×




Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) Net Present Value (NPV) / MBA Resources

Introduction to Net Present Value (NPV) - What is Net Present Value (NPV) ? How it impacts financial decisions regarding project management?

NPV solution for Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) case study


At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Jean-Francois Manzoni, Jean-Louis Barsoux, Kathryn Hughes. The Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) (referred as “Nissan Nissan's” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Strategy & Execution. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Cross-cultural management, Design, Joint ventures, Leadership, Product development, Productivity, Reorganization, Supply chain.

The net present value (NPV) of an investment proposal is the present value of the proposal’s net cash flows less the proposal’s initial cash outflow. If a project’s NPV is greater than or equal to zero, the project should be accepted.

NPV = Present Value of Future Cash Flows LESS Project’s Initial Investment






Case Description of Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) Case Study


This is the first of a two-case series. When Renault sent Carlos Ghosn to turnaround its alliance partner Nissan, observers were skeptical of his chances. After soliciting recommendations from the employees, he unveiled a three-year plan involving plant closures, job cuts, and a refocus on design. Within two years, the company had achieved a dramatic recovery, posting record profits and proposing a dazzling array of new models. Note that there are two versions of the case: 'Redesigning Nissan (A) & (B)' covers the dynamics of taking charge (case A) and the process of leading change (case B). There is also a combined and condensed version of the cases: 'Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001', for instructors wishing to cover the material in a single session.


Case Authors : Jean-Francois Manzoni, Jean-Louis Barsoux, Kathryn Hughes

Topic : Strategy & Execution

Related Areas : Cross-cultural management, Design, Joint ventures, Leadership, Product development, Productivity, Reorganization, Supply chain




Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) Case Study


Years              Cash Flow     Net Cash Flow     Cumulative    
Cash Flow
Discount Rate
@ 6 %
Discounted
Cash Flows
Year 0 (10020321) -10020321 - -
Year 1 3465939 -6554382 3465939 0.9434 3269754
Year 2 3958525 -2595857 7424464 0.89 3523073
Year 3 3972940 1377083 11397404 0.8396 3335757
Year 4 3231410 4608493 14628814 0.7921 2559579
TOTAL 14628814 12688163




The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2667842

In isolation the NPV number doesn't mean much but put in right context then it is one of the best method to evaluate project returns. In this article we will cover -

Different methods of capital budgeting


What is NPV & Formula of NPV,
How it is calculated,
How to use NPV number for project evaluation, and
Scenario Planning given risks and management priorities.




Capital Budgeting Approaches

Methods of Capital Budgeting


There are four types of capital budgeting techniques that are widely used in the corporate world –

1. Internal Rate of Return
2. Payback Period
3. Net Present Value
4. Profitability Index

Apart from the Payback period method which is an additive method, rest of the methods are based on Discounted Cash Flow technique. Even though cash flow can be calculated based on the nature of the project, for the simplicity of the article we are assuming that all the expected cash flows are realized at the end of the year.

Discounted Cash Flow approaches provide a more objective basis for evaluating and selecting investment projects. They take into consideration both –

1. Magnitude of both incoming and outgoing cash flows – Projects can be capital intensive, time intensive, or both. Nissan Nissan's shareholders have preference for diversified projects investment rather than prospective high income from a single capital intensive project.
2. Timing of the expected cash flows – stockholders of Nissan Nissan's have higher preference for cash returns over 4-5 years rather than 10-15 years given the nature of the volatility in the industry.






Formula and Steps to Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) of Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B)

NPV = Net Cash In Flowt1 / (1+r)t1 + Net Cash In Flowt2 / (1+r)t2 + … Net Cash In Flowtn / (1+r)tn
Less Net Cash Out Flowt0 / (1+r)t0

Where t = time period, in this case year 1, year 2 and so on.
r = discount rate or return that could be earned using other safe proposition such as fixed deposit or treasury bond rate. Net Cash In Flow – What the firm will get each year.
Net Cash Out Flow – What the firm needs to invest initially in the project.

Step 1 – Understand the nature of the project and calculate cash flow for each year.
Step 2 – Discount those cash flow based on the discount rate.
Step 3 – Add all the discounted cash flow.
Step 4 – Selection of the project

Why Strategy & Execution Managers need to know Financial Tools such as Net Present Value (NPV)?

In our daily workplace we often come across people and colleagues who are just focused on their core competency and targets they have to deliver. For example marketing managers at Nissan Nissan's often design programs whose objective is to drive brand awareness and customer reach. But how that 30 point increase in brand awareness or 10 point increase in customer touch points will result into shareholders’ value is not specified.

