Question on Project Justification
Hi Edward,
I need your help:) Can you help me to understand the following question and why answer is 3%:
A company has to make a choice between two projects, because the available resources in money and kind are not sufficient to run both at the same time. Each project would take 9 months and would cost $250,000. The first project is a process optimization which would result in a cost reduction of $120,000 per year. This benefit would be achieved immediately after the end of the project.
The second project would be the development of a new product which could produce the following net profits after the end of the project:
1. year: $ 15,000
2. year: $ 125,000
3. year: $ 220,000Assumed is a discount rate of 5% per year. Looking at the present values of the benefits of these projects in the first 3 years, what is true?
- Both projects are equally attractive.
- The first project is more attractive by app. 7%.
- The second project is more attractive by app. 5%.
- The first project is more attractive by app. 3%.
Thanks you and wish you all the best!
Present Value of benefits for 1st project = 120000/[(1+0.05*0.75)(1+0.05)] + 120000/[(1+0.05*0.75)(1+0.05)(1+0.05)] + 120000/[(1+0.05*0.75)(1+0.05)(1+0.05)(1+0.05)] = 315355
Present Value of benefits for 2nd project = 15000/[(1+0.05*0.75)(1+0.05)] + 125000/[(1+0.05*0.75)(1+0.05)(1+0.05)] + 220000/[(1+0.05*0.75)(1+0.05)(1+0.05)(1+0.05)] = 306744
Percentage different between 1st and 2nd project = (315355 – 306744)/306744 ~= 3%
Maybe you have calculated the Net Present Value of these 2 projects and found out the different is way more than 3%.
Wish you PMP success!