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- October 2016 (Revised March 2022)
- Background Note
Cost Variance Analysis
By: Robert S. Kaplan and Susanna Gallani
This note was written to provide students with fundamental concepts and methods for the analysis of cost variances. It focuses on the decomposition of cost variances into price, quantity, and mix variance components, an approach that allows students to identify the... View Details
Keywords: Cost Accounting
Kaplan, Robert S., and Susanna Gallani. "Cost Variance Analysis." Harvard Business School Background Note 117-006, October 2016. (Revised March 2022.)
- March 2004
- Tutorial
Variance Analysis Tutorial
By: David F. Hawkins and Jacob Cohen
An interactive tutorial on variance analysis, flexible budgets, and overhead allocation. View Details
Keywords: Mathematical Methods
- October 2000 (Revised March 2004)
- Background Note
Variance Analysis and Flexible Budgeting
By: Robert S. Kaplan
Facilitates the teaching of cases on variance analysis and flexible budgeting. Uses algebra, diagrams, and numerical examples to illustrate the calculation of price, quantity, and mix variances for revenues and costs, and a flexible budget for analyzing indirect and... View Details
Kaplan, Robert S. "Variance Analysis and Flexible Budgeting." Harvard Business School Background Note 101-039, October 2000. (Revised March 2004.)
- January 2013 (Revised March 2017)
- Teaching Note
Luotang Power: Variances Explained (Brief Case)
By: Robert Simons and Craig Chapman
The primary objective is to explore the concepts of variance analysis in performance from one year to the next and the predictability of contracting counterparts to extract value from contract positions where they can. The general manager of a coal-fired power plant... View Details
- May 2022
- Article
Variance Analysis: New Insights from Health Care Applications
By: Robert S. Kaplan and Susanna Gallani
We use a health care application to illustrate how variance analysis can be used to benchmark costs across similar service delivery sites. Variances for personnel costs, typically the largest cost component in service organizations, are calculated for price, quantity,... View Details
Keywords: Variance Analysis; Benchmarking; Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing; Health Care; Activity Based Costing and Management; Health Care and Treatment; Service Delivery; Service Industry
Kaplan, Robert S., and Susanna Gallani. "Variance Analysis: New Insights from Health Care Applications." Issues in Accounting Education 37, no. 2 (May 2022): 27–36.
- January 2013
- Case
Luotang Power: Variances Explained
By: Robert Simons and Craig Chapman
The general manager of Luotang Power, a coal-fired power plant located in central China, reviews annual results before a meeting with the board of directors. He thought the company performed well during the year and both plant availability and fuel economy had improved... View Details
Keywords: China; Financial Statements; Management Accounting; Variance Analysis; Environmental Regulations; Incentives; Electric Power Generation; Contracts; Valuation; Energy Generation; Accounting; Performance Evaluation; Energy Industry; China
Simons, Robert, and Craig Chapman. "Luotang Power: Variances Explained." Harvard Business School Brief Case 913-533, January 2013.
- February 1996
- Exercise
Problems in Variance Analysis
By: William J. Bruns Jr.
Keywords: Mathematical Methods
Bruns, William J., Jr. "Problems in Variance Analysis." Harvard Business School Exercise 196-120, February 1996.
- March 2004
- Teaching Note
Variance Analysis Tutorial (Instructor Guide)
By: David F. Hawkins
Instructor Guide to (9-104-709). View Details
Keywords: Mathematical Methods
- January 1996
- Background Note
Standard Costs and Variance Analysis
In an introduction to standard costs and cost variances, discussion, formulae, and examples explore the idea of comparing actual costs to those that were expected. View Details
Keywords: Cost Accounting
Rapier, Donella. "Standard Costs and Variance Analysis." Harvard Business School Background Note 196-121, January 1996.
- February 1996 (Revised February 1996)
- Supplement
Solutions to Problems in Variance Analysis II
Rapier, Donella. "Solutions to Problems in Variance Analysis II." Harvard Business School Supplement 196-126, February 1996. (Revised February 1996.)
