Publications

14 Nov 2012
Research & Ideas

New Agenda for Corporate Accountability Reporting

How do you measure corporate accountability? And can you do it credibly? Since the financial crisis of 2008-2009, for-profit corporations are facing greater demand to disclose more than revenues and expenses on annual View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace; Accounting; Energy; Utilities

November 1985
Case

Omega Novelty Shop: Economic vs. Accounting Concepts

By: David F. Hawkins

Keywords: Accounting; Financial Statements; Economics; Retail Industry

20 Mar 2018
First Look

First Look at New Research and Ideas, March 20, 2018

Analysis with Robo-Analysts Using machine-learning technology, New Constructs creates cleaned up financial statement data that removes accounting distortions. This powerful data aims to provide unparalleled... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

08 Mar 2017
Op-Ed

Op-Ed: Can the Proposed American Health Care Act Improve on 'Obamacare'?

their patient populations need, and workers and families can have the freedom and flexibility to make their own health care choices." This statement speaks to a strong attachment to personal freedom and choice in American... View Details

Keywords: by John Quelch, Dr. Gordon Moore, and Emily Boudreau

November 2000 (Revised March 2001)
Background Note

Revenue Recognition and Reporting

By: David F. Hawkins

Discusses revenue recognition and reporting rules, guidelines, and issues. A rewritten version of an earlier note. View Details

Keywords: Revenue; Financial Statements; Financial Reporting

27 Oct 2008
Lessons from the Classroom

Achieving Excellence in Nonprofits

nonprofits should write mission statements that can be relied upon as a promise to deliver specified social value. Why is this important? A: It is important for nonprofits to be clear about what they are claiming to accomplish for two... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

April 1996 (Revised May 2000)
Case

Bed Bath & Beyond

By: Amy P. Hutton and James Weber

This case examines how accurately investors have incorporated information about the growth strategy of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) into share price, especially given the changing competitive environment in the housewares industry and the recent Barron's article pointing... View Details

Keywords: Analysis; Valuation; Financial Statements; Consumer Products Industry; Retail Industry

August 2000 (Revised February 2001)
Background Note

Expense Recognition

By: Paul M. Healy and Preeti Choudhary

Recording expenses is not often clear-cut and can require considerable management judgment. This case discusses expense recognition in straightforward situations and then considers expense transactions that may be more complex to record. It uses examples that include... View Details

Keywords: Accounting; Cost; Financial Statements

May 1998
Case

Stone Industries

By: David F. Hawkins

Managers must decide how to account for a debt refinancing. View Details

Keywords: Financial Statements; Borrowing and Debt

February 2001 (Revised April 2001)
Case

Warnaco Group, Inc. (A)

By: David F. Hawkins

Warnaco's history of nonrecurring charges is traced from 1990 through 2000 along with the stock market and security analysts' response to these charges. Teaching Purpose: To expose students to the accounting for a variety of new recurring accounting items. View Details

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

15 Sep 2009
First Look

First Look: September 15

Derivatives Harvard Business School Note 108-061 Explains the accounting for interest rate derivatives under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 133. Purchase this note:... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

02 Sep 2010
What Do You Think?

How Transparent Should Boards Be?

however, attached conditions to this course of action, typically involving some kind of financial penalty. For example, Walter Blass suggested "a negotiated skipping of his bonus, or stock options " Deepa Ramamoorthy suggested... View Details

Keywords: by Jim Heskett

16 Mar 2010
First Look

First Look: March 16

book deals with two of the biggest problems in business: Why do sane, smart leaders often refuse to accept the facts that threaten their companies? And how do they find the courage to resist denial when facing new trends, changing markets, and tough new competitors?... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

November 1985
Case

Prentice Stevens, Inc.: Rating Industrial Debt

By: David F. Hawkins

Keywords: Borrowing and Debt; Management; Financial Statements

24 Sep 2014
Op-Ed

The Climate Needs Aggressive CEO Leadership

invest to reduce pipeline leaks of natural gas, given how the cost of those emissions could rise substantially if carbon were priced? From a financial perspective, answering these big and expensive questions requires knowing how to price... View Details

Keywords: by Michael Toffel & Auden Schendler; Energy; Utilities

25 Aug 2017
Op-Ed

Op-Ed: After Charlottesville, Where Does a CEO's Responsibility Lie?

President Trump’s recent pullout from the Paris climate accord drew the ire of many high-visibility CEOs including Richard Branson, Lloyd Blankfein, Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Jeffrey Immelt. But the president’s statements around... View Details

Keywords: by Gautam Mukunda

October 1976 (Revised June 2008)
Case

Chemalite, Inc.

A chemical engineer who has set up a company to manufacture and market one of his inventions is trying to prepare his state of the corporation report. This case is designed to serve as a vehicle to introduce students to basic bookkeeping and accounting functions. View Details

Keywords: Financial Reporting; Financial Statements; Business Startups; Valuation; Chemical Industry