Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 07:49

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like.  It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

     

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?  All pointers gratefully appreciated.

     

    Regards,

     

    Fred Nickols

    Managing Partner

    Distance Consulting LLC

    Home to "Solution Engineering"

    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303

    Mount Vernon, OH 43050

    www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us

     

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"

     



  • 2.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 10:26

    Have you tried and Accounting text? If they're like many mgmt texts, they're likely to contain a fairly detailed case (perhaps one that runs chapter to chapter) that you could use or adapt without too much difficulty.

     

    Good luck with this.

     

        Best,

            Lisa

     

     

    Lisa T. Stickney, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Management
    Merrick School of Business
    University of Baltimore
    Ph:   410-837-6607
    Fax: 410-837-5675
    Lstickney@ubalt.edu

     

      

     

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Fred Nickols
    Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7:49 AM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles

     

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like.  It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

     

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?  All pointers gratefully appreciated.

     

    Regards,

     

    Fred Nickols

    Managing Partner

    Distance Consulting LLC

    Home to "Solution Engineering"

    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303

    Mount Vernon, OH 43050

    www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us

     

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"

     



  • 3.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 11:27
    How about Harvard Business Review or Ivey cases? Many of the ones I am using for a project management class contain what you are seeking.

    Melanie K. Clifford, DBA
    Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
    From: Lisa Stickney <lstickney@UBALT.EDU>
    Sender: Management Education and Development Discussion <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:25:35 +0000
    ReplyTo: Management Education and Development Discussion <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    Subject: Re: Fictitious Company Profiles

    Have you tried and Accounting text? If they're like many mgmt texts, they're likely to contain a fairly detailed case (perhaps one that runs chapter to chapter) that you could use or adapt without too much difficulty.

     

    Good luck with this.

     

        Best,

            Lisa

     

     

    Lisa T. Stickney, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Management
    Merrick School of Business
    University of Baltimore
    Ph:   410-837-6607
    Fax: 410-837-5675
    Lstickney@ubalt.edu

     

      

     

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Fred Nickols
    Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7:49 AM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles

     

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like.  It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

     

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?  All pointers gratefully appreciated.

     

    Regards,

     

    Fred Nickols

    Managing Partner

    Distance Consulting LLC

    Home to "Solution Engineering"

    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303

    Mount Vernon, OH 43050

    www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us

     

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"

     



  • 4.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 11:35

    Thanks for the idea.

     

    Fred Nickols

     

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Lisa Stickney
    Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:26 AM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: Fictitious Company Profiles

     

    Have you tried and Accounting text? If they're like many mgmt texts, they're likely to contain a fairly detailed case (perhaps one that runs chapter to chapter) that you could use or adapt without too much difficulty.

     

    Good luck with this.

     

        Best,

            Lisa

     

     

    Lisa T. Stickney, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Management
    Merrick School of Business
    University of Baltimore
    Ph:   410-837-6607
    Fax: 410-837-5675
    Lstickney@ubalt.edu

     

      

     

    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Fred Nickols
    Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7:49 AM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles

     

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like.  It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

     

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?  All pointers gratefully appreciated.

     

    Regards,

     

    Fred Nickols

    Managing Partner

    Distance Consulting LLC

    Home to "Solution Engineering"

    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303

    Mount Vernon, OH 43050

    www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us

     

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"

     



  • 5.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 13:17
    I'm suspicious about using fictitious company data. In any event, the suggestions of using HBS or IVEY cases won't work; these cases, although they may be disguised, are about real organizations. Moreover, the structure of financial statements will vary substantially depending upon the industry involved and the position in the distribution chain. The relative magnitude of the various components will vary even in the same type of product/service, as for example manufacturing firms will be very different from wholesale firms and both will vary from retail organizations.

    The data in the PIMS database might be useful; it is focused on business units (or subdivisions thereof) serving a narrowly defined target market. The results do predict a target ROE for the particular unit; which can be compared with what is actually achieved. These too are real organizations, but financial and other data are expressed in common size format, for disguise purposes.

    Tim Edlund, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251

    ---- Original message ----
    >Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:49:26 -0700
    >From: Management Education and Development Discussion <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU> (on behalf of Fred Nickols <fred@nickols.us>)
    >Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles
    >To: <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    >
    > I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a
    > fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet,
    > org chart and the like. It will form the basis for
    > user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide
    > performance management platform and the associated
    > management discipline.
    >
    >
    >
    > Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?
    > All pointers gratefully appreciated.
    >
    >
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    >
    >
    > Fred Nickols
    >
    > Managing Partner
    >
    > Distance Consulting LLC
    >
    > Home to "Solution Engineering"
    >
    > 1558 Coshocton Ave - Suite 303
    >
    > Mount Vernon, OH 43050
    >
    > www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us
    >
    >
    >
    > "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"
    >
    >


  • 6.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 14:53
    What about taking data from the old accounts of a bankrupt company?
    I can see that the physical presentation of the accounts might be copyright but copyright might be more difficult to argue on the actual numbers in them.

    Professor Clive Holtham c.w.holtham@city.ac.uk phone: +44-20-7040-8622 fax: +44-20-7040-8328 video: +44-20-7786-9674 Short CV: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/experts/c.holtham Map: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/about/location/index.html Cass Business School, City of London, 106 Bunhill Row, LONDON EC1Y 8TZ
    ________________________________________
    From: Fred Nickols [fred@nickols.us]
    Sent: 15 February 2012 12:49
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like. It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter? All pointers gratefully appreciated.

    Regards,

    Fred Nickols
    Managing Partner
    Distance Consulting LLC
    Home to “Solution Engineering”
    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303
    Mount Vernon, OH 43050
    www.nickols.us<http://www.nickols.us/> | fred@nickols.us<mailto:fred@nickols.us>

    “We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems”


  • 7.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 15:58
    Fred -

    Greetings from Minnesota yet again!

