solved JWI 530: Financial Management I Assignment 2 Assignment 2: Cost-Benefit

JWI 530: Financial Management I
Assignment 2
Assignment 2: Cost-Benefit Analysis
Due Sunday, Midnight of Week 10 (25% of Final Grade)
Overview
In this assignment, you will take on the role of a senior member of the finance team assigned to lead the investment committee of a healthcare equipment manufacturer. Your team is evaluating a “make-versus- buy” decision that has the potential to improve the company’s competitiveness, but which requires a significant capital investment in new equipment. The assignment is organized into two parts:
Part A: Data calculations based on the information in the scenarios Part B: Recommendations based on the calculations
Opportunity Details
The new equipment would allow your company to manufacture a critical component in-house instead of buying it from a supplier. This capability would help you stabilize your supply chain (which has suffered from some irregularities and quality issues in the past). It could also have a positive impact on profitability through the absorption of fixed costs since this new machine will have plenty of excess capacity. There may even be a possibility that the company could leverage this capability to create a new external revenue stream by providing services to other companies.
The company has been growing steadily over the past 5 years, and the financials and future prospects look good. Your CEO has asked you to run the numbers. After doing some digging into the business, you have gathered information on the following:

The estimated purchase price for the equipment required to move the operation in-house would be $900,000. Additional net working capital to support production (in the form of cash used in Inventory, AR net of AP) would be needed in the amount of $40,000 per year starting in year 0 and through all years of the project to support production as raw materials will be required in year o and all years to run the new equipment and produce components to replace those purchased from the vendor..
The current spending on this component (i.e. annual spend pool) is $1,500,000. The estimated cash flow savings of bringing the process in-house is 20% or annual savings of $300,000. This includes the additional labor and overhead costs required.
Finally, the equipment required is anticipated to have a somewhat short useful life, as a new wave of technology is on the horizon. Therefore, it is anticipated that the equipment will be sold after the end of the project (the last year of generated cash flow) for $50,000. (i.e. the terminal value).

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 530 – Assignment 2 (1214) Page 1 of 5

JWI 530: Financial Management I
Assignment 2
Input from Stakeholders
As part of your research, you have sought input from a number of stakeholders. Each has raised important points to consider in your analysis and recommendation. Some of the points and assumptions are purely financial. Others touch on additional concerns and opportunities.

Albert, your colleague from Accounting, recommends using the base assumptions above: 5-year project life, flat annual savings, and 12% discount rate. Albert does not feel the equipment will have any terminal value due to advancements in technology.
Betty from Sales is convinced that this capability would create a new revenue stream that could significantly offset operating expenses. She recommends savings that grow each year: 5-year project life, 12% discount rate, and a 10% annual savings growth in years 2 through 5. In other words, instead of assuming savings stay flat, assume that they will grow by 10% in year 2, and then grow another 10% over year 2 in year 3, and so on. Betty feels that the stated terminal value of $50,000 is reasonable and used it in his calculations.
Cassie from Engineering believes we use a higher Discount Rate because of the risk of this type of project. As such, she is recommending a 5-year project life and flat annual savings. Cassie suggests that even though the equipment is brand new, the updated production process could have anegative impact on other parts of the overall manufacturing costs. She argues that, while it is difficult to quantify the potential negative impacts, to account for the risk, a 15% discount rate should be used. Being an engineer, Cassie feels that the stated terminal value is low based on her experience, and is recommending a $75,000 terminal value,
David, the Product Manager, is convinced the new capability will allow better control of quality and on-time delivery, and that it will last longer than 5 years. He recommends using a 7 Year Equipment Life (which means a 7-year project and that savings will continue for 7 years), flat annual savings, and 12% discount rate. In other words, assume that the machine will last 2 more years and deliver 2 more years of savings. David also feels the equipment will have an estimated terminal value of $25,000 at the end of its 7- year useful life as it will be utilized longer thus having less value at the end of the project and savings.
Ellen, the head of Operations, is concerned that instead of stabilizing the supply chain, it will just add another process to be managed, and will distract from the core competencies the company currently has. She feels the company should focus on improving communication and supply chain management with its current vendor, and she feels confident he can negotiate a discount of 2% off of the annual outsourcing cost of $1,500,000 if she lets it be known they are considering taking over this step of the process. As there is little risk associated with Ellen’s proposal due to no upfront capital requirements, a lower risk-free discount rate of 7% would be appropriate. Ellen feels that any price reductions from the current vendor will last for five years. (NOTE: because there is no “investment”, the Payback and IRR metrics are not meaningful. Simply provide the NPV of the Savings cash flows).

