Napoleon Is Contemplating Four Institutions of Higher Learning as Options

question 98

Multiple Choice

Napoleon is contemplating four institutions of higher learning as options for a Masters in Business Administration. Each university has strong and weak points and the demand for MBA graduates is uncertain. The availability of jobs, student loans, and financial support will have a significant impact on Napoleon's ultimate decision. Vanderbilt and Seattle University have comparatively high tuition, which would necessitate Napoleon take out student loans resulting in possibly substantial student loan debt. In a tight market, degrees with that cachet might spell the difference between a hefty paycheck and a piddling unemployment check. Northeastern State University and Texas Tech University hold the advantage of comparatively low tuition but a more regional appeal in a tight job market. Napoleon gathers his advisory council of Kip and Pedro to assist with the decision. Together they forecast three possible scenarios for the job market and institutional success and predict annual cash flows associated with an MBA from each institution. All cash flows in the table are in thousands of dollars.
$$\begin{array} { | l | c | c | c | } \hline \text { School } & \text { Scenario 1 } & \text { Scenario 2 } & \text { Scenario 3 } \\\hline \text { Vanderbilt } & 95 & 20 & - 10 \\\hline \text { Texas Tech } & 55 & 60 & 60 \\\hline \text { Seattle } & 90 & 10 & 80 \\\hline \text { Northeastern State } & 65 & 50 & 60 \\\hline\end{array}$$
-Under which decision making criterion is Texas Tech University the optimal decision?

• A) maximax
• B) maximin
• C) minimax regret
• D) equally likely

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Definitions:

Underapplied

A condition where allocated manufacturing overhead for a period is less than the actual overhead incurred, causing unabsorbed overhead costs.

Job-Order Costing System

A cost accounting system that assigns costs to specific batches or job orders, making it easier to track the cost of producing each item or batch.

Overapplied

Occurs when the allocated manufacturing costs exceed the actual manufacturing costs incurred.

Underapplied

Refers to a situation where the allocated or applied costs in an accounting period are less than the actual costs incurred.