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Engineering Economics for Telecom & Media Technologists

Product Type: Market Research Report
Published by: Mind Commerce Publishing
Published: September 2006
Product Code: R331-45
Description
Engineering Economics for Telecom & Media Technologists is a practical guide towards planning and operating a media driven network using basic fiscal management processes. This is a back-to-basics book. This book is partly an engineering economy textbook and real-world network financial management handbook. This book is blunt and to the point. This book is to be used by all technologists operating in this new realm of broadband multimedia. This publication will direct the technologist to think about driving revenue generation. While this publication will not mention company names, the examples given may be familiar to many readers.

This publication will raise network planning issues and network operations issues. Network planning and operations has always been based on costs optimization and meeting customer needs. This publication will discuss revenue models that can be utilized in the new telecom media business environment. Meeting customer needs assumes revenue generation. Carrier and vendor technologists will benefit from this handbook by understanding the financial drivers behind operating a network. The basics of money articulated in this book will be of value to those who create and sell hardware and software.
Table of Contents

Dedications.

Acknowledgments.

Preface.

Introduction.

Chapter 1: The Engineer’s Financial Role.

The Impact of Multimedia Content

What Are The Cost Elements of the Network?.

Cost versus Revenue versus Income.

Fiscal Understanding: The Engineering Economic Study Is A Decision Tool

Examples: The Need For Economic Study.

Example 1.1:

Figure 1.3: Trans Atlantic Company XYZ Balance Sheet

Example 1.2:

Example 1.3:

Example 1.4:

The Objectives of the Economic Analysis/Engineering Economic Study.

The Engineering Economic Study Processes.

What Engineering Economic Studies Do NOT and Are NOT.

Basic Points.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 2: Basic Telecom Accounting.

Accounting Concepts.

Telecom Accounting Classifications.

Assets.

Intellectual Property: Technology, Software and Content - As Assets.

Liabilities and Owner’s Equity.

Balance Sheet

Shareowner’s Equity.

Table 2.1 Telecommunications Carrier Balance Sheet

Operating Revenues.

Operating Expenses.

Income.

Income Statement

Relationship of the Balance Sheet and the Income Statement

After Income: Earnings and Profit

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 3: Capital Expenditures and the Nature of Costs.

Capital Expenditure Policies.

Example 3.1: Capital Expenditure Policies in a Healthy Company.

Example 3.2: Capital Expenditure Policies in an Unhealthy Company.

Capital Expenditure Policy Structure.

Capital Expenditure Policy: Rules and Objectives.

Revenue.

Gross Profit

Break- Even.

Fixed Capital Investment

Working Capital

Income Tax Rate.

Depreciation.

Interest

Net Profit/Operating Profit

Rate of Return on Investment

Payout/Payback Period.

Discounted Rate of Return.

Minimum Return Rate.

Example 3.3:

Example 3.4:

Capital Expenditure Policy: Summary.

Cost Expenditures: When Can You or Should You Spend Capital?.

Nature of Costs.

Plant Operation Costs.

Capital Costs.

The Nature of First Costs.

Material

Installation.

Miscellaneous Loading.

Engineering.

Charges Occurring During Construction Which are Added to the Plant/Equipment Investment Accounts

The Nature of Continuing Costs.

Maintenance Expenses.

Depreciation Expenses.

Advertising.

Travel

Commercial

Employee Payroll, Pensions, and Benefits.

Rents.

Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.

General Administration.

Outsourcing.

Engineers’ Outsourcing Concerns.

Cost Expenditure Policies and Capital Expenditure Policies -Harmonization.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 4 - Depreciation.

Attributes of Depreciation.

Intangible versus Tangible.

Example:

Salvage, Scrap, and Junk Value.

Estimating the Useful Life of the Asset

Methods of Depreciation.

Straight-Line Method.

Example 4.1: Straight-Line Method.

Declining-Balance Method.

Example 4.2: Double-Declining-Balance Method.

Sum-Of-The-Years-Digits Method.

Example 4.3: Sum-Of-The-Years-Digits Method.

The Sinking-Fund Method.

