Publications

September 1992 (Revised May 2004)
Background Note

Activity Accounting--Another Way to Measure Costs

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

Explains the principal differences between traditional cost accounting systems and activity-based costing systems. View Details

Keywords: Cost Accounting

winter 1993
Article

Scale and Scope Effects on Advertising Agency Costs

By: A. J. Silk and E. Berndt

Keywords: Advertising; Cost

05 Nov 2010
Research & Ideas

The Work-Around Culture: Unintended Consequences of Organizational Heroes

"Work-around cultures" are pervasive in health care. Employees tend to work around obstacles, often feeling like a hero in the process, without solving the underlying problems. The reasons for these cultures are manifold, but they are costly in financial... View Details

Keywords: by Anita Tucker; Health

Article

Best Practices in Estimating the Cost of Capital: Survey and Synthesis

By: Robert Bruner, Kenneth M. Eades, Robert S. Harris and Robert F. Higgins

This paper presents the results of a cost-of-capital survey of 27 highly regarded corporations, ten leading financial advisers, and seven best selling textbooks and trade books. The results show close alignment among all these groups on the use of common theoretical... View Details

Keywords: Cost of Capital

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July, 2022
Article

Telehealth Visits After Shoulder Surgery: Higher Patient Satisfaction and Lower Costs

By: Evan A. O'Donnell, Jillian E. Haberli, Andres Muniz Martinez, Daniel Yagoda, Robert S. Kaplan and Jon J.P. Warner

Purpose and Methods: The study compared the cost of telemedicine visits with in-person clinic visits for routine follow-up after common shoulder surgeries. It also evaluated the safety and patient experience with telemedicine visits. Time-driven activity-based costing... View Details

Keywords: Telehealth; Patient Satisfaction; Health Care and Treatment; Communication Technology; Health Industry

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fall 1975
Article

Investigation and the Significance of Cost Variances: Survey and Extensions

By: Robert S. Kaplan

Keywords: Cost

March 1994 (Revised November 1994)
Case

Komatsu Ltd. (A): Target Costing System

Komatsu, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment, seeks to expand aggressively through the 1990s. Key to its competitiveness is a strict adherence to target costs throughout the product development process. Komatsu conducts several design-for-manufacturability... View Details

Keywords: Cost; Machinery and Machining; Expansion; Product Development; Manufacturing Industry

April 1989 (Revised January 1990)
Case

Texas Instruments: Cost of Quality (B)

By: Robert S. Kaplan

A division questions whether to retain, modify, or abandon its cost of quality system now that more direct measures of quality have been adopted. Discusses the role of quality cost measurement in a mature quality management system. View Details

Keywords: Measurement and Metrics; Quality

21 May 2016
Video

2016 G&WS: Carissa Romero Presents “The Consequences of a ‘Culture of Brilliance’”

2009
Article

Silenced by Fear: The Nature, Sources, and Consequences of Fear at Work

By: Jennifer Kish Gephart, James R. Detert, Linda K. Trevino and Amy C. Edmondson

In every organization, individual members have the potential to speak up about important issues, but a growing body of research suggests that they often remain silent instead, out of fear of negative personal and professional consequences. In this chapter, we draw on... View Details

Keywords: Organizations; Working Conditions; Research; Emotions; Employees; Motivation and Incentives; Theory; Behavior

May 1997
Case

Toyota Motor Corporation: Target Costing System

Explores Toyota's target costing system, considered to be the most advanced such system of any major Japanese manufacturer. Specifically, describes Toyota's process of setting rigorous cost-reduction goals and the steps taken to achieve them. View Details

Keywords: Cost Management; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; Japan

March 1976 (Revised November 1993)
Background Note

Diversification, the Capital Asset Pricing Model, and the Cost of Equity Capital

Describes in nonmathematical terms the nature of capital asset pricing model and possible use in estimating a company's cost of equity capital. View Details

Keywords: Diversification; Cost of Capital; Asset Pricing

1995
Working Paper

Research Investigating the Economic Consequences of Accounting Standards

By: R. H. Holthausen and Krishna G. Palepu

1992
Working Paper

Consequences of Leveraged Shareholders Payouts: Defensive Voluntary Recapitalization

By: Krishna G. Palepu and Karen H. Wruck