Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s 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 Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s case study

At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Robert A. Burgelman, George W. Cogan. The Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s (referred as “Dram Intel” 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, Organizational culture, Strategic planning, Technology.

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 Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s Case Study

Presents Intel's strategic situation after the 1985 decision to exit the DRAM business. The decision marked a critical transition point for Intel since the company invented DRAMs and had historically viewed itself as "the DRAM company." Explores the subsequent evolution of the company and provides the student with the context to consider critical strategic issues facing the company in 1990. Focuses on technology strategy and its evolution throughout the company's history, but it also develops key themes of corporate strategic renewal and the relationships between the company and its environment. The major themes concern: 1) the DRAM situation in 1990, 2) the rationalization of technology strategy with changing industry dynamics and paradigms, 3) the continuing implications for corporate strategy of tensions between commodity and proprietary business: EPROM and Flash, 4) changing modes of corporate entrepreneurship and strategic renewal: RISC vs. CISC, Flash, and 5) forward integration and the future of Intel.

Case Authors : Robert A. Burgelman, George W. Cogan

Topic : Strategy & Execution

Related Areas : Competitive strategy, Organizational culture, Strategic planning, Technology

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s Case Study

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 6 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10002651)	-10002651	-	-
Year 1	3457432	-6545219	3457432	0.9434	3261728
Year 2	3958044	-2587175	7415476	0.89	3522645
Year 3	3957403	1370228	11372879	0.8396	3322712
Year 4	3226486	4596714	14599365	0.7921	2555679
TOTAL			14599365		12662764

The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2660113

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. Profitability Index
3. Net Present Value
4. Payback Period

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 Dram Intel 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. Dram Intel 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 Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s

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 Dram Intel 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 Dram Intel 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	(10002651)	-10002651	-	-
Year 1	3457432	-6545219	3457432	0.8696	3006463
Year 2	3958044	-2587175	7415476	0.7561	2992850
Year 3	3957403	1370228	11372879	0.6575	2602057
Year 4	3226486	4596714	14599365	0.5718	1844754
TOTAL					10446123

The Net NPV after 4 years is 443472

(10446123 - 10002651 )

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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	(10002651)	-10002651	-	-
Year 1	3457432	-6545219	3457432	0.8333	2881193
Year 2	3958044	-2587175	7415476	0.6944	2748642
Year 3	3957403	1370228	11372879	0.5787	2290164
Year 4	3226486	4596714	14599365	0.4823	1555983
TOTAL					9475982

The Net NPV after 4 years is -526669

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9475982 - 10002651 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of Dram Intel 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 Dram Intel has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at Dram Intel 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 Dram Intel, then the stock price of the Dram Intel 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 Dram Intel 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.

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

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

Understanding of risks involved in the project.

What can impact the cash flow of 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.

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Negotiation Strategy of Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s

References & Further Readings

Robert A. Burgelman, George W. Cogan (2018), "Intel Corp. (C): Strategy for the 1990s Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.