Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats 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 Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats case study

At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Peter J. Coughlan, Jennifer L. Illes. The Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats (referred as “Blockbuster's Formats” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Strategy & Execution. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Competitive strategy, Decision making, Disruptive innovation, Internet, Strategic planning.

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

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Case Description of Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats Case Study

Investigates how the rise of digital video formats threatens to make videocassette technology obsolete; how this technological substitution might alter the economics and structure of the video rental and retail industries; and how Blockbuster Inc., the industry leader, should respond to the new technologies. Explores Blockbuster's response to the new DVD and DIVX digital disk formats and the impact of these technologies on Blockbuster's traditional business model. Also highlights the industry changes that DVD has created, including an increase in direct video sales at the expense of video rental. In times of technological change, firms continuously face decisions regarding the extent to which they should embrace a technologically advanced substitute at the possible expense of their existing products and services. Guides the reader through Blockbuster's decisions and its resulting responses.

Case Authors : Peter J. Coughlan, Jennifer L. Illes

Topic : Strategy & Execution

Related Areas : Competitive strategy, Decision making, Disruptive innovation, Internet, Strategic planning

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats Case Study

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 6 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10002214)	-10002214	-	-
Year 1	3447856	-6554358	3447856	0.9434	3252694
Year 2	3955524	-2598834	7403380	0.89	3520402
Year 3	3937853	1339019	11341233	0.8396	3306297
Year 4	3233775	4572794	14575008	0.7921	2561453
TOTAL			14575008		12640847

The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2638633

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.

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

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Formula and Steps to Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) of Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats

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 Blockbuster's Formats 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 Blockbuster's Formats 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	(10002214)	-10002214	-	-
Year 1	3447856	-6554358	3447856	0.8696	2998136
Year 2	3955524	-2598834	7403380	0.7561	2990944
Year 3	3937853	1339019	11341233	0.6575	2589202
Year 4	3233775	4572794	14575008	0.5718	1848921
TOTAL					10427204

The Net NPV after 4 years is 424990

(10427204 - 10002214 )

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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	(10002214)	-10002214	-	-
Year 1	3447856	-6554358	3447856	0.8333	2873213
Year 2	3955524	-2598834	7403380	0.6944	2746892
Year 3	3937853	1339019	11341233	0.5787	2278850
Year 4	3233775	4572794	14575008	0.4823	1559498
TOTAL					9458453

The Net NPV after 4 years is -543761

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9458453 - 10002214 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of Blockbuster's Formats 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 Blockbuster's Formats has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at Blockbuster's Formats 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 Blockbuster's Formats, then the stock price of the Blockbuster's Formats 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 Blockbuster's Formats 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 uncertainties surrounding the project Initial Cash Outlay (ICO’s). ICO’s often have several different components such as land, machinery, building, and other equipment.

Understanding of risks involved in the project.

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

What can impact the cash flow of the project.

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

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.

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Negotiation Strategy of Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats

References & Further Readings

Peter J. Coughlan, Jennifer L. Illes (2018), "Blockbuster Inc. & Technological Substitution (B): Confronting New Digital Formats Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.