Sunk costs
Your company is in the process of deciding whether to continue with Project A or terminate it and begin Project B instead. You have already invested 12 months and $100,000 on Project A. It will take another 24 months and $50,000 to complete it. Project B is actually a better solution since the end product will result in a greater long-term savings. However, it will take 18 months and $250,000 to complete. Additionally, all time and money spent on Project A already would be wasted. Which project should the company chose?
A. Project A because the company has already spent 12 months and $100,000
B. Project A because it is still more inexpensive than Project B
C. Project B because time and money spent on Project A is irrelevant to the decision
D. Project B because it can be completed in less time than Project A
Answer: C. Project B because time and money spent on Project A is irrelevant to the decision
When a decision is being made from a cost perspective, expended (or sunk) costs are ignored. The goal is to make the best decision regardless of what paths were taken prior to that point in time.
0 Comments