Introduction to Management Science 12th Edition by Bernard Taylor

Exercise 17

Suntrek in Problem estimates that the probabilities of future changes in global logistics costs are 0.09 that they will decrease, 0.27 that they will remain the same, and 0.64 that they will increase. Determine the best supplier for the company using expected value.
Problem
Suntrek, a global apparel company, is adding a new supplier for denim fabric that it uses to manufacture denim jeans, and the suppliers it's considering are located near the ports of Shanghai, Mumbai, Manila, Santos, and Veracruz. A major factor in the company's decision is transportation and shipping costs, which are dependent on several factors including port traffic, container costs, and future oil prices. The following payoff table summarizes the total monthly shipping costs (in $100,000s) for the suppliers in each of the ports, given the future state of related logistics costs.
Determine the best decision using each of the following criteria.
a. Minimin
b. Minimax
c. Equal likelihood
d. Minimax regret