480: Why approve investments with negative returns? (Strategy Skills classics)
Sep 4, 2024
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The discussion delves into the pitfalls of superficial financial analysis and why halting all unprofitable investments can harm a company's core. It highlights the strategic categorization of investments and the importance of evaluating them beyond immediate cash flow. Additionally, the podcast explores how accepting short-term losses in a broader portfolio can lead to long-term growth, especially in government projects. The conversation emphasizes critical thinking in investment decisions and the complex interplay between short-term setbacks and overall economic benefits.
Investment decisions should focus on overall portfolio dynamics rather than solely on individual project profitability to foster long-term benefits.
State-owned enterprises may need to accept short-term losses to support broader economic opportunities that align with their strategic vision.
Deep dives
Understanding Portfolio Analysis in Investment Decisions
Investment decisions should not solely focus on individual project profitability but rather consider the overall portfolio dynamics. In complex projects, some initiatives may intentionally operate at a loss to support others that will generate substantial returns. For instance, the establishment of necessary infrastructure like roads and electricity may initially incur losses but are crucial for enabling the success of more profitable ventures, such as industrial facilities. This approach allows for a holistic view of investments, where short-term losses can lead to long-term benefits within the overall economic framework.
The Role of Strategic Decision-Making in Public Enterprises
When evaluating initiatives within state-owned enterprises, it's essential to assess not only their immediate financial returns but also the broader economic impact they facilitate. State organizations may need to accept certain losses to foster partnerships that yield greater economic opportunities, as seen in the example of utilities investing in infrastructure to support industrial operations. Engaging with managers of losing initiatives provides insight into their strategic importance and whether they contribute to the larger vision of economic development. Ultimately, understanding the interconnectedness of projects helps to determine which initiatives should be maintained, even if they currently appear unprofitable.
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Strategic Investment Categorization and Evaluation
For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from the Corporate Strategy & Transformation study.
In this podcast, we look at the problem of superficial financial analysis. One way to save the client money, before they run out of cash in about 16 months, is to stop all investments which lose money. This, however, is a terrible idea that will cause enormous damage to the client’s core business, consumers, and the economy. We discuss how we handle this recommendation and what we proposed in the study to fix the problem.