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1.3 ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING & DECISION MAKING. INTRODUCTION TO DECISION TREES (HIGHER LEVEL CONTENT). DECISION TREES Often feature in HL Exams!!. A decision tree is a diagram setting out the key features of a decision making problem Examiners really like decision trees.
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1.3 ORGANIZATIONAL PLANNING & DECISION MAKING INTRODUCTION TO DECISION TREES (HIGHER LEVEL CONTENT)
DECISION TREES Often feature in HL Exams!! • A decision tree is a diagram setting out the key features of a decision making problem • Examiners really like decision trees. • Setting a decision tree question is relatively easy and can be adapted to most papers and time frames. • There are also two obvious follow-up questions. • First, candidates may be asked to examine the advantages and disadvantages of using decision trees. • Secondly a student may be required to examine non-numerate or additional information, other than that on a decision tree. This information can be used to support a decision.
Decision Trees Can Look Complicated! • Students are sometimes worried by decision trees because they look complicated and contain plenty of information and lots of numbers. • The thing to remember when learning to construct and interpret decision trees, is that they merely repeat the same process over and over again through the diagram. • When you start with a basic process, the decision tree suddenly begins to look easier to manage.
CONSTRUCTING A DECISION TREE • Decision trees are particularly helpful in situations supporting complex business decisions or problems, involving more than one decision. • A decision is constructed from left to right with events laid out in the sequence which they occur, but the calculation of financial results is always from right to left
CONSTRUCTING A DECISION TREESquares • Squares represent decision pointswhich are under the control of the business. • The lines that come out of each square show all the available options that can be selected.
The Option of Doing Nothing • Although doing nothing may not have an immediate direct cost, it certainly may have a negative outcome. • A failing business left to carry on failing may end up with bankruptcy of the owner and liquidation of the business, unless some miracle happens.
CONSTRUCTING A DECISION TREECircles • Circles represent probability or chance nodes. • These show various circumstances that have uncertain outcomes. • The lines that come out of each circle denote possible outcomes of that uncontrollable circumstance.
How does a business establish the probability of an event happening? • It is difficult to establish accurate probabilities of an event, especially if that event is beyond the control of the business itself. • However, estimates of probability can be achieved through market research or experience. • Nevertheless, the fact that probabilities may be little more than educated guesses is clearly a weakness of the decision tree process.
An Outcome or Financial Return with Decision Trees • Each branch of the decision tree will have an outcome or financial return. • Success of product A will increase profit by $20 million. • Success of product B will increase profit by $30 million. • Failure of Product A will lead to a loss of $2 million. • Failure of Product B will only increase profits by $6 million.
Average Outcome Calculations with Decision Trees • A calculation is required of the average outcome given the probabilities. • This is a weighted average, because the outcome is multiplied by the probability of that result happening. • In decision trees, these are referred to as expected values (EVs) and are shown at every probability node.
AN EXAMPLE OF A BASIC DECISION TREE
Calculations to Understand the Decision Tree NODE 1: CALCULATION OF EV Step 1: Outcome x Probability $20 m x 0.8 = $16 million ($2 m) x 0.2 = ($0.4 million) Step 2: Weighted Average The EV (or weighted average) is shown by adding the two results together EV = $16 m + ($.04 million) = $15.6 million NODE 2: CALCULATION OF EV Step 1: Outcome x ProbabilityStep 2: Weighted Averaged $30 million x 0.7 = $21 million $21 million + 1.8 million = $22.8 million $6 million x 0.3 = $1.8 million
Which outcome / product is best? Product A • To achieve an EV of $15.6 million, the business has had to spend $10 million. Therefore the, cost must be deducted from the EV to find the final profit. (net EV) • $15.6 million - $10 million = $5.6 million (net EV) Product B • To achieve an EV of $22.8 million, the business had to spend $15 million. Therefore the cost must be deducted from the EV to find the final profit. • $22.8 million - $15 million = $7.8 million (net EV)
OUTCOME ACTIVITY Using the information in this diagram, complete appropriate calculations to determine which product should be launched by the company. PRODUCT A Or PRODUCT B?? $30 m 0.7 ($20 million) $ 3 m 0.3 $40 m 0.6 ($30 million) $1 m 0.4