Learn Before
Critiquing a Business Decision
A small bakery owner is considering two mutually exclusive projects to boost revenue:
- Project A: Invest $10,000 in a new espresso machine and coffee program, projected to increase annual profit by $8,000.
- Project B: Spend $3,000 on a local marketing campaign, projected to increase annual profit by $4,000.
The owner determines that Project A is the superior choice and proceeds with it. However, they do not explicitly identify or evaluate Project B as their fallback plan. Six months later, the espresso machine requires an unexpected, costly repair that is not covered by warranty, significantly reducing the actual profit from Project A to only $3,000 for the year.
Critique the owner's initial decision-making process. In your evaluation, explain the importance of the owner's next-best alternative and how a more thorough consideration of it could have led to a different conclusion, both initially and after the unexpected repair costs.
0
1
Tags
Social Science
Empirical Science
Science
Economics
Economy
Introduction to Microeconomics Course
CORE Econ
Ch.6 The firm and its employees - The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Evaluation in Bloom's Taxonomy
The Economy 2.0 Microeconomics @ CORE Econ
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
Related
A freelance graphic designer is offered a project that will pay $1,500 and take two weeks to complete. The designer's only other work opportunity for that same two-week period is a series of smaller tasks for a regular client that would pay a total of $1,200. The designer finds the $1,500 project more interesting and decides to accept it. Based on this information, what is the designer's reservation option?
Identifying the Reservation Option
Analyzing a Choice with a Reservation Option
A company is considering upgrading its software system. The new system costs $50,000 but is projected to increase annual profits by $20,000. The company's other options are to continue using the current system, which has no new costs but also no new profit, or to switch to a different, cheaper software that costs $10,000 and is projected to increase annual profits by $12,000. The company decides to purchase the new $50,000 system. Based on this information, the company's reservation option is to continue using the current system.
Calculating the Value of a Reservation Option
An individual is deciding between three mutually exclusive options for the summer:
- A full-time internship that pays a total of $5,000.
- Working a local job that pays a total of $4,000.
- Taking an unpaid research position that offers valuable experience but no income.
The individual determines that the internship is their best option and the local job is their second-best option. If the pay for the local job suddenly increases to $5,500, how does this change affect the economic evaluation of the individual's choice?
A student is deciding how to spend their spring break. They have several options:
- Go on a trip to Florida with friends, which they value the most. The trip costs $800.
- Work a temporary job earning $600. They consider this their second-best option.
- Stay home and study for exams, which they consider their third-best option.
The student chooses to go on the trip to Florida. Match each element of the scenario to its correct economic description.
Critiquing a Business Decision
Analyzing Economic Surplus
Strategic Business Relocation
A Graduate's Decision with a Lower-than-Expected Wage Offer
Reservation Wage as the Indifference Point for Job Acceptance