Bluefin Robotics Case Study Solution

Posted by John Berg on Feb-16-2018

Introduction

Bluefin Robotics Case Study is included in the Harvard Business Review Case Study. Therefore, it is necessary to touch HBR fundamentals before starting the Bluefin Robotics case analysis. HBR will help you assess which piece of information is relevant. Harvard Business review will also help you solve your case. Thus, HBR fundamentals assist in easily comprehending the case study description and brainstorming the Bluefin Robotics case analysis. Also, a major benefit of HBR is that it widens your approach. HBR also brings new ideas into the picture which would help you in your Bluefin Robotics case analysis.

To write an effective Harvard Business Case Solution, a deep Bluefin Robotics case analysis is essential. A proper analysis requires deep investigative reading. You should have a strong grasp of the concepts discussed and be able to identify the central problem in the given HBR case study. It is very important to read the HBR case study thoroughly as at times identifying the key problem becomes challenging. Thus by underlining every single detail which you think relevant, you will be quickly able to solve the HBR case study as is addressed in Harvard Business Case Solution.

Problem Identification

The first step in solving the HBR Case Study is to identify the problem. A problem can be regarded as a difference between the actual situation and the desired situation. This means that to identify a problem, you must know where it is intended to be. To do a Bluefin Robotics case study analysis and a financial analysis, you need to have a clear understanding of where the problem currently is about the perceived problem.

For effective and efficient problem identification,

• A multi-source and multi-method approach should be adopted.
• The problem identified should be thoroughly reviewed and evaluated before continuing with the case study solution.
• The problem should be backed by sufficient evidence to make sure a wrong problem isn't being worked upon.

Problem identification, if done well, will form a strong foundation for your Bluefin Robotics Case Study. Effective problem identification is clear, objective, and specific. An ambiguous problem will result in vague solutions being discovered. It is also well-informed and timely. It should be noted that the right amount of time should be spent on this part. Spending too much time will leave lesser time for the rest of the process.

Bluefin Robotics Case Analysis

Once you have completed the first step which was problem identification, you move on to developing a case study answers. This is the second step which will include evaluation and analysis of the given company. For this step, tools like SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces analysis for Bluefin Robotics, etc. can be used. Porter’s five forces analysis for Bluefin Robotics analyses a company’s substitutes, buyer and supplier power, rivalry, etc.

To do an effective HBR case study analysis, you need to explore the following areas:

1. Company history:

The Bluefin Robotics case study consists of the history of the company given at the start. Reading it thoroughly will provide you with an understanding of the company's aims and objectives. You will keep these in mind as any Harvard Business Case Solutions you provide will need to be aligned with these.

2. Company growth trends:

This will help you obtain an understanding of the company's current stage in the business cycle and will give you an idea of what the scope of the solution should be.

3. Company culture:

Work culture in a company tells a lot about the workforce itself. You can understand this by going through the instances involving employees that the HBR case study provides. This will be helpful in understanding if the proposed case study solution will be accepted by the workforce and whether it will consist of the prevailing culture in the company.

Bluefin Robotics Financial Analysis

The third step of solving the Bluefin Robotics Case Study is Bluefin Robotics Financial Analysis. You can go about it in a similar way as is done for a finance and accounting case study. For solving any Bluefin Robotics case, Financial Analysis is of extreme importance. You should place extra focus on conducting Bluefin Robotics financial analysis as it is an integral part of the Bluefin Robotics Case Study Solution. It will help you evaluate the position of Bluefin Robotics regarding stability, profitability and liquidity accurately. On the basis of this, you will be able to recommend an appropriate plan of action. To conduct a Bluefin Robotics financial analysis in excel,

• Past year financial statements need to be extracted.
• Liquidity and profitability ratios to be calculated from the current financial statements.
• Ratios are compared with the past year Bluefin Robotics calculations
• Company’s financial position is evaluated.

