Fixed Asset Management
Respondents were asked if they used the time value of money concept, what evaluation techniques were used in making decisions on fixed asset investments, and if they attempt to determine the cost of capital. These concepts receive consider able attention in finance courses, and we encourage their use among businesses.
Time Value of Money. Seventy-two percent of the respondents indicated usage of the time value of money concept in making fixed asset management decisions. In comparing small and large manufacturers, large firms (over 500 employees) indicated a much greater usage of this concept (81% compared to 61%)
Evaluation Techniques Utilized. Respondents were asked to indicate what evaluation techniques they used in making decisions on fixed asset investments. Table 7 summarizes their responses. The payback method was used by the largest percentage of respondents with the internal rate of return and net present value next in usage.
Cost of Capital. The cost of capital serves as the discount rate in using the net present value technique. It also serves as the hurdle rate in using the internal rate of return technique. The cost of capital is also one of the more difficult measures to compute accurately Respondents were asked if they attempted to determine the cost of capital. The findings indicated that approximately 48 percent of the firms attempted to deter mine the cost of capital. While percentage, this is not extremely low considering the fact that both small and large firms were included in the study. Of firms with over 500 employees, 56 percent attempted to determine the cost of capital.
The concepts developed under the topic of fixed asset management (capital budgeting) generally are not as widely practiced among financial officers as other less complex financial concepts. The findings from this survey seemed to support other research on this topic. The low percentage of respondents using these concepts was somewhat disappointing