Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies 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 Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies case study

At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by J. Debra Hofman, Wanda J. Orlikowski. The Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies (referred as “Improvisational Change” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Technology & Operations. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Innovation, 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 Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies Case Study

This is an MIT Sloan Management Review article. Each member of a jazz band embellishes and improvises on the same rhythmic structure. Similarly, a model for managing technological change recognizes the need to improvise in response to unexpected opportunities. According to the authors, traditional models, in which an organization plans for change, implements change, and tries to become stable again, no longer work in an environment that is turbulent, particularly when the technology involved can be customized. The authors propose that the changes associated with technology implementation, rather than having a beginning and an end, are ongoing. Managers cannot anticipate all the changes made during the process. An alternative model recognizes three types of change: anticipated changes occur as intended; emergent changes arise during the process; and opportunity-based changes are introduced during the process in response to an opportunity, event, or breakdown. The three build on each other iteratively over time. However, not all companies are currently suited to an improvisational model. Two necessary conditions are: alignment of the change model, the technology, and the organization and resources dedicated to adapting the organization and the technology to changing conditions.

Case Authors : J. Debra Hofman, Wanda J. Orlikowski

Topic : Technology & Operations

Related Areas : Innovation, Technology

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies Case Study

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 6 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10016385)	-10016385	-	-
Year 1	3471426	-6544959	3471426	0.9434	3274930
Year 2	3961705	-2583254	7433131	0.89	3525903
Year 3	3967904	1384650	11401035	0.8396	3331529
Year 4	3244570	4629220	14645605	0.7921	2570003
TOTAL			14645605		12702366

The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2685981

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. Payback Period
2. Net Present Value
3. Internal Rate of Return
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 Improvisational Change 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. Improvisational Change 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 Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies

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 Technology & Operations 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 Improvisational Change 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 Improvisational Change 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	(10016385)	-10016385	-	-
Year 1	3471426	-6544959	3471426	0.8696	3018631
Year 2	3961705	-2583254	7433131	0.7561	2995618
Year 3	3967904	1384650	11401035	0.6575	2608961
Year 4	3244570	4629220	14645605	0.5718	1855093
TOTAL					10478304

The Net NPV after 4 years is 461919

(10478304 - 10016385 )

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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	(10016385)	-10016385	-	-
Year 1	3471426	-6544959	3471426	0.8333	2892855
Year 2	3961705	-2583254	7433131	0.6944	2751184
Year 3	3967904	1384650	11401035	0.5787	2296241
Year 4	3244570	4629220	14645605	0.4823	1564704
TOTAL					9504984

The Net NPV after 4 years is -511401

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9504984 - 10016385 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of Improvisational Change 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 Improvisational Change has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at Improvisational Change 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 Improvisational Change, then the stock price of the Improvisational Change 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 Improvisational Change 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 can impact the cash flow of the project.

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

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.

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Negotiation Strategy of Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies

References & Further Readings

J. Debra Hofman, Wanda J. Orlikowski (2018), "Improvisational Model for Change Management: The Case of Groupware Technologies Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.