Having described exactly what ob is, it's time to discuss another fundamental question: does it really matter? Is there any value in taking a class on this subject, other than fulfilling some requirement of your program ? (You might guess on that we're biased in our answers to these questions, given that we wrote a book on the subject!) Few would disagree that organizations need to know principles of accounting and finance to be successful; it would be impossible to conduct business without such knowledge.