    One source might be to look at the Baldrige sites.  Part of the training uses a "fictitious" case to help potential evaluators determine the degree of the organization's deployment of quality principles.  I've certainly seen a number of these during my quality-related training over the years.

    Perhaps the cases are proprietary and only used with the training, but they are excellent if you can access them.


    Best wishes,

    Julie Smendzuik-O'Brien
    Ph.D. Student
    Fielding Graduate University






    On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 6:49 AM, Fred Nickols <fred@nickols.us> wrote:

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like.  It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

     

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?  All pointers gratefully appreciated.

     

    Regards,

     

    Fred Nickols

    Managing Partner

    Distance Consulting LLC

    Home to "Solution Engineering"

    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303

    Mount Vernon, OH 43050

    www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us

     

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"

     




    --
    Julie Smendzuik-O'Brien

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Antoine de Saint Exupery, The Little Prince




  • 8.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 20:22
    Good idea. You can get that info free of charge from the SEC: http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

    Alternatively, you could take the financials from an existing company and change the description (or not -- it's public info).



    Lisa T. Stickney, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Management
    Merrick School of Business
    University of Baltimore
    Ph:   410-837-6607
    Fax: 410-837-5675
    Lstickney@ubalt.edu




    -----Original Message-----
    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Holtham, Clive
    Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 2:53 PM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: Fictitious Company Profiles

    What about taking data from the old accounts of a bankrupt company?
    I can see that the physical presentation of the accounts might be copyright but copyright might be more difficult to argue on the actual numbers in them.

    Professor Clive Holtham c.w.holtham@city.ac.uk phone: +44-20-7040-8622 fax: +44-20-7040-8328 video: +44-20-7786-9674 Short CV: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/experts/c.holtham Map: http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/about/location/index.html Cass Business School, City of London, 106 Bunhill Row, LONDON EC1Y 8TZ
    ________________________________________
    From: Fred Nickols [fred@nickols.us]
    Sent: 15 February 2012 12:49
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like. It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter? All pointers gratefully appreciated.

    Regards,

    Fred Nickols
    Managing Partner
    Distance Consulting LLC
    Home to "Solution Engineering"
    1558 Coshocton Ave - Suite 303
    Mount Vernon, OH 43050
    www.nickols.us<http://www.nickols.us/> | fred@nickols.us<mailto:fred@nickols.us>

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"


  • 9.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-15-2012 23:29

    ABI/Inform database has company annual reports.

    On Feb 15, 2012 9:59 AM, "Fred Nickols" <fred@nickols.us> wrote:

    I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet, org chart and the like.  It will form the basis for user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide performance management platform and the associated management discipline.

     

    Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?  All pointers gratefully appreciated.

     

    Regards,

     

    Fred Nickols

    Managing Partner

    Distance Consulting LLC

    Home to "Solution Engineering"

    1558 Coshocton Ave – Suite 303

    Mount Vernon, OH 43050

    www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us

     

    "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"

     



  • 10.  Fictitious Company Profiles

    Posted 02-17-2012 07:08
    Dear Colleagues,
    I agree with Tim on several accounts. First, unless the data or situations we present to others is based directly on field data we risk, majorly, confusing the students, perpetuating false insights, and espousing our theories at the expense of reality. This is dangerous in my view. Second, as Tim points out, the ratio analyses used frequently in Accounting and Finance classes ("Ratios Tell a Story" cases and variations thereof) show that the data in financial statements will either be grounded in the real world--or not. Third, without knowing what Fred's teaching plan/intentions might be, it's difficult to make useful suggestions. I like Tim urge staying close to the data/field when offering materials for analysis and learning.
    Jim Clawson, Darden UVA.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Management Education and Development Discussion [mailto:MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Tim Edlund
    Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 1:17 PM
    To: MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: Fictitious Company Profiles

    I'm suspicious about using fictitious company data. In any event, the suggestions of using HBS or IVEY cases won't work; these cases, although they may be disguised, are about real organizations. Moreover, the structure of financial statements will vary substantially depending upon the industry involved and the position in the distribution chain. The relative magnitude of the various components will vary even in the same type of product/service, as for example manufacturing firms will be very different from wholesale firms and both will vary from retail organizations.

    The data in the PIMS database might be useful; it is focused on business units (or subdivisions thereof) serving a narrowly defined target market. The results do predict a target ROE for the particular unit; which can be compared with what is actually achieved. These too are real organizations, but financial and other data are expressed in common size format, for disguise purposes.

    Tim Edlund, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251

    ---- Original message ----
    >Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:49:26 -0700
    >From: Management Education and Development Discussion <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU> (on behalf of Fred Nickols <fred@nickols.us>)
    >Subject: Fictitious Company Profiles
    >To: <MG-ED-DV@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    >
    > I have need of a fairly detailed profile of a
    > fictitious company: income statement, balance sheet,
    > org chart and the like. It will form the basis for
    > user documentation for a new, enterprise-wide
    > performance management platform and the associated
    > management discipline.
    >
    >
    >
    > Any ideas where I can lay hands on such a critter?
    > All pointers gratefully appreciated.
    >
    >
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    >
    >
    > Fred Nickols
    >
    > Managing Partner
    >
    > Distance Consulting LLC
    >
    > Home to "Solution Engineering"
    >
    > 1558 Coshocton Ave - Suite 303
    >
    > Mount Vernon, OH 43050
    >
    > www.nickols.us | fred@nickols.us
    >
    >
    >
    > "We Engineer Solutions to Performance Problems"
    >
    >