Use of Cost Benefit Analysis to Maximize
Revenue and Profit
Introduction of Cost Benefit Analysis to
Maximize Revenue and Profit
Managers take several decisions
in an organization to keep an organization sustainable and outpacing in the
competitive market. A cost benefit analysis is used to analyze the decision
that how could be use for the benefits in the different situation associated
with the cost. It could be used by experts that methods are used to get the
cost benefits. They make decisions regarding project selection and product
selection to identify and select the most suitable one. There are different
problems which could be faced by the management while implementing the cost
benefits analysis in the organization which are used to reduce to gain these
benefits. For this purpose, they consider several factors in their analysis.
For instance, how much cost is inquired by the project or product introduction
and how much potential each option has to produce financial benefits for the company?
Cost benefit analysis method is the best option for project selection. The
present work is about the use of cost benefit analysis in an organization to
maximize its revenue and profit outcomes over the selected time duration. In
the present work, research findings and information extracted from the
literature review is presented in detail as well as there may be some problems
regarding the company project. Moreover, present work contains an analysis of
an example about ABC Company.
Cost
Benefit Analysis for Revenue and Profit Maximization
Cost benefit analysis is an
important tool in the project or business management. Manager of an
organization devises this tool to ensure evaluation of costs associated with
the Manager of an organization devises this tool to ensure evaluation of costs
associated with the operations as well as benefits of these operations. operations
as well as benefits of these operations. Regarding this, they cater a list of
all linked expenditures and allocated cost of operations. After this, they
collect data about expected sales in the same time duration to determine the
value of profit or benefit. The benefit can be calculated by using any
technique such as internal rate of return (IRR), return on investment (ROI),
payback period (PP), and net present value (NPV).Following research findings,
organizational management calculates a net present value (NPV) and the payback
period of the available list of projects to understand the actual return of a
project. However, such techniques are preferable for complex situations only.
For example, if a project relates to more than one year duration then the value
of returns will also get influence from the change in interest rate, inflation
rate, and currency value (appreciation or depreciation of the currency).
Therefore, managers also apply techniques concerning with time value of money
to get the exact idea about the benefit of a project.
Cost benefit analysis considers this
requirement and provides a clear overview of the possible benefit ratio from
all available projects based on calculated NPV. For instance, if an
organization is interested to invest in a project with a useful life of 5
years, then while conducting cost benefit analysis, managers will also
calculate the increase or decrease in the value of money over the selected time
duration. Based on this analysis it is possible that managers may conclude that
a project (A) with relatively higher time span (5 years) is less beneficial for
the company as compared to the project (B) with lower time span (2 years) even when the project (A) has a
higher value of cost benefit ratio in simple CBA analysis. A key reason behind
this is relatively minor changes in the money value for 2 years in comparison
to
changes recorded in the money
value of the project with 5 years lifespan. Therefore, using this cost benefit
analysis technique managers of an organization can better decide about the
profit of available projects.
Furthermore, managers also use
cost benefit analysis to calculate possible revenue of a project or available
alternative projects while deciding the matter of selection. Moreover,
regarding economic cost benefit analysis decision makers also calculate
marginal costs on product quantity and offered prices(Enviroliteracy.org, 2020)(Campbell & Brown, 2003)(Annema, Frenken, Koopmans, & Kroesen, 2016). See the presented
below graph for cost benefit analysis in the determining product price at
quantity.
Figure 1
Cost Benefit Analysis
Source: http://www.economicsdiscussion.net/cost/cost-benefit-analysis/cost-benefit-analysis-with-diagram/13147
Problem
/Case Overview of
Cost Benefit Analysis to Maximize Revenue and Profit
To elaborate on the use of cost
benefit analysis a problem or case is developed. The case relates to a service
providing company <<ABC Company>>. ABC Company works in the IT
sector with limited resources and targeted market. This could be easy to
implement but there is also some problems which must be identified in the IT
department. However, gradual success in the business encouraged the
administration of the company to introduce a new project regarding business
expansion with the purpose to increase sales revenue. Considering this goal,
the company has identified two projects (project A and project B) for one-year
duration only. Managers require selecting the project with higher chances of
profit and sales.
