個案總覽

This technical note, which presents an overview of the global water and food supply problem at the turn of the 21st century, is a good starting point for a discussion of the environmental and agricultural crises that exist throughout the world, and covers some of the potential solutions to these crises.

An introduction to the concept of exchange rates, simple analytics regarding currency appreciation and devaluation, and real and nominal exchange rates. Concludes with a series of examples that illustrate how shifts in exchange rates and inflation can affect firms' competitiveness.

This case describes how multiple sources of uncertainty can be incorporated into a real-options-based analysis. It works through an example of a two-stage problem where a company has both an option to explore and an option to develop oil reserves.

Discounted cash flow valuation calls for using expected future prices of inputs or outputs. This case describes the relationship between spot prices, forward/future prices, and expected future prices. Knowing current forward and future prices alone is not enough to estimate expected future prices, so the forward or future prices are not in general a good estimate of the expected future price.

The flows-to-equity or equity cash flows valuation method is a discounted cash flow method used to estimate the equity portion of the capital structure. It is closely related to the venture capital/buyout valuation method, which estimates the IRR of the stream of cash flows accruing to equity holders. Both of these methods are likely to result in an estimate of equity value that is too low when the firm's debt is risky (or, equivalently, an IRR that is too high, depending on the method used to estimate terminal value). This case describes a method for estimating the size of this bias, drawing insight from option-pricing.

Power is the potential to mobilize energy. This rather neutral definition does not address the issues of how to exercise power or to what ends. The answers to these questions determine the ultimate value of an individual's power. This note is written to help readers analyze the social system in which their power exists and their influence will be used. Following the guidelines presented, a careful analysis of the social system in which an individual operates, and an assessment of that individual's desires and objectives within the social system, may help maximize the development of power and the effective use of influence.

This note addresses inventory-planning and -control activities using periodic-review systems. The reorder point system is addressed in a separate technical note (UVA-OM-0936).

Discusses some of the fundamental issues of valuation in venture capital deals. Examines topics not necessarily limited to venture capital-backed companies, but that frequently surface in entrepreneurial companies that are financed either by venture capitalists or other private equity investors. Covers five sections: (1) introduces the so-called venture capital method, (2) examines the problem of determining the terminal value, (3) examines the treatment of risk, (4) examines how to determine the funding requirements and the ways of dealing with multiple financing rounds, and (5) discusses briefly the use of these methods in actual negotiations.

While business-to-consumer e-commerce (B2C) has garnered the most public attention of any online business sector, business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce is proving to account for a much larger slice of the economic pie. A significant portion of B2B e-commerce transactions will occur through online marketplaces called B2B exchanges. The objective of this technical note is to provide an understanding of these exchanges, including their organizational and revenue models.

Describes the power of word-of-mouth referral for service organizations. Illustrates a process to help students and/or managers calculate the value of word-of-mouth and develop ways to influence (i.e. increase) it.

Discusses the value of service recovery to service organizations working to enhance customer loyalty. Also provides practical advice to managers and examines strategies proven helpful to service organizations in their recovery objectives.

This technical note provides a pedagogical overview of management communication for MBA education.

This technical note provides a pedagogical overview of management communication for MBA education

This technical note provides a thorough overview of real-estate investment trusts (REITs). Created to promote and facilitate widespread public ownership of commercial real estate, REITs are companies that own real-estate properties or mortgages and that operate within certain guidelines, allowing them to qualify for REIT status. Focusing primarily on equity REITs, the note covers a broad range of issues, including valuation and its many drivers, and also examines the advantages of REIT ownership versus property ownership. The note concludes with a discussion of the future of REITs.

Technology strategy for a diversified corporation must be developed consistently with the general strategies of the individual business units and the corporation as a whole. Among the issues covered in this note are the level of R&D spending, allocation of resources to technology programs, trade-offs between long-term and short-term projects, the balance of product and process development, and R&D efforts aimed at further diversification. Various organizational and analytical approaches to the development of technology strategy are outlined.

This note illustrates and illuminates key concepts in service excellence. It summarizes and highlights key thinking and action in the service industry. It is designed to be used with "Manor" (UVA-OM-0751).

This note defines the aggregate production planning problem and outlines the elements that are analyzed when evaluating alternative plans. An example is presented.

This technical note defines and provides example calculations for certain process analysis concepts-capacity, bottleneck, cycle time, throughput time, Little's Law-relating inventory, throughput time, and throughput rate.

This technical note describes a technique, F(X) Cascade, for determining the potential benefits of implementing a six-sigma improvement project. An integral part of the "define" stage in the DMAIC methodology is quantifying the sources of costs of defects and variability. The F(X) Cascade is one structured approach to this analysis.

Competitive cost analysis, a method for analyzing the cost structure of two competing companies, represents a strategic application of cost modeling. The first note in this three-part series on competitive cost analysis identified the basic conceptual framework and principles for developing accurate and comprehensive cost models with four categories of cost drivers -- design, facility, geography, and execution. The framework coupled with cost-modeling techniques can help the operations analyst/consultant achieve the quantitative rigor required to ensure solid operations decisions at the strategic and tactical level. This note provides a general discussion of four specific tools that will further assist in analyzing cost drivers for competitive analysis. These techniques include teardown analysis, public data sources, scale curve and utilization curve. The final note in this three-part series will provide step-by-step guidance on estimating scale curves and calculating utilization impact.