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 530 – Assignment 2 (1214) Page 2 of 5

JWI 530: Financial Management I
Assignment 2
PART A: Data Calculations
Using the data presented above (and ignoring the extraneous information), for this profit and supply chain improvement project, calculate each of the following (where applicable):

• • •

#1: #2: #3: #4: #5:
Nominal Payback Discounted Payback Net Present Value Internal Rate of Return
Albert
Betty
Cassie
David
Ellen N/A N/A N/A
Scenario
Nominal Payback
Discounted Payback
Net Present Value
Internal Rate of Return

Submission Requirements
Present your calculations and results either in an Excel Spreadsheet or in Word (using tables and headers to organize the information in a way that is clear and easy to read). Be sure to show your detailed calculations. If you get something wrong, you may still be able to get partial credit.
© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 530 – Assignment 2 (1214) Page 3 of 5

JWI 530: Financial Management I
Assignment 2
Part B: Recommendations
After completing the calculations for all scenarios, create a brief memo to the CEO outlining your committee’s recommendations. You may organize the memo as you see fit, but it must include the following:

A clear opening statement of your recommendation for or against the project.
A brief synopsis of the processes and factors that led to your recommendations. o What information did you gather, and how did you get it?
o From whom did you seek input, and why?
A summary of the strategic benefits and risks in pursuing (or not pursuing) this project, including: o Highlights of the main data points that support your position
o Acknowledgement of the data points that oppose your argument
o Identification of open/unresolved items
An identification of the scenario that, from a purely financial perspective, represents the most accurate estimate of the anticipated results and your rationale as to why.
An identification of non-financial elements that need to be considered for the recommended scenario.
Any assumptions in project economics can have a significant impact on the result. Identify 3financial elements/assumptions in your analysis that would make this project financially unattractive. Be as transparent and candid with your BOD as possible. What would have to be true for this to be a bad investment?
A summary restating your recommendation and key action items.Submission Requirements

Your memo should be no more than 2 pages, single-spaced, using 10- or 12-point font.
Focus on the rationale for your recommendations. Include key numbers to support yourrecommendations but do no re-present all your calculations.© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWI 530 – Assignment 2 (1214) Page 4 of 5

JWI 530: Financial Management I
Assignment 2

RUBRIC
25% of Course Grade
Assignment 2, Parts A and B
Criteria
Unsatisfactory
Low Pass
Pass
High Pass
Honors
1. Correct answers for the
investment recommendation scenarios.
Weight: 30%
Did not demonstrate understanding, either by not submitting, or by calculating 8 or fewer answers correctly.
Partially demonstrated understanding by calculating 9 to 10 answers correctly.
Satisfactorily demonstrated understanding by calculating 11 to 12 answers correctly.
Demonstrated a high level of understanding by calculating 13 to 14 answers correctly.
Demonstrated exemplary understanding by calculating 15 or more answers correctly.
2. Showed work for calculations for the investment recommendation scenarios
Weight 20%
Does not show work and/or has significant errors and shortcomings or process, order and calculation metrics
Incorrectly demonstrates process, order and calculation and has many errors.
Demonstrates basic level understanding of process, order ad calculation, but may have some errors
Shows process, order and calculation that mostly supports generation or the required metrics
Fully and completely shows process, order and calculation of the required metrics
3. Analyzed the investment opportunity leveraging the supplied data sets, and provided clear, well-reasoned recommendation s to the CEO.
Weight: 40%
Did not submit, or incompletely analyzed the investment options and did not address the key questions or explain recommendations.
Provided minimal, basic analysis and recommendations addressing 3 or fewer of the required memo components and options.
Provided good analysis and recommendations addressing at least 4 of the required memo components and options.
Provided excellent analysis and recommendations addressing all required memo components and all 5 options.
Provided exemplary analysis and recommendations addressing all required memo components and all 5 options; included additional insights drawing on learning from outside sources and demonstrating excellent business sense.
4. Professionally communicated with clear writing; concise and free of mechanical errors.
Weight: 10%
Written communication does not flow, and/or fails to justify or express recommendation; multiple mechanical errors; much of the communication is difficult to understand.
Written communication is basic; fails to clearly connect conclusions and assertions to data; has several mechanical errors making parts of the text difficult to understand.
Written communication flows well but lacks conciseness or clarity in places; assertions and conclusions are generally justified and explained; contains several minor grammatical errors.
Written communication flows well; concisely and clearly expresses recommendations in a manner that rationally and logically develops the topics; there are a few mechanical errors.
Written communication is excellent; concisely and clearly expresses recommendations in an exemplary manner that rationally and logically develops the topics; free of mechanical errors.
© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.