Remove Finance Remove Net Present Value Remove Operations
article thumbnail

How to Improve Your Finance Skills (Even If You Hate Numbers)

Harvard Business Review

If you’re not a numbers person, finance is daunting. But having a grasp of terms like EBITDA and net present value are important no matter where you sit on the org chart. Stop avoiding finance because you’re afraid of numbers. Think of it this way, “Finance is the way businesses keep score.

article thumbnail

When It Pays to Think Like a Finance Manager

Harvard Business Review

If you want approval for a new project — purchasing new equipment or computer systems, applying for a patent, building a new store — chances are you need your company’s finance department on board. To get the green light, it helps to understand how finance people think. Finance & Accounting Tool.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Will You Be Writing Off Your Investment in Egypt?

Harvard Business Review

Anyone who has had to make the argument for an investment knows the basic tool involved: a Net Present Value (NPV) calculation. The overall value of a foreign investment is equal to the NPV of the expected stream of profits for the life of the investment. Vinod K.

NPV 15
article thumbnail

Warren Buffett's 2010 Shareholder Letter: What to Expect

Harvard Business Review

But why compare apples (book value) to oranges (share price and dividends)? Buffett explains that book value is the best proxy for "intrinsic value," the net present value of all estimated future cash flows. Consider that since 1965, Berkshire's book value grew 434,057% and the S&P index grew only 5,430%.

Letter 15
article thumbnail

Why We Need to Update Financial Reporting for the Digital Era

Harvard Business Review

Business students have traditionally considered net present value, payback period, and hurdle rates as necessary tools to determine which project to select. This notion, that risk is a desirable feature, can seem like sacrilege to anyone who’s taken an introductory finance course.

Report 9
article thumbnail

How CMOs Can Get CFOs on Their Side

Harvard Business Review

This lack of an analytical approach has traditionally formed a barrier between marketing and finance. CFOs are more interested in capital investment estimates, net present values, and a clear outline of the trade-offs of any investment. They’re going to make ads and do whatever it is they do. Ask for the CFO’s help.

CFO 9
article thumbnail

The Most Common Mistake People Make In Calculating ROI

Harvard Business Review

Sure, you may know this already, but people who haven’t studied finance often find this statement confusing. Finance & Accounting Tool. Once the plant starts operating, for instance, you might need to spend an additional $2 million on inventory. Excerpted from. HBR TOOLS: Return on Investment. Joe Knight. Add to Cart.

ROI 8