Transcribed Image Text
Students in ISDS 3711 are introduced to different quantitativetools. They practice how to apply these tools, how to formulateproblems and how to solve them using Excel and different Exceladd-ins in the HW assignments. Problems in HW assignments aretypically well structured. The students are told which tool theyshould apply and they are provided with the data that they need.These structured HW assignments do not teach students how toapproach an unstructured decision situation where it is not clearwhich tools to apply and which information to collect. Thefollowing HW assignment has been developed as a way for students topractice these important skills.The assignment is based on the Case: Project PortfolioManagement at XYZ Pharma that was developed at London School ofEconomics. The case describes the R&D project selection andprioritization problem at a major pharmaceutical company, arecurrent issue of strategic importance to the company. Studentswill not be asked to conduct an actual quantitative analysis but tostart thinking about how they would frame the project, whichquantitative tools they might use and which information tocollect.Students will work on this assignment individually. They will beasked to read the case and then answer the following questions. Wedo not ask the students to actually conduct a quantitative analysisbut we ask them to formulate the problem in the context aquantitative analysis.Part 1 – Framing the Project Portfolio ManagementProblemDevelop a decision framework for project portfolio management atXYZ:What are the objectives?What are the constraints?What are the risks involved?What are your alternatives?What information is required for project portfolio management atXYZ and how can it be collected?Part 2 – Project ValuationBefore thinking about appropriate portfolio decisions, the valueof each project in the portfolio needs to be determined. How wouldyou determine the value of the following project (‘Project 1’) inXYZ’s portfolio, a project in the pre-clinical phase, part of theOncology therapeutic area? What additional information would youcollect? Which quantitative tool(s) might help you in determiningthe value of the project?Project 1Phase Pre-ClinicalLaunch Year 2009Probability of Technical Success 5%Net Sales (if success) $4,753 millionPre-launch costs (including R&D cost) $152 millionPart 3 – Project RiskWhen implementing project 1, you face technical and market risk.How would you assess the risks embedded in Project 1? Whatadditional information would you collect? Which quantitativetool(s) might help you in determining the project risk?Part 4 – Project Portfolio DecisionsSuppose that next year’s R&D budget for the oncology areahas been reduced to $50 million. How would you decide whichprojects to continue, and which to put on hold? What additionalinformation would you collect? Which quantitative tool(s) mighthelp you in determining the best portfolio?
Other questions asked by students
1. Given that the random variable X is normally distributed with a mean of 30 and...
Why is it important to set boundaries in your individual and group work experiences? Relate a...
2 Coefficient of volumetric expansion a is not a constant It depends on temperature Variation...
Convert the following to exponential form p 1 log2 4y Select one a 2P 4y...
Below is the data for the exam scores of a sample of 9 students The...
cos x 2 1 QUESTION 3 2 points Find the derivative of f x In...
On January 1. Marble Trucking purchased a used Kenworth truck at...