Another way how you can do the Bluefin Robotics financial analysis is through financial modelling. Financial Analysis through financial modelling is done by:

• Using the current financial statement to produce forecasted financial statements.
• A set of assumptions are made to grow revenue and expenses.
• Value of the company is derived.

Financial Analysis is critical in many aspects:

• Decision Making and Strategy Devising to achieve targeted goals- to determine the future course of action.
• Getting credit from suppliers depending on the leverage position- creditors will be confident to supply on credit if less company debt.
• Influence on Investment Decisions- buying and selling of stock by investors.

Thus, it is a snapshot of the company and helps analysts assess whether the company's performance has improved or deteriorated. It also gives an insight about its expected performance in future- whether it will be going concern or not. Bluefin Robotics Financial analysis can, therefore, give you a broader image of the company.

Bluefin Robotics NPV

Bluefin Robotics's calculations of ratios only are not sufficient to gauge the company performance for investment decisions. Instead, investment appraisal methods should also be considered. Bluefin Robotics NPV calculation is a very important one as NPV helps determine whether the investment will lead to a positive value or a negative value. It is the best tool for decision making.

There are many benefits of using NPV:

• It takes into account the future value of money, thereby giving reliable results.
• It considers the cost of capital in its calculations.
• It gives the return in dollar terms simplifying decision making.

The formula that you will use to calculate Bluefin Robotics NPV will be as follows:

Present Value of Future Cash Flows minus Initial Investment

Present Value of Future cash flows will be calculated as follows:

PV of CF= CF1/(1+r)^1 + CF2/(1+r)^2 + CF3/(1+r)^3 + …CFn/(1+r)^n

where CF = cash flows
r = cost of capital
n = total number of years.

Cash flows can be uniform or multiple. You can discount them by Bluefin Robotics WACC as the discount rate to arrive at the present value figure. You can then use the resulting figure to make your investment decision. The decision criteria would be as follows:

• If Present Value of Cash Flows is greater than Initial Investment, you can accept the project.
• If Present Value of Cash Flows is less than Initial Investment, you can reject the project.

Thus, calculation of Bluefin Robotics NPV will give you an insight into the value generated if you invest in Bluefin Robotics. It is a very reliable tool to assess the feasibility of an investment as it helps determine whether the cash flows generated will help yield a positive return or not.

However, it would be better if you take various aspects under consideration. Thus, apart from Bluefin Robotics’s NPV, you should also consider other capital budgeting techniques like Bluefin Robotics’s IRR to evaluate and fine-tune your investment decisions.

Bluefin Robotics DCF

Once you are done with calculating the Bluefin Robotics NPV for your finance and accounting case study, you can proceed to the next step, which involves calculating the Bluefin Robotics DCF. Discounted cash flow (DCF) is a Bluefin Robotics valuation method used to estimate the value of an investment based on its future cash flows. For a better presentation of your finance case solution, it is recommended to use Bluefin Robotics excel for the DCF analysis.

To calculate the Bluefin Robotics DCF analysis, the following steps are required:

1. Calculate the expected future cash inflows and outflows.
2. Set-off inflows and outflows to obtain the net cash flows.
3. Find the present value of expected future net cash flows using a discount rate, which is usually the weighted-average cost of capital (WACC).
4. Evaluate the potential investment:
   • If the value calculated through Bluefin Robotics DCF is higher than the current cost of the investment, the opportunity should be considered
   • If the current cost of the investment is higher than the value calculated through DCF, the opportunity should be rejected

Bluefin Robotics DCF can also be calculated using the following formula:

DCF= CF1/(1+r)^1 + CF2/(1+r)^2 + CF3/(1+r)^3 + …CFn/(1+r)^n

In the formula:

• CF= Cash flows
• R= discount rate (WACC)

Bluefin Robotics WACC

When making different Bluefin Robotics's calculations, Bluefin Robotics WACC calculation is of great significance. WACC calculation is done by the capital composition of the company. The formula will be as follows:

