Income|Outcome® Blog

Developing Corporate Finance Skills in Non-Financial Managers

How to Pitch Employee Engagement to the CFO

Business Acumen: Disruptive Technologies and Innovations

Disruption isn’t just about technology—it’s about business acumen. Companies that understand financial realities, decision-making, and operational execution don’t just survive disruption—they lead it. Here’s why strong business fundamentals are the real competitive advantage.

Memorization vs. Experiencing the Big Picture: What Sticks?

Memorization fades—real understanding lasts. A study on cognitive ability suggests conceptual learning leads to better long-term retention. The same applies to business acumen training—here’s why experiential learning beats rote memorization.

Continue the Learning: Apply Direct & Indirect Costs to Your Business

Business Acumen: Understanding Direct and Indirect Costs

Calculating Return on Sales

Return on Sales (ROS) is a vital financial metric that measures how efficiently a company converts sales into profit. This post explains how to calculate ROS, compares notable 2023 results (Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Twitter), and discusses why ROS is just one part of the bigger financial picture. The Triangle of Ratios—linking ROS, Asset Turnover, and Return on Assets—illustrates how financial statements connect for a full business view. Understanding ROS helps employees and decision-makers make better business choices.

Semi-Variable Costs: When Costs Don’t Fit Neatly

Not all costs are purely fixed or variable—some have elements of both. Learn about semi-variable costs, including stepwise (Type A) and base-plus-variable (Type B) costs, and why they matter for budgeting, pricing, and financial planning.

How to Choose a Business Simulation – Part 2: Inside or Outside the Box?

Business simulations fall into two categories: structured, predefined models or open-ended, strategic decision-making experiences. AI adds another layer to the debate—but does it help or hinder business acumen? Here’s why transparency and decision ownership matter.

How to Choose a Business Simulation – Part 1: Computer or Board-game?

When choosing a business simulation, should you go board game or computer-based? Each has pros and cons—but the best approach is big-picture clarity first, then deeper modeling. Here’s how to make the right choice—and where our online version fits.

20 Ways to Improve Your Business with Income|Outcome

Visual Finance iPad App Now Available

Visual Finance shows Google's acquisitions

What is the Statement of Cash Flow?

Increasing Business Acumen in Non-Finance Personnel: An Analysis of WV New Zealand's Simulation Workshop

Understanding the Cash Conversion Cycle

The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is a key financial metric that measures how long it takes a company to turn investments in inventory into cash. This post breaks down the components of the CCC—inventory turnover, accounts receivable, and accounts payable—and explains why optimizing it is crucial for business success.

Unlocking Organizational Potential: A Finance Director's Journey with Business Acumen Training

A Finance Director shares their journey through business acumen training and how it transformed their approach to strategic decision-making. This post explores the impact of financial literacy on cross-functional collaboration, leadership effectiveness, and unlocking an organization’s full potential.

Business Acumen and Financial Literacy Through Interactive Learning: The Income|Outcome Experience

Traditional finance training often fails to engage because it relies on passive learning. Income|Outcome takes a different approach, using interactive business simulations to teach financial literacy and business acumen through hands-on decision-making. Participants step into leadership roles, manage cash flow, analyze financial statements, and collaborate across departments—building real-world business skills that stick.

Income-Outcome’s Business Acumen Training: A Chat with Christian Castaneda

Business Acumen for Finance Professionals: Insights from World Vision Australia's CFO, Gordon Allison

Gordon Allison, CFO of World Vision Australia, shares why business acumen is essential for finance professionals. From breaking down silos to improving collaboration with sales, see how business acumen training transformed his team—and why ongoing learning is key to long-term success.

Business Acumen Is the Glue That Holds Your Company Together

What is a Statement of Cash Flow?

Nikolai Usack – Andromeda’s new VP of Sales (private)

Finding Silver Linings in Global Catastrophes

Karl Marx, thought leader with no business understanding

Developing Corporate Finance Skills in Non-Financial Managers

Unlocking Organizational Potential: A Finance Director's Journey with Business Acumen Training

A Finance Director shares their journey through business acumen training and how it transformed their approach to strategic decision-making. This post explores the impact of financial literacy on cross-functional collaboration, leadership effectiveness, and unlocking an organization’s full potential.

Income-Outcome’s Business Acumen Training: A Chat with Christian Castaneda

Business Acumen for Finance Professionals: Insights from World Vision Australia's CFO, Gordon Allison

Gordon Allison, CFO of World Vision Australia, shares why business acumen is essential for finance professionals. From breaking down silos to improving collaboration with sales, see how business acumen training transformed his team—and why ongoing learning is key to long-term success.

