×




Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example 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 Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example case study


At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Deborah R. Ettington. The Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example (referred as “Moran Affirmative” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Leadership & Managing People. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Business law, Conflict, Diversity, Leadership.

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 Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example Case Study


Professor Jeffrey Moran needed to decide how to respond to the aftermath from the previous day's heated discussion of affirmative action in his Social Responsibility and Business Ethics class. He felt the emotions that erupted provided a "teachable moment" and that the class ended well. However, one African-American student later complained via e-mail that she felt disrespected in the discussion and did not feel that the topic was adequately portrayed. Dissatisfied with waiting for his response to her e-mail, the student called the department chair to complain. The department chair expects Moran to handle the situation.


Case Authors : Deborah R. Ettington

Topic : Leadership & Managing People

Related Areas : Business law, Conflict, Diversity, Leadership




Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example Case Study


Years              Cash Flow     Net Cash Flow     Cumulative    
Cash Flow
Discount Rate
@ 6 %
Discounted
Cash Flows
Year 0 (10027851) -10027851 - -
Year 1 3444604 -6583247 3444604 0.9434 3249626
Year 2 3976105 -2607142 7420709 0.89 3538719
Year 3 3947940 1340798 11368649 0.8396 3314767
Year 4 3239377 4580175 14608026 0.7921 2565890
TOTAL 14608026 12669002




The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2641151

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. Net Present Value
2. Profitability Index
3. Internal Rate of Return
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. Magnitude of both incoming and outgoing cash flows – Projects can be capital intensive, time intensive, or both. Moran Affirmative 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 Moran Affirmative 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 Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example

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 Leadership & Managing People 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 Moran Affirmative 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 Moran Affirmative 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 (10027851) -10027851 - -
Year 1 3444604 -6583247 3444604 0.8696 2995308
Year 2 3976105 -2607142 7420709 0.7561 3006507
Year 3 3947940 1340798 11368649 0.6575 2595835
Year 4 3239377 4580175 14608026 0.5718 1852124
TOTAL 10449773


The Net NPV after 4 years is 421922

(10449773 - 10027851 )








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 (10027851) -10027851 - -
Year 1 3444604 -6583247 3444604 0.8333 2870503
Year 2 3976105 -2607142 7420709 0.6944 2761184
Year 3 3947940 1340798 11368649 0.5787 2284688
Year 4 3239377 4580175 14608026 0.4823 1562200
TOTAL 9478574


The Net NPV after 4 years is -549277

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9478574 - 10027851 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of Moran Affirmative 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 Moran Affirmative has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at Moran Affirmative 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 Moran Affirmative, then the stock price of the Moran Affirmative 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 Moran Affirmative 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 will be a multi year spillover effect of various taxation regulations.

Understanding of risks involved in the project.

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.

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 Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example

References & Further Readings

Deborah R. Ettington (2018), "Responding to a Heated Classroom Discussion: Affirmative Action Example Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.


Dongbu Sec SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Financial , Investment Services


Wuhan Hanshang SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Services , Retail (Department & Discount)


Tibet Tourism SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Services , Personal Services


PSI AG SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Technology , Software & Programming


Zhongtai Chem A SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Basic Materials , Chemicals - Plastics & Rubber


Hipay Group SA SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Financial , Consumer Financial Services


Yujin Robot SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Technology , Electronic Instr. & Controls


Granite Construction SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Capital Goods , Construction Services


Akamai SWOT Analysis / TOWS Matrix

Technology , Software & Programming