- February 1996 (Revised February 1996)
- Supplement
Solutions to Problems in Variance Analysis I
By: William J. Bruns Jr.
Bruns, William J., Jr. "Solutions to Problems in Variance Analysis I." Harvard Business School Supplement 196-125, February 1996. (Revised February 1996.)
- June 1983 (Revised April 1988)
- Background Note
Management Accounting, Part VI, Manufacturing Cost Variance Analysis
Dearden, John. "Management Accounting, Part VI, Manufacturing Cost Variance Analysis." Harvard Business School Background Note 183-062, June 1983. (Revised April 1988.)
- 1990
- Chapter
Analysis of Cost Variances for Management Control in Hospitals
By: S. Datar, R. Banker and S. Das
- July 1981
- Background Note
Managing against Expectations (A): An Introduction to Profit Variance Analysis
Christenson, Charles. "Managing against Expectations (A): An Introduction to Profit Variance Analysis." Harvard Business School Background Note 182-013, July 1981.
- September 2016 (Revised October 2018)
- Case
Springfield Hospital
By: Susanna Gallani and Robert Kaplan
One of the key roles of costing systems is to support the evaluation of performance and facilitate appropriate resource allocations. Through participation in a comparative cost study, management at Springfield Hospital, known for its heavy focus on operational... View Details
Keywords: Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing; Variance Analysis; Activity Based Costing and Management; Health Care and Treatment; Health Industry
Gallani, Susanna, and Robert Kaplan. "Springfield Hospital." Harvard Business School Case 117-025, September 2016. (Revised October 2018.)
- Other Article
What Do We Know About Variance in Accounting Profitability?
By: Anita M. McGahan and Michael E. Porter
In this paper, we analyze the variance of accounting profitability among a broad cross-section of firms in the American economy from 1981 to 1994. The purpose of the analysis is to identify the importance of year, industry, corporate-parent, and business-specific... View Details
McGahan, Anita M., and Michael E. Porter. "What Do We Know About Variance in Accounting Profitability?" Management Science 48, no. 7 (July 2002): 834–851.
- November 1997 (Revised April 2017)
- Teaching Note
Compagnie du Froid, S.A.
By: Robert Simons, Antonio Dávila, Kathryn Rosenberg and Jennifer Packard
Teaching Note for (9-197-085). View Details
- 2008
- Working Paper
Applicant and Examiner Citations in U.S. Patents: An Overview and Analysis
By: Juan Alcacer, Michelle Gittelman and Bhaven Sampat
Researchers studying innovation increasingly use indicators based on patent citations. However, it is well known that not all citations originate from applicants—patent examiners contribute to citations listed in issued patents—and that this could complicate... View Details
Alcacer, Juan, Michelle Gittelman, and Bhaven Sampat. "Applicant and Examiner Citations in U.S. Patents: An Overview and Analysis." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 09-016, August 2008.
- March 2009
- Article
Applicant and Examiner Citations in U.S. Patents: An Overview and Analysis
By: Juan Alcacer, Michelle Gittelman and Bhaven Sampat
Prior art patent citations have become a popular measure of patent quality and knowledge flow between firms. Interpreting these measurements is complicated, in some cases, because prior art citations are added by patent examiners as well as by patent applicants. The... View Details
Alcacer, Juan, Michelle Gittelman, and Bhaven Sampat. "Applicant and Examiner Citations in U.S. Patents: An Overview and Analysis." Research Policy 38, no. 2 (March 2009): 415–427.
- Fall 2017
- Article
An Empirical Analysis of Investment Return Dispersion in Emerging Markets Private Equity
By: Josh Lerner and Mark Baker
The authors use transaction-level data to compare the dispersion of private equity (PE) returns in emerging markets (EMs) to the same in developed markets (DMs). They regress within-market absolute deviation from the mean on an EM indicator and controls. They find... View Details
Lerner, Josh, and Mark Baker. "An Empirical Analysis of Investment Return Dispersion in Emerging Markets Private Equity." Journal of Private Equity 20, no. 4 (Fall 2017): 15–24.