You Have Submitted a Request to the Board of Directors

question 53

Essay

You have submitted a request to the board of directors to purchase a computer-based patient record system. The system is anticipated to save $45,000 in personnel operating costs each year for the next 3 years and will cost $110,000 to install. Operating and maintenance costs for the 3 years are estimated to be $5000 per year. The money to buy the equipment would come from an equipment fund, which is now earning 8%. Should the new system be purchased? Why?

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Definitions:

Nash Equilibrium

A concept in game theory where no player can benefit by changing strategies while the other players keep theirs unchanged, indicating an optimal strategy set for all players.

Positive-Sum Game

In game theory, a game in which the gains (+) and losses (−) add up to more than zero; one party’s gains exceed the other party’s losses. A strategic interaction (game) between two or more parties (players) in which the winners’ gains exceed the losers’ losses so that the gains and losses sum to something positive.

Payoff Matrix

A table that shows the potential outcomes of different strategies in a strategic interaction, commonly used in game theory.

Oligopolistic Industry

A market structure characterized by a small number of large firms that dominate the market, often leading to limited competition and higher prices.