MT631
LECTURE # 6
OUTLINE


"Evaluating Alternatives" Phase of the Decision Making Process

Requires that the evaluative criteria be established
  • What are the goals of the analysis?
  • Maximize gains, minimize losses, avoid extremes?
  • The rules by which objective comparisons can be made
  • These vary in terms of the quality of available measurements

List alternative courses of action to the stated problem drawing upon available
information that is relevant to that problem

The overall purpose of the analysis is to select from the listed alternatives the one
alternative that is "best" by those accepted criteria


Decision Making as a Process of Resolving Choice Dilemmas

The simple BEP
  • A means of defining "free" choice and by extention defining "forced" choice
  • As a special case of the general class of indifference point calculations
  • Given its derivation (from the profit equation) BEP defined as:
    • Where profit = 0
    • The point of fixed cost recovery
    • FC/(P-VC)....(note the demoniator is the contribution margin)
    • The minimum technical requirement for feasibility
      • Fixed profit targets
      • Per unit profit targets
  • Is generally measured in units but can also be calculated in volumes, shares
    or minimum account size (among other measures)
  • Numeric example

BEP Extended to Multiple Product Lines (A weighted average process)
  • Numeric example

Extending the Notion of Indifference to Establish Preferences Ranges for
Multiple Alternatives
  • Non-viable alternatives
  • Redundant points of indifference
  • Numeric examples

Conditions for a Choice Dilemma
  • Multiple viable alternatives
  • Evaluative Criteria
  • Changing ranges of preference

Matrices as a Presentation Format for Choice Dilemmas
  • A discreet interval representation of the basic graphic model
  • Columns = "States of Nature" (our uncontrollables)
    • Must be mutally exclusive of one another
    • If not collectively exhaustive,
        at least spanning a wide array of possibilities
  • Rows = "Alternatives" (our controllables)
    • Representation of Marketing Programs
        (complete tactics to address problem)
  • Cells = "Outcomes"
    • Profits
    • Costs
    • Opportunity Losses
  • Shaded cells to depict the "line of preference"
  • Numeric example
  • Matrix extensions to qualitative applications
    • The contingency matrix and environmental monitoring

Moving from a Descriptive to a Decision Format
  • Invoking estimations of likihood (Expected Values)
    • Defined
    • Sources


The Republic National Bank Case in-class Discussion

General background and pre-Now Accounts situation
  • Market position (Dominant share in terms of size)
  • Existing positioning strategy
    • Benefits (Image and social contribution)
    • Costs (60+% of depositors below BEP)
  • Nature of the Now account threat
    • Redefines the nature of deposits business
    • Monetary value "at risk" with How accounts = $7.5 million

Setting the RNB Delimma into a Decision Matrix
  • Non-viable cells
  • Cell analysis
    • The extreme scenarios
    • Improving the analysis - Loyalty, Inertia,...
  • Making lemonade

Ethical issues


The listings above are to provide structural assistance to your study.
They are not attended to be inclusive of every item/topic that was presented
in the lecture period.