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On Creative Accounting: Two Creativity Myths

Harvard Business Review

"Creative accounting" is really bad. For me, it evokes a wonderful old New Yorker cartoon by Robert Weber , where a small, meek accountant stands before the desk of an overfed chief executive exhorting the accountant to rescue the company: "It's up to you now, Miller. Except when it's good.

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On Creative Accounting: Two Creativity Myths

Harvard Business Review

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Eliminate Slogans, Exhortations and Targets

Deming Institute

Distorting the numbers, a form of creative accounting aimed at looking good rather than doing well, is rampant in American business. Improving the system is by far the most difficult. If the focus is just on meeting a target improving the system is not a sensible strategy.

Deming 28
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We Can’t Study Short-Termism Without the Right Metrics

Harvard Business Review

Creative accounting measures. Similarly, a good indicator for myopia is a company’s use of performance measures that are not compliant with generally accepted accounting principles , as it may effectively spin the financial results.

EPS 9
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Who Gets a Seat at the Table?

Harvard Business Review

Yeaney cites three key benefits: First, the process generated "more creativity, accountability, and commitment." Just as important, those plans were never handed back up the chain of command for "final answers." The effect? And third, "we improved the flexibility and adaptability of the strategy."

COO 14