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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(2,701)
- People (7)
- News (310)
- Research (2,051)
- Events (3)
- Multimedia (9)
- Faculty Publications (1,457)
- January 1990 (Revised March 1994)
- Case
Accountants and Business Advisors, Inc.: City Office
Over the past several years both the share of women receiving accounting degrees and the share of women entering public accounting have risen substantially. However, the number of women holding senior positions, such as partner, remains low. This case provides data on... View Details
Loveman, Gary W. "Accountants and Business Advisors, Inc.: City Office." Harvard Business School Case 490-033, January 1990. (Revised March 1994.)
- October 1988 (Revised February 1990)
- Case
HCC Industries
Describes a corporation that switches its philosophy of budgeting from "stretch" targets to "minimum performance standard" targets. The change has implications for management incentives, compensation, and corporate planning. Early results suggest the concept was not... View Details
Merchant, Kenneth A. "HCC Industries." Harvard Business School Case 189-096, October 1988. (Revised February 1990.)
- 16 Apr 2013
- Working Paper Summaries
The Auditing Oligopoly and Lobbying on Accounting Standards
- 12 Jun 2020
- News
Businesses Must Reclaim Prudent Accounting Principles
- June 2020 (Revised February 2021)
- Case
Accounting for Leases at American Airlines (A)
By: Jonas Heese, Gerardo Pérez Cavazos and Julia Kelley
In March 2020, as coronavirus reduced demand for air travel, an analyst was forecasting American Airlines’ (American’s) first quarter financial results. To develop a forecast, she needed to familiarize herself with Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, “Leases... View Details
Keywords: Accounting; Financial Reporting; Financial Statements; Finance; Governance; Corporate Accountability; Corporate Governance; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Governing and Advisory Boards; Leasing; Accounting Industry; Accounting Industry; North and Central America; United States
Heese, Jonas, Gerardo Pérez Cavazos, and Julia Kelley. "Accounting for Leases at American Airlines (A)." Harvard Business School Case 120-069, June 2020. (Revised February 2021.)
- May 1992 (Revised January 2000)
- Supplement
ABB: Accountability Times Two (A)
By: Robert L. Simons
Describes the complexity of setting and reconciling performance targets in a global, matrix company. The president of the Finnish industry and rail transport company has received targets from two bosses--his regional superior and his business area superior. Each has... View Details
Simons, Robert L. "ABB: Accountability Times Two (A)." Harvard Business School Supplement 192-141, May 1992. (Revised January 2000.)
- February 1992 (Revised January 1999)
- Background Note
Selected Profitability Data on U.S. Industries and Companies
Describes the importance of industry structure and competitive positioning to the profitability of U.S. corporations between 1981 and 1994. Cites recent research indicating that persistent industry differences and persistent competitor differences account for 19% and... View Details
McGahan, Anita M. "Selected Profitability Data on U.S. Industries and Companies." Harvard Business School Background Note 792-066, February 1992. (Revised January 1999.)
- June 2024 (Revised February 2025)
- Case
Accounting for Loans at SoFi Technologies
By: Joseph Pacelli and Michael Norris
At the release of its first quarter earnings report on May 1, 2023, digital bank SoFi beat its earnings guidance by 25%. On May 2, Wedbush Securities analyst David Chiaverini issued a report downgrading the stock. A second downgrade followed from Chiaverini on May 15.... View Details
Keywords: Accounting; Banks and Banking; Financing and Loans; Valuation; Stocks; Banking Industry; United States
Pacelli, Joseph, and Michael Norris. "Accounting for Loans at SoFi Technologies." Harvard Business School Case 124-057, June 2024. (Revised February 2025.)
- August 2018 (Revised April 2019)
- Case
Fair Value Accounting at Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (A)
By: Jonas Heese, Suraj Srinivasan, Francois Brochet and Christine Johnson
In May 2018, Berkshire Hathaway announced an unprecedented loss of more than $1 billion for the first quarter of 2018. Warren Buffett blamed this loss on the new accounting rules for equity securities which he criticized. In the case ‘Fair Value Accounting at Berkshire... View Details
Keywords: Equity Securities; FASB; Fair Value Accounting; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Financial Services Industry
Heese, Jonas, Suraj Srinivasan, Francois Brochet, and Christine Johnson. "Fair Value Accounting at Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 119-030, August 2018. (Revised April 2019.)
- September 2010 (Revised September 2013)
- Case
Accounting for the iPhone at Apple Inc.
By: Francois Brochet, Krishna G. Palepu and Lauren Barley
Apple initially recognized revenue associated with its iPhone product using subscription accounting. However, in 2008, the company started providing non-GAAP supplemental numbers where substantially all of the revenue was recognized upfront. Market participants'... View Details
Brochet, Francois, Krishna G. Palepu, and Lauren Barley. "Accounting for the iPhone at Apple Inc." Harvard Business School Case 111-003, September 2010. (Revised September 2013.)
- 1976
- Chapter
Reflections on the State of Accounting Research and the Regulation of Accounting
By: Michael Jensen
Jensen, Michael. "Reflections on the State of Accounting Research and the Regulation of Accounting." In Conflicts and Compromises in Financial Reporting, edited by John C. Burton.Stanford Lectures in Accounting. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford Graduate School of Business, 1976.
- 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.
- September 2011
- Case
Vibco Industrial Vibrators
By: Das Narayandas, Kerry Herman and Matthew Preble
Karl Wadensten, president of Vibco Vibrators, was deciding whether to grow his small company through a marketing push for one of two technologies that he believed could launch his company to the next level of sales, or if he should continue to grow his company through... View Details
- October 2008
- Case
The Talbots, Inc., and Subsidiaries: Accounting for Goodwill
By: William J. Bruns Jr.
