Publications

April 2011
Teaching Note

Leasing Decision at Magnet Beauty Products, Inc. (TN)

By: Krishna G. Palepu and George Serafeim

Teaching Note for 111039. View Details

Keywords: Leasing; Financial Statements; Accounting; Standards; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

August 2010 (Revised January 2013)
Supplement

Urban Water Partners (B)

By: Karthik Ramanna, George Serafeim and Aldo Sesia

The case explores a new business venture to bring clean water to residents of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who otherwise cannot afford it. Management has enough money to get their company through August 2010, but needs more capital thereafter. An HBS alumnus is interested... View Details

Keywords: Human Needs; Accrual Accounting; Financial Statements; Health Industry; Utilities Industry; Dar es Salaam

18 Jun 2007
Op-Ed

Leveling the Executive Options Playing Field

examining the role of stock options in executive compensation; the incidence of stock option abuses; how stock option compensation is reported to stockholders under generally accepted accounting principles versus how the same compensation... View Details

Keywords: by Mihir Desai

December 2010
Supplement

Urban Water Partners (A) Spreadsheet Solutions (CW)

By: Karthik Ramanna and George Serafeim

Teaching Note for Spreadsheet (111701). View Details

Keywords: Performance Evaluation; Accrual Accounting; Financial Statements; Health Industry; Utilities Industry; Dar es Salaam

01 May 2006
Research & Ideas

What Companies Lose from Forced Disclosure

works for. Career concerns occur whenever employees take into account the impact of their current actions on their future career. The results of the research suggest that financial disclosures have implications for the debate over whether... View Details

Keywords: by Ann Cullen; Financial Services

July 1997 (Revised September 1997)
Case

Identify the Industries--1996

By: William J. Bruns Jr., Sharon M McKinnon and Jeremy Cott

Common-size balance sheets and financial ratios are given for thirteen companies. Students must identify which company is in which of thirteen industries. Gives students practice in using financial ratios and exploring financial characteristics of companies and... View Details

Keywords: Analysis; Supply and Industry; Financial Statements

October 2019 (Revised August 2020)
Case

Souqalmal: The Choice Is Yours (A)

By: V.G. Narayanan and Alpana Thapar

This case describes how Ambareen Musa, Founder and CEO of Souqalmal, a Dubai-based online comparison aggregator of banking and insurance products launched her business in 2011 and rapidly grew it over next couple of years. However, by 2017, the Mauritian entrepreneur... View Details

Keywords: Unit Economics; Finance; Accounting; Competitive Strategy; Financial Statements; Insurance Industry; Middle East

February 2001 (Revised April 2001)
Case

Warnaco Group, Inc. (B)

By: David F. Hawkins

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Financial Statements; Financial Reporting; Restructuring; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Retail Industry

Find at Harvard

September 1992 (Revised April 1993)
Case

General Mills, Inc. 1992: Analyzing an Annual Report

By: William J. Bruns Jr. and Marc H. Zablatsky

Keywords: Annual Reports; Financial Statements

Find at Harvard

July 2007 (Revised November 2007)
Case

Leasing Computers at Persistent Learning

Newly public Persistent Learning is acquiring vital computer assets. They need to determine how the lease or purchase decision will impact their financial statements, and how the market will react given previously forecast earnings and competitor's accounting. View Details

Keywords: Information Infrastructure; Financial Statements; Leasing

September 2010 (Revised December 2010)
Supplement

Enman Oil, Inc. (E)

By: David F. Hawkins

Company pursues ways to reduce its debt to equity ratio by resorting to off balance sheet debt transactions. View Details

Keywords: Energy Sources; Capital Structure; Financial Statements; Energy Industry; Mining Industry; United States

September 2010 (Revised December 2010)
Supplement

Enman Oil, Inc. (C)

By: David F. Hawkins

Company pursues ways to reduce its debt to equity ratio by resorting to off balance sheet debt transactions. View Details

Keywords: Energy Sources; Capital Structure; Financial Statements; Energy Industry; Mining Industry; United States

October 2000
Teaching Note

Drivers of Industry Financial Structure

By: Dwight B. Crane and Indra Reinbergs

Teaching Note for (9-201-039). View Details

Keywords: Finance; Financial Statements; Industry Structures

August 2000 (Revised February 2001)
Background Note

Revenue Recognition

By: Paul M. Healy

This case discusses revenue recognition in straightforward situations and then considers revenue transactions that may be more complex to record. Revenue recognition criteria can be implemented for the following situations: 1) Customers pay prior to delivery; 2)... View Details

Keywords: Business Earnings; Revenue Recognition; Decision Making; Financial Statements

January 1996 (Revised December 1997)
Case

Colgate-Palmolive Company: Analyzing an Annual Report

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

A directed analysis of the Colgate-Palmolive Co. annual report. Focuses on the basics of reading an annual report including analysis of financial statements, calculation of financial ratios, and study of the layout and message of the report. Industry financial ratios... View Details

Keywords: Financial Reporting; Reports; Financial Statements; Consumer Products Industry

November 2010 (Revised January 2011)
Supplement

DoubleClick, Inc.: Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

By: David F. Hawkins

FASB and IASB proposal to require comprehensive income statements. View Details

Keywords: Business Earnings; Financial Statements; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms

March 1997
Case

Sensormatic Electronics Corporation-1995

By: Krishna G. Palepu and James Chang

Sensormatic is a leading provider of security systems to the retail industry. The company relies on customer financing as a key component of its strategy. The company's growth strategy and accountingis attacked by short-sellers and the financial press. View Details

Keywords: Analysis; Valuation; Financial Reporting; Financing and Loans; Financial Statements; Business Strategy

January 2003 (Revised February 2011)
Tool

Business Analysis and Valuation Model (Version 5)

By: Paul M. Healy, Krishna G. Palepu and Jonathan Barnett

Once you enter company financial statements, this software enables you to standardize them to a common format, make any needed adjustments to the company's accounting, and make assumptions about the company's future performance. The model then provides financial ratios... View Details

Keywords: Financial Statements; Standards; Mathematical Methods; Valuation

October 1998 (Revised January 1999)
Case

Echlin vs. SPX

By: Paul M. Healy, Bjorn N. Jorgensen and Penny Joseph

Echlin has received a hostile takeover offer from SPX. Both companies have been undertaking major restructurings, and Echlin's shareholders face a difficult decision of whether to support current management or sell out to SPX. Students are asked to analyze the two... View Details

Keywords: Acquisition; Financial Statements; Business and Shareholder Relations