article thumbnail

Divest With Care

Harvard Business Review

If a target got through the initial screen, the group was able to perform the necessary due diligence in three or four weeks. Acquisitions always get a lot of senior management attention and, for those who want it, there is no shortage of outside advice, including a lot in the management literature. And it's a shame. Pfizer Inc.

article thumbnail

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

Harvard Business Review

But having a grasp of terms like EBITDA and net present value are important no matter where you sit on the org chart. And who’s in the best position to offer advice? The most important concepts to grasp are “how to measure profitability, EBITDA, operating income, revenue, and operating expenses,” he says.