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Stochastic Decision Trees for the Analysis of Investment Decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Richard F. Hespos

    (McKinsey and Company, Inc., New York)

  • Paul A. Strassmann

    (National Dairy Products Corporation, New York)

Abstract

This paper describes an improved method for investment decision making. The method, which is called the stochastic decision tree method, is particularly applicable to investments characterized by high uncertainty and requiring a sequence of related decisions to be made over a period of time. The stochastic decision tree method builds on concepts used in the risk analysis method and the decision tree method of analyzing investments. It permits the use of subjective probability estimates or empirical frequency distributions for some or all factors affecting the decision. This application makes it practicable to evaluate all or nearly all feasible combinations of decisions in the decision tree, taking account of both expected value of return and aversion to risk, thus arriving at an optimal or near optimal set of decisions. Sensitivity analysis of the model can highlight factors that are critical because of high leverage on the measure of performance, or high uncertainty, or both. The method can be applied relatively easily to a wide variety of investment situations, and is ideally suited for computer simulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard F. Hespos & Paul A. Strassmann, 1965. "Stochastic Decision Trees for the Analysis of Investment Decisions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(10), pages 244-259, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:11:y:1965:i:10:p:b244-b259
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.11.10.B244
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kash Barker & Kaycee J. Wilson, 2012. "Decision Trees with Single and Multiple Interval-Valued Objectives," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 9(4), pages 348-358, December.
    2. Heidenberger, Kurt, 1996. "Dynamic project selection and funding under risk: A decision tree based MILP approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(2), pages 284-298, December.
    3. Yongzhi Cao, 2014. "Reducing Interval-Valued Decision Trees to Conventional Ones: Comments on Decision Trees with Single and Multiple Interval-Valued Objectives," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 11(3), pages 204-212, September.
    4. Marchioni, Andrea & Magni, Carlo Alberto, 2018. "Investment decisions and sensitivity analysis: NPV-consistency of rates of return," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(1), pages 361-372.
    5. Collan, Mikael, 2004. "Giga-Investments: Modelling the Valuation of Very Large Industrial Real Investments," MPRA Paper 4328, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Horowitz, Uri, 1974. "A dynamic model integrating demand and supply relationships for agricultural water, applied to determining optimal intertemporal allocation of water in a regional water project," ISU General Staff Papers 197401010800006990, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    7. Anderson, Kim B. & Holt, John, 1977. "A User-Oriented Model For Incorporating Risk Into Short-Run Decisions," Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 9(2), pages 1-6, December.
    8. Anderson, Jock R., 1972. "An Overview of Modelling in Agricultural Management," Review of Marketing and Agricultural Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 40(03), pages 1-12, September.
    9. Magni, Carlo Alberto & Marchioni, Andrea & Baschieri, Davide, 2023. "The Attribution Matrix and the joint use of Finite Change Sensitivity Index and Residual Income for value-based performance measurement," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 306(2), pages 872-892.
    10. Ruth Y. Dicdican & Yacov Y. Haimes, 2005. "Relating multiobjective decision trees to the multiobjective risk impact analysis method," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(2), pages 95-108.
    11. Boguslaw Nowak & Maciej Nowak & Tadeusz Trzaskalik, 2011. "Multicriteria decision aiding in project planning using dynamic programming and simulation," RePAd Working Paper Series UQO-DSA-wp2202011, Département des sciences administratives, UQO.

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