Weighted Average Cost of Capital = % of Debt * Cost of Debt * (1- tax rate) + % of equity * Cost of Equity

You can compute the debt and equity percentage from the balance sheet figures. For the cost of equity, you can use the CAPM model. Cost of debt is usually given. However, if it isn't mentioned, you can calculate it through market weighted average debt. Bluefin Robotics’s WACC will indicate the rate the company should earn to pay its capital suppliers. Bluefin Robotics WACC can be analysed in two ways:

• From the company's perspective, it can be analysed as the cost to be paid to the capital providers also known as Cost of Capital
• From an investor' perspective, if the expected return on the investment exceeds Bluefin Robotics WACC, the investor will go ahead with the investment as a positive value would be generated.

Bluefin Robotics IRR

After calculating the Bluefin Robotics WACC, it is necessary to calculate the Bluefin Robotics IRR as well, as WACC alone does not say much about the company’s overall situation. Bluefin Robotics IRR will add meaning to the finance solution that you are working on. The internal rate of return is a tool used in investment appraisal to calculate the profitability of prospective investments. IRR calculations are dependent on the same formula as Bluefin Robotics NPV.

There are two ways to calculate the Bluefin Robotics IRR.

1. By using a Bluefin Robotics Excel Spreadsheet: There are in-built formulae for calculating IRR.
2. By using trial-and-error: For this, the following formula will be used:
   

   IRR= R + [NPVa / (NPVa - NPVb) x (Rb - Ra)]

In this formula:

• Ra= lower discount rate chosen
• Rb= higher discount rate chosen
• NPVa= NPV at Ra
• NPVb= NPV at Rb

Bluefin Robotics IRR impacts your finance case solution in the following ways:

• If IRR>WACC, accept the alternative
• If IRR<WACC, reject the alternative

Bluefin Robotics Excel Spreadsheet

All your Bluefin Robotics calculations should be done in a Bluefin Robotics xls Spreadsheet. A Bluefin Robotics excel spreadsheet is the best way to present your finance case solution. The Bluefin Robotics Calculations should be presented in Bluefin Robotics excel in such a way that the analysis and results can be distinguished to the viewers. The point of Bluefin Robotics excel is to present large amounts of data in clear and consumable ways. Presenting your data is also going to make sure that you don't have misinterpretations of the data.

To make your Bluefin Robotics calculations sheet more meaningful, you should:

1. Think about the order of the Bluefin Robotics xls worksheets in your finance case solution
2. Use more Bluefin Robotics xls worksheets and tables as will divide the data that you are looking at in sections.
3. Choose clarity overlooks
4. Keep your timeline consistent
5. Organise the information flow
6. Clarify your sources

The following tips and bits should be kept in mind while preparing your finance case solution in a Bluefin Robotics xls spreadsheet:

1. Avoid using fixed numbers in formulae
2. Avoid hiding data
3. Useless and meaningful colours, such as highlighting negative numbers in red
4. Label column and rows
5. Correct your alignment
6. Keep formulae readable
7. Strategically freeze header column and row

Bluefin Robotics Ratio analysis

After you have your Bluefin Robotics calculations in a Bluefin Robotics xls spreadsheet, you can move on to the next step which is ratio analysis. Ratio analysis is an analysis of information in the form of figures contained in the financial statements of a company. It will help you evaluate various aspects of a company's operating and financial performance which can be done in Bluefin Robotics Excel.

To conduct a ratio analysis that covers all financial aspects, divide the analysis as follows:

1. Liquidity Ratios: Liquidity ratios gauge a company's ability to pay off its short-term debt. These include the current ratio, quick ratio, and working capital ratio.
2. Solvency ratios: Solvency ratios match a company's debt levels with its assets, equity, and earnings. These include the debt-equity ratio, debt-assets ratio, and interest coverage ratio.
3. Profitability Ratios: These show how effectively a company can generate profits through its operations. Profit margin, return on assets, return on equity, return on capital employed, and gross margin ratio is examples of profitability ratios.
4. Efficiency ratios: Efficiency ratios analyse how efficiently a company uses its assets and liabilities to boost sales and increase profits.
5. Coverage Ratios: These ratios measure a company's ability to make the interest payments and other obligations associated with its debts. Examples include times interest earned ratio and debt-service coverage ratio.
6. Market Prospect Ratios: These include dividend yield, P/E ratio, earnings per share, and dividend payout ratio.