To overcome such scenarios managers at Nissan Nissan's needs to not only know the financial aspect of project management but also needs to have tools to integrate them into part of the project development and monitoring plan.

Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 15%

After working through various assumptions we reached a conclusion that risk is far higher than 6%. In a reasonably stable industry with weak competition - 15% discount rate can be a good benchmark.



Years              Cash Flow     Net Cash Flow     Cumulative    
Cash Flow
Discount Rate
@ 15 %
Discounted
Cash Flows
Year 0 (10020321) -10020321 - -
Year 1 3465939 -6554382 3465939 0.8696 3013860
Year 2 3958525 -2595857 7424464 0.7561 2993214
Year 3 3972940 1377083 11397404 0.6575 2612273
Year 4 3231410 4608493 14628814 0.5718 1847569
TOTAL 10466915


The Net NPV after 4 years is 446594

(10466915 - 10020321 )








Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 20%


If the risk component is high in the industry then we should go for a higher hurdle rate / discount rate of 20%.

Years              Cash Flow     Net Cash Flow     Cumulative    
Cash Flow
Discount Rate
@ 20 %
Discounted
Cash Flows
Year 0 (10020321) -10020321 - -
Year 1 3465939 -6554382 3465939 0.8333 2888283
Year 2 3958525 -2595857 7424464 0.6944 2748976
Year 3 3972940 1377083 11397404 0.5787 2299155
Year 4 3231410 4608493 14628814 0.4823 1558357
TOTAL 9494771


The Net NPV after 4 years is -525550

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9494771 - 10020321 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of Nissan Nissan's to discount cash flow at lower discount rates such as 15%.





Acceptance Criteria of a Project based on NPV

Simplest Approach – If the investment project of Nissan Nissan's has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at Nissan Nissan's can ACCEPT the project, otherwise they can reject the project. This means that project will deliver higher returns over the period of time than any alternate investment strategy.

In theory if the required rate of return or discount rate is chosen correctly by finance managers at Nissan Nissan's, then the stock price of the Nissan Nissan's should change by same amount of the NPV. In real world we know that share price also reflects various other factors that can be related to both macro and micro environment.

In the same vein – accepting the project with zero NPV should result in stagnant share price. Finance managers use discount rates as a measure of risk components in the project execution process.

Sensitivity Analysis

Project selection is often a far more complex decision than just choosing it based on the NPV number. Finance managers at Nissan Nissan's should conduct a sensitivity analysis to better understand not only the inherent risk of the projects but also how those risks can be either factored in or mitigated during the project execution. Sensitivity analysis helps in –

What are the key aspects of the projects that need to be monitored, refined, and retuned for continuous delivery of projected cash flows.

What are the uncertainties surrounding the project Initial Cash Outlay (ICO’s). ICO’s often have several different components such as land, machinery, building, and other equipment.

What can impact the cash flow of the project.

What will be a multi year spillover effect of various taxation regulations.

Understanding of risks involved in the project.

Some of the assumptions while using the Discounted Cash Flow Methods –

Projects are assumed to be Mutually Exclusive – This is seldom the came in modern day giant organizations where projects are often inter-related and rejecting a project solely based on NPV can result in sunk cost from a related project.

Independent projects have independent cash flows – As explained in the marketing project – though the project may look independent but in reality it is not as the brand awareness project can be closely associated with the spending on sales promotions and product specific advertising.






Negotiation Strategy of Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B)

References & Further Readings

Jean-Francois Manzoni, Jean-Louis Barsoux, Kathryn Hughes (2018), "Nissan's U-Turn: 1999-2001: Condensed Version of Redesigning Nissan (A & B) Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.


Helen of Troy Ltd SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Healthcare , Medical Equipment & Supplies


New World Cobalt SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Basic Materials , Metal Mining


Liveworld, Inc. SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Technology , Computer Services


Nanning Sugar A SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Consumer/Non-Cyclical , Food Processing


Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Consumer/Non-Cyclical , Food Processing


IGB SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Services , Real Estate Operations


Adomos SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Services , Real Estate Operations


Voluntis SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Technology , Software & Programming


Beijing ConST Instruments Tech SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Technology , Scientific & Technical Instr.


Hovnanian Enterprises SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Capital Goods , Construction Services


Flying Tech SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Capital Goods , Misc. Capital Goods