Publications

June 1986 (Revised July 1990)
Case

OTISLINE (A)

By: F. Warren McFarlan and Donna B. Stoddard

Describes the company's use of information technology to strengthen its position in the elevator sales and service market. Also demonstrates how information technology can be used to better manage and control a large geographically dispersed service organization. View Details

Keywords: Information Technology; Technology Adoption; Sales; Marketing; Rank and Position; Salesforce Management; Service Operations; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Global Range; Accounting; Business Ventures; Industry Growth

January 2004 (Revised April 2004)
Case

Ford Motor Company: Quality of Earnings Growth Analysis (A)

By: David F. Hawkins and Jacob Cohen

Even though Ford Motor Co. reports improved profitability, an equity analyst issues a sell recommendation and Standard & Poor's downgrades long-term debt. View Details

Keywords: Quality; Business Earnings; Valuation; Investment Return; Profit; Financial Statements; Revenue; Auto Industry; Auto Industry

30 Sep 2008
First Look

First Look: September 30, 2008

privatization of Argentina's electricity sector and is now contemplating an even larger privatization opportunity in Peru. In deciding how much to bid in Peru, Endesa must account for the political context in which privatization is being... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

October 2000 (Revised March 2004)
Case

Software Associates

By: Robert S. Kaplan

The president of a small consulting firm has just seen his second-quarter profit and loss statement, showing an increase in revenues but a substantial decline in profits. He asks his chief financial officer to explain the results. The CFO works hard to accumulate... View Details

Keywords: Budgets and Budgeting; Cost; Financial Statements; Production; Management Analysis, Tools, and Techniques; Information Technology Industry; Information Technology Industry

10 Jun 2008
First Look

First Look: June 10, 2008

Working PapersAccounting Information as Political Currency Authors:Karthik Ramanna and Sugata Roychowdhury Abstract We test whether accounting can be used as political currency. Our setting is the US congressional election of 2004,... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

Career Coach

Jon Puz

roles have included general management, strategy, business development, sales, account management, product, operations, marketing, technology, finance, HR and more. Jon has partnered with a variety of investors, including angel, venture... View Details

March 1, 2021
Article

Transitioning to Clean Energy Transportation Services: Life-cycle Cost Analysis for Vehicle Fleets

By: Stephen Comello, Gunther Glenk and Stefan Reichelstein

Comprehensive global decarbonization requires that transportation services cease to rely on fossil fuels for power generation. This paper develops a generic, time-driven life-cycle cost model for mobility services to address two closely related questions central to the... View Details

Read Now

April 1997
Case

Romeo Engine Plant (Abridged)

By: Robert S. Kaplan and Amy P. Hutton

A newly reopened automobile engine plant has been organized along total quality and teamwork principles. Employees now solve problems and ensure quality, rather than watch parts being produced. New operating and financial systems have been installed to promote... View Details

Keywords: Cost Accounting; Cost Management; Groups and Teams; Employees; Performance Improvement; Auto Industry

11 Mar 2001
Research & Ideas

Group Therapy

emerging markets has been part of a larger effort to understand how local business environments influence company strategy. Thus far, strategy scholars have emphasized the importance of industry and firm-specific characteristics in... View Details

Keywords: by Peter Jacobs

November 1997
Case

Intercon Electric Corporation: Quality of Earnings Analysis

By: David F. Hawkins and Norman Bartczak

Keywords: Business Earnings; Energy Industry

Find at Harvard

September 2010 (Revised December 2011)
Case

Southwest Airlines One ReportTM

By: Robert G. Eccles, Beiting Cheng and Susan Thyne

In 2009, Southwest Airlines produced its first integrated annual report, the Southwest Airlines One Report, combing financial and nonfinancial performance information. This case examines Southwest's environmental and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports... View Details

Keywords: Environmental Accounting; Financial Reporting; Integrated Corporate Reporting; Innovation and Invention; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Environmental Sustainability; Air Transportation Industry; United States

November 1990 (Revised May 2004)
Case

Mile High Cycles

By: William J. Bruns Jr.

Introduces the concept of cost variances. Looking at a bicycle manufacturer with one product and three departments, the case presents budgeted and actual data for material, labor, and overhead. View Details

Keywords: Cost; Business Divisions; Accounting; Bicycle Industry

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

25 Aug 2017
Blog Post

HBS Interns: Summer Takeovers

below is a snapshot of stories from students who took over our Instagram account to give us a first-hand look into their exciting summer experiences. Anita Mehrotra, Caldwell Partners Anita Mehrotra's internship experience was unique in... View Details

Keywords: All Industries

10 Jun 2015
Research & Ideas

The Transparency Revolution in Corporate Reporting

decipher what kind of company they are buying into. The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is an NGO established in 2011 with designs on cutting through that noise. Much the way the Financial View Details

Keywords: Re: George Serafeim

October 1993 (Revised November 1994)
Case

Becton Dickinson & Co.: Multidivisional Marketing Programs

By: Frank V. Cespedes

In response to a potential competitive inroad at a key account, managers at Becton Dickinson are considering a multidivisional marketing effort. View Details

Keywords: Marketing Communications; Accounting Audits; Management; Supply Chain Management; Organizations; Sales; Change Management; Health Industry

April 1986 (Revised July 1996)
Case

Comdisco, Inc.: Financial Statement Analysis (A)

By: Krishna G. Palepu

Keywords: Financial Statements; Information Technology Industry