Bluefin Robotics Valuation

Bluefin Robotics Valuation is a very fundamental requirement if you want to work out your Harvard Business Case Solution. Bluefin Robotics Valuation includes a critical analysis of the company's capital structure – the composition of debt and equity in it, and the fair value of its assets. Common approaches to Bluefin Robotics valuation include

• FCFF
• FCFE
• DDM
• Comparable
  • DDM is an appropriate method if dividends are being paid to shareholders and the dividends paid are in line with the earnings of the company.
  • FCFF is used when the company has a combination of debt and equity financing.
  • FCFE, on the other hand, shows the cash flow available to equity holders only.

These three methods explained above are very commonly used to calculate the value of the firm. Investment decisions are undertaken by the value derived.

Bluefin Robotics calculations for projected cash flows and growth rates are taken under consideration to come up with the value of firm and value of equity. These figures are used to determine the net worth of the business. Net worth is a very important concept when solving any finance and accounting case study as it gives a deep insight into the company's potential to perform in future.

Alternative Solutions

After doing your case study analysis, you move to the next step, which is identifying alternative solutions. These will be other possibilities of Harvard Business case solutions that you can choose from. For this, you must look at the Bluefin Robotics case analysis in different ways and find a new perspective that you haven't thought of before.

Once you have listed or mapped alternatives, be open to their possibilities. Work on those that:

• need additional information
• are new solutions
• can be combined or eliminated

After listing possible options, evaluate them without prejudice, and check if enough resources are available for implementation and if the company workforce would accept it.

For ease of deciding the best Bluefin Robotics case solution, you can rate them on numerous aspects, such as:

• Feasibility
• Suitability
• Flexibility

Implementation

Once you have read the Bluefin Robotics HBR case study and have started working your way towards Bluefin Robotics Case Solution, you need to be clear about different financial concepts. Your Mondavi case answers should reflect your understanding of the Bluefin Robotics Case Study.

You should be clear about the advantages, disadvantages and method of each financial analysis technique. Knowing formulas is also very essential or else you will mess up with your analysis. Therefore, you need to be mindful of the financial analysis method you are implementing to write your Bluefin Robotics case study solution. It should closely align with the business structure and the financials as mentioned in the Bluefin Robotics case memo.

You can also refer to Bluefin Robotics Harvard case to have a better understanding and a clearer picture so that you implement the best strategy. There are a number of benefits if you keep a wide range of financial analysis tools at your fingertips.

• Your Bluefin Robotics HBR Case Solution would be quite accurate
• You will have an option to choose from different methods, thus helping you choose the best strategy.

Recommendation and Action Plan

Once you have successfully worked out your financial analysis using the most appropriate method and come up with Bluefin Robotics HBR Case Solution, you need to give the final finishing by adding a recommendation and an action plan to be followed. The recommendation can be based on the current financial analysis. When making a recommendation,

• You need to make sure that it is not generic and it will help in increasing company value
• It is in line with the case study analysis you have conducted
• The Bluefin Robotics calculations you have done support what you are recommending
• It should be clear, concise and free of complexities

Also, adding an action plan for your recommendation further strengthens your Bluefin Robotics HBR case study argument. Thus, your action plan should be consistent with the recommendation you are giving to support your Bluefin Robotics financial analysis. It is essential to have all these three things correlated to have a better coherence in your argument presented in your case study analysis and solution which will be a part of Bluefin Robotics Case Answer.