Available Alternative Projects
of Cost Benefit
Analysis to Maximize Revenue and Profit
Project
A is about the presentation of new IT benefits in the equivalent focused on
advertise. In spite of, administrations would identify with advanced showcasing
in this manner the organization would require more asset for the usage of the
arrangement. Secret weapons incorporate equipment and programming and HR. A
normal expense of required equipment and programming is around 15,000. While
the normal increment in income and extra deals income are around 340,000
(yearly). Task B is tied in with propelling new administrations of site traffic
the board. Task B will require more assets of equipment and programming when
contrasted with venture A. A normal expense of equipment and programming is
around 20000. Be that as it may, different costs, for example, wages, pay
rates, and enlisting cost are the equivalent for the two undertakings (150,000
and 20,000 separately). Some way or another, the normal income and extra deals
income are around $280,000 for venture B.
Objectives
of Cost Benefit Analysis of Cost Benefit Analysis to Maximize Revenue and
Profit
Based on this cost and benefit
analysis we can determine whether a decision is favourable for the company or
not? Mainly there are two main purposes behind cost and benefit analysis which
is enlisted below:
1)
The
first purpose of cost benefit analysis is to determine whether a project is
feasible and justifiable by figuring out benefits outweigh costs.
2)
The
second key purpose of cost benefit analysis is toprovide a baseline for all
available projects in an organization to determine or select the project with
greater benefits in comparison to the cost and other projects.
Steps and Stages in Cost Benefit
Analysis of Cost Benefit Analysis to Maximize Revenue and Profit
Cost benefit analysis is simple
to take for the project management teams and organizational management. The key
steps to be taken for the cost benefit analysis are presented below:
1)
The
first step is to develop goals and objectives for the project. Goals
development is important to get a clear and definite idea regarding the
project.
2)
Select
alternative project options meeting with the pre-defined project objectives and
goals.
3)
Identify
key stakeholders for the project and determine their interest in the project.
It will support the project or business management team to select the project
with the most required outcomes.
4)
The
next step is to measure and determine all costs associated with the project and
available alternative project options. Proper identification can provide a
realistic overview of the possible project outcomes in monetary terms.
5)
The
next step of cost and benefit analysis is to calculate the outcomes of the project
in terms of benefits. Here in this step, management needs to calculate revenue
and sales of the project or business idea over the selected time period.
6)
The
next step is optional. Here managers need to make sure all values of cost and
benefit are in the same currency.
7)
The
next stage is to use different techniques for the calculations of discounted
benefits and costs associated with the projects.
8)
Now
managers can perform sensitivity analysis to conclude the possible impact of
uncertainties.
9)
In
the last step, managers are required to recommend the preferred alternative or
most suitable project for the company.
Calculations and Results of Cost
Benefit Analysis
Following these steps and
information, cost benefit analysis is taken for the ABC organization.The
following will represent the calculation of cost benefit analysis. For
instance, ABC Company has two available projects to start for the goal of an
increase in sales revenue. The cost benefit analysis of both projects will be
calculated as:
Project A
|
Project B
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
Benefits
|
|
Benefits
|
|
Increase in Revenue
|
300000
|
Increase in Revenue
|
260000
|
Increase in Additional Sales Revenue
|
40000
|
Increase in Additional Sales Revenue
|
20000
|
Total Benefits
|
340000
|
Total Benefits
|
280000
|
|
|
|
|
Costs
|
|
Costs
|
|
Salary and Wages
|
150000
|
Salary and Wages
|
150000
|
Hiring Cost
|
20000
|
Hiring Cost
|
20000
|
Hardware and Software
|
15000
|
Hardware and Software
|
20000
|
Total Cost
|
185000
|
Total Cost
|
190000
|
Cost Benefit Ratio
|
1.837838
|
Cost Benefit Ratio
|
1.473684
|
In the above presented table of
cost benefit analysis, both projects have almost the same total cost (185000,
and 190000) of project activities execution. The only difference between the
cost is caused by a difference of $5000 in hardware and software purchase cost
of both projects. Somehow, cost benefit analysis represents that still project A
is a better option for the organization as compared to project B. According to
the research and literature review, a better cost benefit ratio is more
beneficial for the company as compared to the lower ratio of cost benefit
analysis. Relating to this, it can be said that project A with 1.83 ratios is a
more suitable or better option than project B with 1.47 cost benefit ratio. See
the presented below graph representing cost and benefit lines for both projects
A and B.
