ASSUME THAT YOU RECENTLY WENT TO WORK FOR ALLIED COMPONENTS COMPANY, A SUPPLIER OF AUTO REPAIR PARTS USED IN THE AFTER$-$MARKET WITH PRODUCTS FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER, FORD, AND OTHER AUTO MAKERS. YOUR BOSS, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER $($CFO$),$ HAS JUST HANDED YOU THE ESTIMATED CASH FLOWS FOR TWO PROPOSED PROJECTS. PROJECT L INVOLVES ADDING A NEW ITEM TO THE FIRM$$S IGNITION SYSTEM LINE; IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO BUILD UP THE MARKET FOR THIS PRODUCT, SO THE CASH INFLOWS WOULD INCREASE OVER TIME. PROJECT S INVOLVES AN ADD$-$ON TO AN EXISTING LINE, AND ITS CASH FLOWS WOULD DECREASE OVER TIME. BOTH PROJECTS HAVE $3-$YEAR LIVES, BECAUSE ALLIED IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE ENTIRELY NEW MODELS AFTER

$3$ YEARS.

HERE ARE THE PROJECTS$$ NET CASH FLOWS $($IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS$)$:

EXPECTED NET CASH FLOWS

YEAR PROJECT L PROJECT S

$0($$$100)($$$100)$

$11070$

$26050$

$38020$

DEPRECIATION, SALVAGE VALUES, NET OPERATING WORKING CAPITAL REQUIRE$-$MENTS, AND TAX EFFECTS ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THESE CASH FLOWS.

THE CFO ALSO MADE SUBJECTIVE RISK ASSESSMENTS OF EACH PROJECT, AND HE CONCLUDED THAT BOTH PROJECTS HAVE RISK CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE FIRM$$S AVERAGE PROJECT. ALLIED$$S WEIGHTED AVERAGE COST OF CAPITAL IS $10$ PERCENT. YOU MUST NOW DETERMINE WHETHER ONE OR BOTH OF THE PROJECTS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.

$1.$ WHAT IS THE PAYBACK PERIOD?

FIND THE PAYBACKS FOR PROJECTS L AND S$?$

$2.$ WHAT IS THE RATIONALE FOR THE PAYBACK METHOD? ACCORDING TO THE PAYBACK CRITERION, WHICH PROJECT OR PROJECTS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED IF THE FIRM$$S MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE PAYBACK IS $2$ YEARS, AND IF PROJECTS L AND S ARE INDEPENDENT? IF THEY ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE?

$3.$ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REGULAR AND DISCOUNTED PAYBACK PERIODS?

SETUP FOR PROJECT L$$S DISCOUNTED PAYBACK, ASSUMING A $10$ PERCENT COST OF CAPITAL:

$4.$ WHAT IS THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNTED PAYBACK? IS THE PAYBACK METHOD OF ANY REAL USEFULNESS IN CAPITAL BUDGETING DECISIONS?