Exam 5: B: Strategic Capacity Planning

Two professors at a nearby university want to co-author a new textbook in either economics or statistics.They feel that if they write an economics book,they have a 50 percent chance of placing it with a major publisher,and it should ultimately sell about 40,000 copies.If they can't get a major publisher to take it,then they feel they have an 80 percent chance of placing it with a smaller publisher,with ultimate sales of 30,000 copies.On the other hand,if they write a statistics book,they feel they have a 40 percent chance of placing it with a major publisher,and it should result in ultimate sales of about 50,000 copies.If they can't get a major publisher to take it,they feel they have a 50 percent chance of placing it with a smaller publisher,with ultimate sales of 35,000 copies.What is the expected value for the decision alternative to write the statistics book?

Influence diagrams represent complex situations with many random variables,but only one decision variable.

61A manager's staff has compiled the information below which pertains to four capacity alternatives. Values in the matrix are present value in thousands of dollars. If states of nature are equally likely and an expected value criterion of maximization is used, which alternative would be chosen?

The operations manager for a well-drilling company must recommend whether to build a new facility,expand his existing one,or do nothing.He estimates that long-run profits (in $000)will vary with the amount of precipitation (rainfall)as follows: If he feels the chances of low,normal,and high precipitation are 30%,20%,and 50%,respectively,what are expected long-run profits for the alternative he will select?

The head of operations for a movie studio wants to determine which of two new scripts they should select for their next major production.(Due to budgeting constraints,only one new picture can be undertaken at this time.)She feels that script #1 has a 70 percent chance of earning about $10,000,000 over the long run,but a 30 percent chance of losing $2,000,000.If this movie is successful,then a sequel could also be produced,with an 80 percent chance of earning $5,000,000,but a 20 percent chance of losing $1,000,000.On the other hand,she feels that script #2 has a 60 percent chance of earning $12,000,000,but a 40 percent chance of losing $3,000,000.If successful,its sequel would have a 50 percent chance of earning $8,000,000,but a 50 percent chance of losing $4,000,000.Of course,in either case,if the original movie were a "flop",then no sequel would be produced.What would be the total payoff if script #1 was a success,but its sequel was not?

Which of the following is not true about influence diagrams?

The advertising manager for Roadside Restaurants,Inc.needs to decide whether to spend this month's budget for advertising on print media,television,or a mixture of the two.Her goal is to minimize the costs associated with reaching her audience.She estimates that the cost per thousand "hits" (readers or viewers)will vary depending upon the success of the new cable television network she plans to use,as follows: For what range of probability that the new cable network will be successful will she select the mixed media strategy?

The owner of Tastee Cookies needs to decide whether to lease a small,medium,or large new retail outlet.She estimates that monthly profits will vary with demand for her cookies as follows: For what range of probability that demand will be high,will she decide to lease the medium facility?

The head of operations for a movie studio wants to determine which of two new scripts they should select for their next major production.(Due to budgeting constraints,only one new picture can be undertaken at this time.)She feels that script #1 has a 70 percent chance of earning about $10,000,000 over the long run,but a 30 percent chance of losing $2,000,000.If this movie is successful,then a sequel could also be produced,with an 80 percent chance of earning $5,000,000,but a 20 percent chance of losing $1,000,000.On the other hand,she feels that script #2 has a 60 percent chance of earning $12,000,000,but a 40 percent chance of losing $3,000,000.If successful,its sequel would have a 50 percent chance of earning $8,000,000,but a 50 percent chance of losing $4,000,000.Of course,in either case,if the original movie were a "flop",then no sequel would be produced.What is the probability that script #1 will be a success,but its sequel will not?

Influence diagrams contain more detailed information than decision trees.

The advertising manager for Roadside Restaurants,Inc.needs to decide whether to spend this month's budget for advertising on print media,television,or a mixture of the two.Her goal is to minimize the costs associated with reaching her audience.She estimates that the cost per thousand "hits" (readers or viewers)will vary depending upon the success of the new cable television network she plans to use,as follows: If she feels that there is a 60% chance that the new cable network will be successful,what is her expected cost (per thousand "hits")under certainty?

Decision trees are analyzed from left to right.

In a decision tree,square nodes represent chance events,and circular nodes denote decision points.

Typically the choice to "do nothing" based on a preference to stick with the status quo is not considered in the list of possible alternatives for a decision.

One local hospital has just enough space and funds presently available to start either a cancer or heart research lab.If administration decides on the cancer lab,there is a 20 percent chance of getting $100,000 in outside funding from the American Cancer Society next year,and an 80 percent chance of getting nothing.If the cancer research lab is funded the first year,no additional outside funding will be available the second year.However,if it is not funded the first year,then management estimates the chances are 50 percent it will get $100,000 the following year,and 50 percent that it will get nothing again.If,however,the hospital's management decides to go with the heart lab,then there's a 50 percent chance of getting $50,000 in outside funding from the American Heart Association the first year,and a 50 percent chance of getting nothing.If the heart lab is funded the first year,management estimates a 40 percent chance of getting another $50,000,and a 60 percent chance of getting nothing additional the second year.If it is not funded the first year,then management estimates a 60 percent chance for getting $50,000,and a 40 percent chance of getting nothing in the following year.For both the cancer and heart research labs,no further possible funding is anticipated beyond the first two years.What is the expected value for the decision alternative to select the cancer lab?

Decision trees are useful when there is more than one decision variable.

Graphical sensitivity analysis is used when the payoffs and probabilities of decision alternatives are uncertain.

The advertising manager for Roadside Restaurants,Inc.needs to decide whether to spend this month's budget for advertising on print media,television,or a mixture of the two.Her goal is to minimize the costs associated with reaching her audience.She estimates that the cost per thousand "hits" (readers or viewers)will vary depending upon the success of the new cable television network she plans to use,as follows: For what range of probability that the new cable network will be successful will she select the print media strategy?

Graphical sensitivity analysis is limited to cases with no more than two alternatives.

A manager has developed a payoff table that indicates the profits associated with a set of alternatives under two possible states of nature.Answer the following questions. (i)Determine the expected value of perfect information if P(S2)= .40. (ii)Determine the range of P(S2)for which each alternative would be optimal.