Publications

December 1982 (Revised November 2006)
Background Note

Note on Futures Contracts

By: David E. Bell

Provides an introduction to futures contracts, what they are, what their use in hedging is, and their usefulness in providing forecasts. Also covers basic risk. Includes a list of commodities currently traded in futures markets and the necessary properties of a... View Details

Keywords: Futures and Commodity Futures

December 1982 (Revised December 1984)
Case

Hi-Tech Corp.

By: Fred K. Foulkes and William E. Fruhan Jr.

Hi-Tech examines the financial implications of a reduction in the work force via a voluntary severance program which offers up to two and a half times annual pay if an employee voluntarily terminates employment. View Details

Keywords: Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Financial Management; Retirement; Employees; Compensation and Benefits; Corporate Finance; Technology Industry; Europe

November 1982 (Revised February 1985)
Case

Ruth M. Owades

By: Howard H. Stevenson, Richard O. von Werssowetz and Robert W. Kent

Ruth Owades developed a concept for a new mail order venture offering gardening products. Her current employer turned down the idea, so with permission to try it independently, she has begun the process of raising funds and preparing for a separate operation. She still... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Decisions; Entrepreneurship; Borrowing and Debt; Resignation and Termination; Operations; Risk and Uncertainty

October 1982 (Revised September 1988)
Case

Steven B. Belkin

By: Howard H. Stevenson and Richard O. von Werssowetz

Steven Belkin, 26 years old and 2 1/2 years out of HBS, has decided to leave a group travel company he has run for the last year to start his own similar business. In the course of several months he has written a business plan, attracted several partners and employees,... View Details

Keywords: Business Plan; Business Startups; Decisions; Equity; Investment; Personal Finance; Recruitment; Resignation and Termination; Failure; Partners and Partnerships

October 1982
Supplement

Ideal Standard France: Pat Paterson, Video

By: Christopher A. Bartlett

A two-part taped interview with Pat Paterson. Paterson describes the action he took in dealing with his company's profit problems, then talks about the outcome. His decision to dismiss 1,500 workers may have accelerated the company's bankruptcy. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Profit; Resignation and Termination; Outcome or Result; Problems and Challenges

1982
Chapter

Strategies and Mechanisms for Urban and Rural Subsidization: The Case of CONASUPO

By: James E. Austin

Keywords: Strategy; Policy; Rural Scope; Urban Scope; Sovereign Finance; Mexico

September 1982 (Revised March 1984)
Case

AT&T: 8.70 Bonds

By: David E. Bell

Keywords: Bonds; Telecommunications Industry

1982
Other Unpublished Work

Financing the Cleanup of Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites

By: Dutch Leonard, Henry Lee and Susan Bender

Keywords: Pollutants; Environmental Sustainability; Finance

September 1982
Article

Risk Aversion and the Negotiation of Insurance Contracts

By: R. Kihlstrom and A. E. Roth

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Negotiation; Insurance

August 1982 (Revised May 1983)
Background Note

Capital Structure Decision

By: William E. Fruhan Jr.

Keywords: Capital Structure; Decision Making

July 1982 (Revised December 1984)
Case

Esmark, Inc. (A)

By: William E. Fruhan Jr.

Involves the management of a firm with a market value of a going concern that is less than its breakup value. How does management maximize value for shareholders in this environment? View Details

Keywords: Finance; Markets; Business and Shareholder Relations; Value; Food and Beverage Industry

Article

The New Competition in World Banking

By: D. B. Crane and S. L. Hayes III

Keywords: Competition; Banks and Banking; Banking Industry

June 1982 (Revised May 1995)
Case

Ellis Manufacturing Co.

By: Roy D. Shapiro

Ellis finds itself in a weakening competitive position largely due to the lack of rationalization in its plants. Driven by a strong traditionally decentralized sales organization, Ellis finds that all plants want control over all product lines. As a result, overall... View Details

Keywords: Factories, Labs, and Plants; Cost; Analytics and Data Science; Brands and Branding; Performance Capacity; Competitive Strategy; Construction Industry