1. IES 303 Supplement A: Decision making Week 3 Nov 24, 2005 Objective:
Amazon.com Case discussion: competitive advantage
- Understand practical techniques in making operational decisions

2. Case Discussion – Amazon.com
Discussion Question 1 (pg 79)
The onset of exponential growth in the development of information technologies has encouraged the birth of many “dot-com” companies. The Internet has enabled these companies to reach customers in very effective ways. Consider Amazon.com, whose web site enjoys millions of hits each day and put customers in touch with more that 18 million services and products. What are Amazon.com’s competitive priorities and what should its operations strategy focus on?
In addition to Amazon.com, suggest one other dot-com company or website and discuss about its competitive priorities.

3. Break-Even Analysis Break-even point
The volume at which total revenue = total cost
Break-even analysis can be used to compare processes by finding the volume at which two different processes has equal total costs
Variable costs: Total cost varies directly with volume of output
Fixed costs: Total cost remains constant regardless of changes in levels of output
400 –
300 –
200 –
100 –
0 –
Figure A.1
Total annual revenues
Total annual costs
Patients (Q)
Dollars (in thousands)
| | | |
Fixed costs
Break-even quantity
(2000, 400)
(2000, 300)
Profits
Loss

4. Ex 1: Break-even analysis [Break even volume]
The owner of a small manufacturing business has patented a new device for washing dishes and cleaning dirty kitchen sinks. Before trying to commercialize the device and add it to her existing product line, she wants reasonable assurance of success. Variable costs are estimated at $7 per unit produced and sold. Fixed costs are about $56,000 per year.
If the unit selling price is set at $25, how many units must be produced and sold to break even?
Forecasted sales for the first year are 10,000 units if the price is reduced to $15. With this pricing strategy, what would be the profit in the first year?

5. Ex 2: Break-even analysis [Process selection] (Midterm exam 04)
Oven A
Oven B
Capacity
Number of pies that can be baked simultaneously (number of pie per baking batch)
2 pies
4 pies
Variable Cost per baking batch
Electricity
Cleaning Staff $6
$10 $8
Fixed Cost per month
-   Loan payment
Depreciation and others
$400
$100
$800
$200
The bakery owner is now deciding on replacing the current oven. There are 2 oven systems from 2 companies in consideration. The first company proposes “Oven A” in which can bake two 8-inch pies simultaneously. In other words, there are 2 pies can be processed in a baking batch. On the other hand, Oven B can bake four 8-inch pies simultaneously. The details of relevant costs and oven capacities are as follows:
Determine the break-even point for the two oven alternatives. Which oven should the owner select and why?

6. Ex 3: Break-even analysis [Multiple process selection]
Nano Tech is ready to begin production of its exciting new technology. The company is evaluating three methods of productions
A: a small production facility with older equipment
B: a larger production facility that is more automated, and
C: subcontracting to an electronics manufacturer in Singapore
Fixed Cost
Variable Cost A B C
$ 200,000
$ 600,000
$ 0
$40
$20
$60
Determine for what level of demand each production process should be chosen.

7. Group Discussion: Real life example of break-even analysis
Suggest the scenario
What information do you need to perform this analysis correctly?
How can you obtain those information

8. Decision Theory
General approach to decision making when the outcomes associated with alternatives are often in doubt by following these processes
List the feasible alternatives
List the events (chance events or state of nature)
Calculate the payoff for each alternative in each event
Estimate the likelihood or probability of each events, using past data, executive opinion, or forecasting method
Selective a decision rule to evaluate the alternatives

9. Decisions Under Certainty
Alternative Low High
Small facility
Large facility
Do nothing 0 0
Possible
Future Demand
If future demand will be low – Choose the small facility.
Example A.5

10. Decision Under Risk Lists of events with estimated probability
Use “expected value” decision rule
Alternative Low High
Small facility
Large facility
Do nothing 0 0
Possible
Future Demand
Plow demand = 0.4
Phigh demand = 0.6
Example A.7

11. Decision Trees
A schematic model of alternatives available to the decision maker, along with their possible consequences
Used in product planning, process analysis, process capacity, and location
Square nodes: decision points
Circle nodes: state of nature (event)
Branch: events

12. Decision Trees 1 2 Figure A.5 = Event node = Decision node
Ei = Event i
P(Ei) = Probability of event i
1st
decision
Possible
2nd decision
Payoff 1
Payoff 2
Payoff 3
Alternative 3
Alternative 4
Alternative 5
E1 [P(E1)]
E2 [P(E2)]
E3 [P(E3)]
Alternative 1
Alternative 2 1 2
Figure A.5

13. Example: Southern Textile Company adapted from Russell & Taylor III (2003) See detail in additional handout
$2,000,000
0.60
Market growth 2
0.40
No market
growth
$225,000
Market
growth
$3,000,000
Expand
(-$800,000)
Expand
(-$800,000)
0.80 6
$700,000
0.20 1 4
Market
growth (3 years,
$0 payoff)
No market
growth
Sell land
Purchase Land
(-$200,000)
0.60
Market
growth
$2,300,000 3
0.40
Warehouse
(-$600,000)
0.30 7
$1,000,000
0.70 5
No market
growth (3 years,
$0 payoff)
No market
growth
Sell land
$210,000

14. Next week Read Case: Jose's Authentic Mexican Restaurant; pg166
And prepare to discuss the posted questions
Read chapter 4-5