According to research cost and
benefit analysis support in the maximization of revenue and sales in an
organization. For instance, in the above stated table, project managers and
organization selected the project with higher cost benefit ratio that indicates
higher profitability for the company over the period. In general, cost benefit
analysis enables the management to select the project or option that deliver
them more profit and revenue. Excluding the above example, managers also
consider other important details regarding return and benefit while analyzing
the cost and benefits of a project. Nevertheless, in this case, project
duration was limited to one year only, therefore, change in money value will
not generate a higher impact on project profit. Therefore, ABC Company only
requires simple cost benefit analysis for its project selection rather than
requiring NPV, and payback period calculations.
According to the research cost
benefit analysis has some advantages and disadvantages that should be
considered by the managers or business initiators while deciding a matter base
upon cost benefit analysis.
Advantages of Cost Benefit Analysis to
Maximize Revenue and Profit:
1)
Cost
benefit analysis is the most simple and easy to understand the technique for
the calculation of profit or benefits(Suman, 2020).
2)
Cost
benefit analysis is a reliable approach to calculate benefits in a fixed budget
scenario.
3)
Cost
benefit analysis can be used for the calculation of tangible and intangible
benefits (both).
Disadvantages (limitations)
of Cost Benefit
Analysis to Maximize Revenue and Profit:
The major limitations or
disadvantages of cost benefit analysis are enlisted below:
1)
Cost
benefit analysis fails to provide realist results for subjective values and
analysis.
2)
Cost
benefit analysis ignores opportunity cost in the decision making process.
3)
Externalities
related problem is also a major limitation of cost benefit analysis technique.
Recommendations
for Profit and Revenue Maximization
In
this section, some recommendations are presented which relates to the above
discussion.
1)
First
of all, managers of an organization should consider the time duration or
lifespan of a project while deciding to use cost benefit analysis and any other
technique for project selection.
2)
Secondly,
managers or decision makers should consider the time value of money for the
projects if it relates to more than one year duration (or any time duration
that contributed significant changes for money value).
Conclusion
of Cost Benefit
Analysis to Maximize Revenue and Profit
The whole discussion concludes
that cost and benefit analysis is the important evaluation method used by the
organizations to select a project or an option for the business. Cost and
benefit analysis make decision making process easy for the managers and other
decision makers. Managers also use cost benefit analysis to calculate possible
revenue of a project or available alternative projects while deciding the
matter of selection. Moreover, regarding economic cost benefit analysis
decision makers also calculate marginal costs on product quantity and offered
prices. There are objectives which are explained in the paper to gain the
benefits in the company within the project cost. One of the advantages of
utilizing net present an incentive for settling on a venture is that it
utilizes an elective pace of return that could be earned if the task had never
been finished. That arrival is limited from the outcomes. At the end of the
day, the venture needs to procure in any event beyond what the pace of return
that could be earned somewhere else or the markdown rate. An example of ABC
Company was requiring the selection of a project to increase its sales revenue
or profit in one year duration. Cost benefit analysis taken for ABC Company
concluded that project A with higher cost benefit ratio is a suitable option to
increase sales revenue and profit. Conclusively, the analysis represents that
revenue and profit can be increased by the wise selection of projects using
cost benefit analysis.
References of Cost Benefit Analysis to Maximize Revenue
and Profit
Annema, J. A., Frenken, K., Koopmans, C., &
Kroesen, M. (2016). Relating cost-benefit analysis results with transport
project decisions in the Netherlands. Letters in Spatial and Resource
Sciences, 10, 109-127.
Campbell, H. F., & Brown, R. P. (2003). Benefit-Cost
Analysis: Financial and Economic Appraisal Using Spreadsheets. Cambridge
University Press.
Enviroliteracy.org. (2020). Cost Benefit Analysis.
Retrieved from enviroliteracy.org: https://enviroliteracy.org/environment-society/economics/cost-benefit-analysis/
Suman, S. (2020). Cost Benefit Analysis (with
Diagram). Retrieved from www.economicsdiscussion.net:
http://www.economicsdiscussion.net/cost/cost-benefit-analysis/cost-benefit-analysis-with-diagram/13147