A Pressing Dilemma in the Healthcare Industry

Bemus Landscape Case Study: How One Family-Owned Business Exceeded Business Acumen Expectations In Less Than 2 Days

4 Things All Employees Should Know About the Company Where They Work

Every employee contributes to a company’s financial health—whether they realize it or not. Zingerman’s 10 rules for engaging employees in finance align with Income|Outcome’s philosophy: business acumen should extend beyond leadership. From understanding financial reports to differentiating profit from cash, this post highlights four key financial concepts every employee should know.

3 Reasons the CFO Should Drive Business Acumen Training

The Difference Between Cash and Profit

How Much Financial Acumen Do Lawyers Need?

How to Rapidly Respond to Changing Conditions in Your Industry

Keep Up Employee Training Programs in a Down Economy

Cutting costs in a downturn is necessary—but cutting training may cost more in the long run. High performers leave when they feel stuck, and undertrained employees can’t drive profitability. Here’s why investing in training is a strategic move, even when budgets are tight.

Business Success Involves More Than Asking the Right Questions

Decision-Making and Speed of Change in the Gulf Countries

In the Gulf region, decision-making can be slow and full of endless negotiations. But once a course of action is set, change happens at an unbelievable pace. The key? Having someone in charge.

Decision-making - it's a business acumen competency (2 of 4)

Strong decision-making requires good information—but how do you ensure you get it? It comes down to business literacy, holistic thinking, and a strong decision-making culture. See how the Income|Outcome simulation helps teams understand the cross-functional impact of every decision.

Decision-making - Speed and accuracy of information (1 of 4)

The fastest, most accurate flow of information is the greatest competitive advantage in business today. Without it, even the best decision-making skills are useless. Three client stories reveal what happens when companies get it right—and when they don’t.

Decision-making - Broadening the information base (3 of 4)

Why do even experts make poor decisions? A study by INSEAD researchers Lobo & Yao found that overconfidence, narrow focus, and lack of experience all play a role. Learn how to improve decision-making through broader data, financial literacy, and experiential learning.

Decision-making - Choosing between conflicting forecasts (4 of 4)

What do you do when your team has conflicting forecasts? A study by Lobo and Yao analyzed 20,000 predictions and found a formula for accuracy. Learn how to make better, data-driven business decisions using business literacy, acumen, and structured processes.

Business Acumen: Disruptive Technologies and Innovations

Disruption isn’t just about technology—it’s about business acumen. Companies that understand financial realities, decision-making, and operational execution don’t just survive disruption—they lead it. Here’s why strong business fundamentals are the real competitive advantage.

Business Acumen - fearless with finance

Continue the Learning: Apply Direct & Indirect Costs to Your Business

Semi-Variable Costs: When Costs Don’t Fit Neatly

Not all costs are purely fixed or variable—some have elements of both. Learn about semi-variable costs, including stepwise (Type A) and base-plus-variable (Type B) costs, and why they matter for budgeting, pricing, and financial planning.

Understanding the Cash Conversion Cycle

The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is a key financial metric that measures how long it takes a company to turn investments in inventory into cash. This post breaks down the components of the CCC—inventory turnover, accounts receivable, and accounts payable—and explains why optimizing it is crucial for business success.

What is the Statement of Cash Flow?

Business Acumen: Understanding Direct and Indirect Costs

Calculating Return on Sales

Return on Sales (ROS) is a vital financial metric that measures how efficiently a company converts sales into profit. This post explains how to calculate ROS, compares notable 2023 results (Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Twitter), and discusses why ROS is just one part of the bigger financial picture. The Triangle of Ratios—linking ROS, Asset Turnover, and Return on Assets—illustrates how financial statements connect for a full business view. Understanding ROS helps employees and decision-makers make better business choices.

What is a Balance Sheet?

What is an Income Statement?

Learn the basics of an income statement, its components, and why it’s essential for understanding a business's financial health.

What is Gross Margin?

Gross margin is a key financial metric that measures the percentage of revenue left after direct costs. Many companies define it differently, leading to confusion. This post explains what gross margin is, how to calculate it, and why it’s essential for business viability. With clear examples and practical insights, this guide helps employees understand how their actions impact a company’s financial health.

What is Days Sales Outstanding?

DSO measures how long it takes customers to pay after being invoiced. Learn how to calculate it, why it impacts cash flow, and how reducing it can improve your business.

Business Acumen: Supply and Demand in action

Supply and demand isn’t just theory—it’s reality. When demand surges, prices rise, whether it’s for products or labor. The oil boom in Williston, North Dakota, is a perfect example. In Income|Outcome, participants experience these dynamics first-hand—before encountering them the hard way.

How to Pitch Employee Engagement to the CFO

Learning Styles and Visualization

4 Reasons Your Company Should Use Games to Drive Adult Learning

Fresh business acumen for the Finance Manager

Business Strategy Games and the "Just Do It" Principle

What Type of Year Was it for Your Company’s Training Programs?

Prioritizing Learning and Development Activities - How Do You Do It?

Stealth Learning: The Aha! Moments That Stick