Default Category
-
AT&T Wireless: Text Messaging
Vaughan S. Radcliffe; Mitchell Stein; Michael LickverCase IVEY-9B11B005-EAccounting and Control, Marketing, StrategyThis case examines AT&T’s wireless business with a focus on its text messaging services. The industry features a high proportion of fixed costs in relation to acquiring spectrum and building a network. Variable costs are relatively low, especially in the case of SMS text messages. Pricing and margins in text messaging have attracted regulatory scrutiny in the Unites States, Canada, and elsewhere. The case requires the use of key concepts in cost ...Starting at €8.20
-
Groupon and the SEC
Vaughan S. Radcliffe; Mitchell Stein; Alexis GottschalkCase IVEY-9B12B002-EAccounting and Control, Finance, StrategyThis case provides an opportunity to review Groupon Inc’s S1 filing made prior to an initial public offering. Groupon’s financial statements attracted a great deal of controversy due to revenue recognition policies that produced substantially higher revenues for the corporation, as well as non-GAAP earnings measures, especially ACSOI — an invention of the firm that served to exclude certain marketing expenses from the calculation of profit. Since...Starting at €8.20
-
IFRS: Canada's Decision
Vaughan S. Radcliffe; Mitchell SteinCase IVEY-9B11B017-EAccounting and Control, Finance, StrategyThe case comprises an interview with Paul Cherry, who as chair of the Accounting Standards Board of Canada (the Canadian accounting standard setter) led a process that brought Canada to adopt international financial reporting standards (IFRS). The case provides a rich and in-depth examination of the real-world considerations that led Canada to adopt IFRS. It offers analysis of the competing alternatives such as the U.S. GAAP (generally accepted a...Starting at €8.20
-
Gene Patents (A)
Hamermesh, Richard G.; Kiron, David; Andrews, PhillipCase HBS-811089-EEntrepreneurshipIn March 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet overturned 30 years of legal precedent and ruled that unaltered human genes could not be patented. This case reviews patent law and how it relates to our increasing knowledge of the Human Genome. The case issues deal with the potential implications of Judge Sweet's decision for biotechnology entrepreneurs and investors.Starting at €8.20
-
Accounting Fraud at WorldCom (Spanish version)
Kaplan, Robert S.; Kiron, DavidCase HBS-109S04Business Ethics and Corporate Social ResponsibilityThe principal players in WorldCom's accounting fraud included CFO Scott Sullivan, the General Accounting and Internal Audit departments, external auditor Arthur Andersen, and the board of directors. The case provides sufficient detail to allow for a full discussion of the pressures that lead executives and managers to "cook the books," the boundary between earnings smoothing or management and fraudulent reporting, the role for internal control sy...Starting at €8.20
-
Pursuing the Network Strategy (A) (Spanish version)
Tushman, Michael L.; Roberts, Michael J.; Kiron, DavidCase HBS-410S19Leadership and People ManagementDescribes the evolution of USA TODAY Online, the electronic version of the newspaper, within the organizational structure of the newspaper. Describes the tensions and issues that develop and the pressure from the Online division to be spun off. At the same time, CEO Tom Curley sees a greater strategic need for integration. Poses the question of what degree or type of strategic integration is required, what degree of organizational integration thi...Starting at €8.20
-
RBI and the Great White North Franchisee Association
Vaughan S. Radcliffe; Mitchell Stein; Hashu RahimCase IVEY-9B19B002-EAccounting and ControlIn March 2018, an analyst at an investment management firm in Toronto, Ontario, had to decide whether or not to recommend that his firm establish a position in shares of Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI). Formed after the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons Inc., RBI was led by the private equity firm 3G Capital. RBI was a powerhouse–the third-largest, quick-service restaurant chain in the world. Although RBI was performing well and se...Starting at €8.20
-
In Search of the 'Right' Numbers: Navigating Professional Judgment Challenges in Accounting
Mitchell Stein; Matthew Sooy; Anthony ScilipotiCase IVEY-9B20B012-EAccounting and ControlIn October 2001, the co-founder and vice-president of Veritas Investment Research Corporation (Veritas), was considering his next steps as he prepared to issue a highly critical report on Bombardier Inc. (Bombardier). The vice-president believed that BombStarting at €8.20
-
Tesla's Non-GAAP Accounting Measurements: Revenue Recognition and Stock-Based Compensation
Martin Persson; Mitchell Stein; Spencer HiggsCase IVEY-9B17B019-EAccounting and ControlIn November 2014, questions were raised about American electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc.'s (Tesla's) accounting practices, which did not follow the generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP). Tesla’s third quarter 2014 financial statements showed a loss of almost US$75 million when using U.S. GAAP standards, compared to a profit of over $5 million when using its own non-GAAP standards. The accounting discrepancy between the two syst...Starting at €8.20
-
Pricing Police: An Activity-Based Costing Model of Police Services
Vaughan S. Radcliffe; Mitchell Stein; Adam EricksonCase IVEY-9B16B014-EAccounting and ControlOn January 17, 2015, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) released service cost estimates to all municipalities under its new municipal billing model. The new billing model, according to the recommendations of the auditor general, was designed to provide a more consistent, transparent, and accurate reflection of municipal servicing costs. Several mayors were not entirely sold on the new model and had their own opinion on how each municipality shou...Starting at €8.20