Search results
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The Pelayo Family Plays Roulette: The Prequel
Pfeifer, Phillip E.; Bodily, Samuel E.; Baucells, ManelCase DARDEN-QA-0847-EDecision AnalysisThe case presents data from 70,340 spins of four roulette wheels: three of which are real ("imperfect") and one of which is simulated ("perfect"). The challenge posed is to identify which of the four is the simulated wheel. After weeks spent recording spin results at their local casino, the members of the Pelayo family think they have identified three imperfect wheels. Before they start betting, they want to be certain that the three wheels they ...Starting at €8.20
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A GLUM Primer: The Risk-Adjusted Expected Value
Pfeifer, Phillip E.; Bodily, Samuel E.; Baucells, ManelTechnical Note DARDEN-QA-0849-EDecision AnalysisThe purpose of this note is to improve on the expected value criterion by incorporating the willingness and capability to take risk of a rational decision maker. First, this note will review the concept of expected net present value (ENPV) and demonstrate its limitations. Next, we introduce the notion of play capital, or the most one is willing to put at risk in view of one’s life circumstances, goals, and resources. Then, we introduce the genera...Starting at €8.20
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Vitaliy’s Purchase Decision
Baucells, Manel; Dydyshka, VitaliyExercise DARDEN-QA-0861-EDecision AnalysisThis short case presents the trade-offs that Vitaliy faces before purchasing a car. The case contains a consequence table showing five different cars and how they fare on six attributes, including price, user ratings, torque, fuel consumption, and engine power. The case is ideal to introduce the multiattribute methodology.Starting at €8.20
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To LED or Not to LED?
Baucells, Manel; Yemen, GerryCase DARDEN-QA-0862-EDecision AnalysisA director of marketing at a major big-box retailer in the United States finds herself overhearing a customer and a lighting specialist discuss the replacement of incandescent and halogen lightbulbs with LEDs in his house. The case provides sufficient data to perform the economic analysis of which lightbulb is more cost effective in terms of net present value. The results are at odds with the student’s intuitions. This case uses a durable consume...Starting at €8.20
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The Elevator Saga
Baucells, Manel; Yemen, GerryCase DARDEN-QA-0866-EDecision AnalysisThis case describes a common situation in old buildings, namely the decision as to whether intall an elevator. In this armchair case, we have an apartment building in Budapest with 3 towers, each containing 24 homeowners, with a possible interest in adding an elevator to each tower of the walk-up building. The case begins by discussing serveral ways to fairly distribute the cost if the elevators are approved. One way is an equal split. The second...Starting at €8.20
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Evaluating an Investment in Expansion (Spanish version)
Stafford, Erik; Heilprin, Joel L.; DeVolder, JeffreyCase HBS-411S17FinanceWhen students have the English-language PDF of this Brief Case in a coursepack, they will also have the option to purchase an audio version. A manufacturer of private-label personal care products must decide whether to fund an unprecedented expansion of manufacturing capacity. The decision prompts fundamental financial analysis of the potential project, including development of cash flow projections and net present value calculations. Students wi...Starting at €8.20
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Cost of Capital at Ameritrade (Spanish version)
Mitchell, Mark; Stafford, ErikCase HBS-203S18FinanceAmeritrade Holding Corp. is planning large marketing and technology investments to improve the company's competitive position in deep-discount brokerage by taking advantage of emerging economies of scale. In order to evaluate whether the strategy would generate sufficient future cash flows to merit the investment, Joe Ricketts, chairman and CEO of Ameritrade, needs an estimate of the project's cost of capital. There is considerable disagreement a...Starting at €8.20
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Strategic Capital Management, LLC (A) (Spanish version)
Stafford, Erik; Mitchell, Mark; Pulvino, ToddCase HBS-217S01FinanceStrategic Capital Management, LLC, is a hedge fund that is planning to make financial investments in Creative Computers and Ubid. Creative Computers recently sold approximately 20% of its Internet auction subsidiary, Ubid, to the public at $15 per share. Ubid's stock price closed the first day of trading at $48, giving Ubid a $439 million market capitalization. Paradoxically, the parent's stock price did not keep pace with that of its subsidiary....Starting at €8.20
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Harvard Management Company (2010) (Spanish version)
Perold, Andre F.; Stafford, ErikCase HBS-218S12FinanceIn February 2010, Jane Mendillo, CEO of Harvard Management Company, was reflecting on the list of issues facing Harvard University's endowment in preparation for the upcoming board meeting. The recent financial crisis had vividly highlighted several key issues including the adequacy of short-term liquidity, the effectiveness of portfolio risk management, and the balance of internal and external managers.Starting at €8.20
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Resolving Trade-Offs: From Simple Heuristics to Multicriteria Analysis
Baucells, ManelTechnical Note DARDEN-QA-0914-EDecision AnalysisThis note discusses a variety of methods to assist intuition in complex situations with multiple objectives and a potentially large set of alternatives. It begins with heuristic rules, which are relatively simple ways to sort out alternatives without thinking too much about trade-offs. After discussing the reliability of such rules, it moves to multicriteria analysis, which is a more rational method of balancing conflicting objectives.Starting at €8.20