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Using historical cost and conservatism to identify and value assets, this case explains the criteria for asset reporting in straightforward situations and then examines scenarios where implementing the criteria for recognition and valuation of assets is conceptually challenging. These more complex situations occur when: 1) Ownership or control of a resource is uncertain; 2) The economic benefits from outlays are uncertain or difficult to quantify; or 3) Resource values have changed.

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 situations in which: 1) The value of resources consumed is difficult to define; 2) Resources provide benefits for multiple years; 3) Resources are consumed, but the timing and amount of future payments is uncertain; and 4) Unused resources have declined in value.

By examining key criteria for recognizing a liability, this case explores liability recognition in straightforward situations and then examines the most difficult reporting issues in recording liabilities. These often arise when: 1) uncertainty arises about whether an obligation has been incurred; or 2) measuring the value of the obligation is difficult.

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) Products/services are provided over multiple years; 3) Credit-worthiness of the customer is questionable; and 4) Money-back guarantees are offered.

Presents the systematic evidence in the context of the microeconomic model of market integration. Market integration is just one (economic) aspect of globalization; this is one of the particular interests to business managers.

The purpose of this series of notes is to define the key "drivers" of the fundamental value of equity and to illustrate how these drivers determine the future cash flows and the "present value pattern" of the underlying common stock. The series includes one technical note for each term defined. The terms defined are as follows: invested capital (IC), capital expenditures (Capex), earnings, return on invested capital (ROIC), free cash flow (FCF), short- and long-term growth rate and the growth horizon, and advantage horizon. This is a short introductory note to the series.

A technical note that defines capital expenditures (CAPEX).

A technical note that defines earnings.

A technical note that defines return on invested capital (ROIC).

A technical note that defines free cash flow (FCF).

A technical note that defines short- and long-term growth rates and the growth horizon.

A technical note that defines advantage horizon.

One of the steepest challenges a strategist faces is to navigate his or her company through a period of industry transformation--an era of rapid and wholesale changes in industry structure. This note considers how periods of transformation typically unfold. It then examines how the core tools of the strategist can be deployed during such periods and how new tools come to the fore. Periods of industry transformation pose grave threats and tremendous opportunities to companies. Industry leaders are often unseated during such times, replaced by underdogs and entrants. Perhaps most importantly, periods of transformation give companies unusual latitude to influence future industry structure. Teaching purpose: Designed to support course modules that consider strategy-making under uncertainty or the intersection of competitive strategy and technology.

Useful as a background reading to prepare students for case studies about searching for acquisitions, this technical note offers eight guidelines drawn from theories about the economics of information, networks, options, and contagion.

Although most major corporations in the United States claim they are attempting to create a workplace environment reflective of society's diversity (race, gender, etc.), there is a lack of available information describing the successes and failures of their efforts. This note provides a legal and statistical framework for evaluating (1) the federal government's involvement in antidiscrimination efforts, (2) a history of the prevalence and resolution of discrimination claims during the 1990s, and (3) a statistical analysis of U.S. workforce demographics and compensation levels.

Provides an overview of the history and development of the e-consulting industry, as well as the issues facing it.

Presents suggestions for ensuring a good start in a professional services career.

Examines the role of transaction costs in impeding the functioning of markets and shows how the concept of transaction costs sheds light on a broad range of issues in strategy.

Introduces students to the basics of principal-agency theory as it applies to supply chains. Operational problems in supply chains can often be traced to incentive issues. Students and managers lack frameworks to analyze incentive problems in supply chains. This note offers such a framework.

Describes the sixth and final module of the Harvard Business School MBA second-year elective course Legal Aspects of Management. This module deals with the way firms should approach business risks in order to avoid legal liability and how firms can use contracts to allocate risk.