In 2006, Talbots, Inc., a specialty women's retailer, purchased a competitor, J. Jill. The transaction created a large goodwill account along with accounts for trademarks and other intangible assets. Using prevailing accounting standards (Statement of Financial... View Details
Keywords: FASB; Intangible Assets; Standards; Financial Statements; Goodwill Accounting; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry
Bruns, William J., Jr. "The Talbots, Inc., and Subsidiaries: Accounting for Goodwill." Harvard Business School Brief Case 083-254, October 2008.
- May 1991 (Revised April 2008)
- Case
The Japanese Facsimile Industry in 1990
Japanese firms dominate the facsimile machine industry, accounting for more than 90% of worldwide sales. This case explores the reasons for this dominance. View Details
Keywords: Globalized Markets and Industries; Industry Structures; Business and Government Relations; Competition; Telecommunications Industry; Japan
Enright, Michael J. "The Japanese Facsimile Industry in 1990." Harvard Business School Case 391-209, May 1991. (Revised April 2008.)
- August 2017 (Revised December 2017)
- Case
Accounting for Nuclear Power Provisions at RWE
By: Paul Healy and Jonas Heese
In early 2016, RWE, a utility that operates nuclear power plants in Germany, came under scrutiny from regulators and the media over the adequacy of its provisions for costs of decommissioning and dismantling (D&D) its nuclear power plants. Accounting standards required... View Details
Keywords: Liabilities; Provisions For Long-term Obligations; Discounting; Accounting; Energy Generation; Energy Industry; Germany
Healy, Paul, and Jonas Heese. "Accounting for Nuclear Power Provisions at RWE." Harvard Business School Case 118-013, August 2017. (Revised December 2017.)
- November 2004 (Revised September 2019)
- Background Note
The U.S. Health Club Industry in 2004
By: John R. Wells, Gabriel Ellsworth and Benjamin Weinstock
In 2004, the $16.8 billion U.S. health club industry continued its strong record of growth. There were almost 27,000 health clubs in the United States, up from 6,700 two decades earlier, and these clubs claimed 41 million members, over 14% of the U.S. population.... View Details
Keywords: Health Clubs; Fitness; Gyms; Chain; Weight Loss; Obesity; Exercise; Personal Training; Bally Total Fitness; 24 Hour Fitness; YMCA; Gold's Gym; Curves; Franchise; Franchising; Subscription; Promotional Sales; Promotions; Fixed Costs; Body; Accrual Accounting; Revenue Recognition; Buildings and Facilities; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Model; For-Profit Firms; Trends; Customers; Demographics; Age; Income; Private Equity; Financing and Loans; Profit; Revenue; Geographic Scope; Multinational Firms and Management; Health; Nutrition; Business History; Employees; Retention; Human Capital; Working Conditions; Contracts; Business or Company Management; Goals and Objectives; Growth and Development Strategy; Markets; Demand and Consumers; Supply and Industry; Industry Growth; Industry Structures; Operations; Service Operations; Franchise Ownership; Private Ownership; Public Ownership; Problems and Challenges; Sales; Salesforce Management; Situation or Environment; Opportunities; Nonprofit Organizations; Welfare; Sports; Strategy; Business Strategy; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Consolidation; Corporate Strategy; Customization and Personalization; Expansion; Segmentation; Hardware; Health Industry; United States
Wells, John R., Gabriel Ellsworth, and Benjamin Weinstock. "The U.S. Health Club Industry in 2004." Harvard Business School Background Note 705-445, November 2004. (Revised September 2019.)
- Article
The Influence of Ownership on Accounting Information Expenditures
This paper analyzes the association between ownership, top management incentives, and expenditures on accounting information. We argue that organizations with privately appointed boards of directors such as for-profit and non-governmental nonprofit organizations use... View Details
Keywords: Governance; Motivation and Incentives; Accounting; Health Care and Treatment; Ownership; Health Industry
Eldenburg, Leslie, and Ranjani Krishnan. "The Influence of Ownership on Accounting Information Expenditures." Contemporary Accounting Research 25, no. 3 (Fall 2008).
- April 2023 (Revised July 2023)
- Case
Fermenting Accounting Problems at Vermont Kombucha Corp.
By: Tatiana Sandino and Marshal Herrmann
Founded in 2005, Vermont Kombucha Corp. (V-Ko) was an early mover in the fledgling U.S. market for kombucha, a drink brewed for its health benefits. Early on, the company captured more than 90% of market share. Under the leadership of its founder and CEO, Joe Williams,... View Details
Keywords: Going Public; Business Model; Financial Reporting; Ethics; Corporate Governance; Stock Shares; Food and Beverage Industry
Sandino, Tatiana, and Marshal Herrmann. "Fermenting Accounting Problems at Vermont Kombucha Corp." Harvard Business School Case 123-064, April 2023. (Revised July 2023.)
- November 2023 (Revised October 2024)
- Supplement
Accounting Outages at Plug Power? (C)
By: Jonas Heese, Joseph Pacelli and James Barnett
Set in June 2023, the C case explores Plug Power’s recovery from its financial restatements, how it benefited from government subsidies, and new strategic alliances. View Details
Keywords: Environmental Accounting; Financial Reporting; Ethics; Finance; Management; Social Enterprise; Energy Industry; Green Technology Industry; United States; Europe
Heese, Jonas, Joseph Pacelli, and James Barnett. "Accounting Outages at Plug Power? (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 124-019, November 2023. (Revised October 2024.)