-Based Costing
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Introduces the fundamental notions of activity-based costing (ABC). Motivates ABC by means of a simple example, a single and a diversified pen factory. Proceeds to show how ABC assigns costs more accurately to products and customers by: 1) identifying the activities... View Details
Keywords: Activity Based Costing and Management
- 1997
- Working Paper
Corporate Strategies for Emerging Markets in Business Groups
By: Tarun Khanna and Krishna G. Palepu
- February/March 1997
- Article
Why Does Business Need a Balanced Scorecard? Part I
By: Robert S. Kaplan and David Norton
Keywords: Balanced Scorecard
- January 1997
- Background Note
Assigning Support Department Expenses to Production Cost Centers (B): Flexible Budgets
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Describes the use of flexible budgets to assign support/service department costs to production cost centers. View Details
- December 1996 (Revised February 1998)
- Case
Colorscope, Inc.
By: V.G. Narayanan and Joseph Cha
A small company in the graphic arts business faces severe price competition. The company must respond by cutting costs and making process improvements. View Details
- December 1996 (Revised February 2000)
- Background Note
Assigning Support Department Expenses to Production Cost Centers (A)
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Describes the first stage of the two-stage cost assignment process from support/service departments to production cost centers. View Details
Keywords: Cost
- December 1996 (Revised October 1999)
- Case
Kidder, Peabody & Co.: Creating Elusive Profits
By: Robert L. Simons and Antonio Davila
On April 17, 1994, Kidder, Peabody & Co. announced a $350 million charge against earnings resulting from the discovery of false trading profits. That same day, the termination of Joseph Jett's employment with the company was made public. By illustrating the mechanics... View Details
- November 1996 (Revised April 1999)
- Case
United Way of Southeastern New England (UWSENE)
By: Robert S. Kaplan and Ellen L. Kaplan / RA
A regional United Way organization, a nonprofit already active in total quality management, implements a Balanced Scorecard to link its strategic planning objectives with day-to-day operations, and is able to translate its vision and strategy into objectives and... View Details
- October 1996 (Revised April 1998)
- Case
Mobil USM&R (D): Gasoline Marketing
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Mobil US Marketing & Refining has shifted from a centralized staff-driven organization to decentralized business-units. Staff functions now must negotiate service agreements with a buyer's committee consisting of representatives from the profit-center business units.... View Details
- October 1996 (Revised February 1997)
- Case
Upjohn Company, The: The Upjohn-Pharmacia Merger
By: Krishna G. Palepu and Amy P. Hutton
In August 1995, the Upjohn Co. and Pharmacia AB announced a "merger of equals." This case provides background information on the industry, the position of Upjohn, and Upjohn's rationale for the proposed merger. View Details
- September 1996 (Revised September 1999)
- Case
Mobil USM&R (A): Linking the Balanced Scorecard
By: Robert S. Kaplan
The CEO of the marketing and refining division of a major oil company is in the midst of implementing a profit turnaround. He transforms the strongly centralized, functionally-organized division into 17 independent business units and 14 internal service companies. The... View Details
- September 1996 (Revised April 1998)
- Case
Mobil USM&R (B): New England Sales and Distribution
By: Robert S. Kaplan
The general manager of a local gasoline/distillate sales and distribution business unit must communicate a new strategy to the unit's 300 employees. An initial strategic planning exercise identified a high-priority list of opportunities that blended the parent... View Details
- September 1996 (Revised May 1997)
- Case
Mobil USM&R (C): Lubricants Business Unit
By: Robert S. Kaplan
The general manager of a Lubricants Business Unit in Mobil's U.S. Marketing and Refining division launched a project to develop a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) for his unit. The purpose was to provide focus for all employees of the unit, enabling it to operate on an... View Details
- September 1996
- Case
Automatic Data Processing: The EFS Decision (Abridged)
By: Robert L. Simons
The managing director of one of ADP's divisions must recommend whether to divest, harvest, or grow the division. Recent performance has been excellent and the near-term outlook for profitability is very promising. Despite some strategic concerns, the strong financial... View Details
- September–October 1996
- Article
Strategic Learning and the Balanced Scorecard
By: Robert S. Kaplan and David Norton