Example 4.4: The Sinking-Fund Method.

Which Depreciation Method Do You Use?.

Content and Depreciation.

Summary.

Questions:

Answers:

Chapter 5: Business Planning and Organizational Theory.

Business Plan.

Components of the Business Plan.

Strategy.

Strategic Planning.

Strategic Planning - Market Segment & Size.

Strategic Planning - Value: The Story.

Strategic Planning - Distribution.

Scope and Scale of Execution.

Tactics.

Tactical Planning - Value: The Product’s/Service’s Intrinsic Value.

Tactical Planning - Value: The Value Proposition.

Tactical Planning - Distribution: Sales.

Equipment and Technology Sales Distribution.

Content Distribution.

Tactical Planning - Distribution: Marketing The Product

Technology Trials - A Marketing Tool

Marketing Mobile Content

Tactical Planning - Distribution: Warehousing and Delivering the Product

Tactical Planning - Other Aspects.

Vision - Binding Strategy and Tactics.

Where Do Vision, Strategy, and Tactics Lead The Company?.

Organizational Theory.

Basic Organizational Functions.

Basic Telecom Carrier and Vendor Organizational Functions.

Manufacturing and Carrier Organizational Structures.

Content Company Organizational Structures.

Multiple Organization Tracks - Measuring Performance.

Vertical and Flat Organizational Structures.

Organized Product Creation.

Departmentation.

Product Departmentation.

Functional Departmentation.

Product Departmentation versus Functional Departmentation.

Financial Relationships.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 6: Mathematics of Money.

Time is Money and Money is Time.

Interest: Income and Penalty.

Equivalence.

Present Worth and Future Worth.

Annuity.

Example 6.1:

Example 6.2:

Time-Value of Money.

Future Worth of a Present Amount

Present Worth of a Future Amount

Equipment and Service Value Over Time - Present and Future.

Annuities.

Annuities: Present and Future.

Future Worth of an Annuity.

Annuity for a Future Amount

Present Worth of an Annuity.

Annuity From A Present Amount

Rates of Return - Effective and Nominal

Dispersed Retirements.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 7: Cost Analyses.

Cost Estimation Methodologies.

Order-of-Magnitude Estimation.

Historical Data.

Cost Indexes.

Example: Cost Indexes.

Cost Ratios: Cost-Capacity Relationship.

Semi-Detailed Estimates.

Buffer/Contingency Allowance.

Detailed Estimates.

Cost Estimation - Capital Investment Component

Depreciable Fixed Investment

Non-depreciable Fixed Investment

Expensed or Amortized Investment

Research and Development

Engineering/Supervision.

Start-up Costs.

Cost Estimation - Operating Cost Component

Direct (Variable) Operating Costs.

Indirect (Fixed) Operating Costs.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 8: Break-Even Analysis.

Break-Even Analysis.

Elements of the Break-Even Analysis.

Total Revenue From Sales.

Direct Costs.

Indirect Costs.

Total Costs.

Gross Profit

Loss.

Break-Even Point

Example:

Break-Even Analysis.

Mathematical Representation.

Example:

Graphical Representation.

Effect of Changes.

The Linear Cost-Volume Relationship.

The Non-Linear Cost-Volume Relationship.

Running a Sensitivity Analysis - Managing Uncertainties.

Certainty, Uncertainty, Risk, and Reward.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 9: Evaluating Investments and Market Driven Strategies - How?.

The Investment Decision Framework and Drivers.

Qualitative Decision Framework.

Quantitative Decision Framework.

Investment Decisions Out of Necessity.

Replacement of Worn-Out and Obsolete Equipment

Repairs To Buildings and Facilities.

Repairs and Replacements of Equipment, Buildings, and Facilities Due to Natural Disasters

Meeting Government Regulations for Health and Safety.

Research and Development

Security.

Payback Period (PP)

Payback Period Based on Average Yearly Gross Profit

Payback Period Based on Average Yearly Net Profit

Payback Period Based on Average Yearly Cash Flow..

Example 9.1: Payback Period.

Return On Investment

Example: Return on Investment

Cost-Benefit Analysis.

Example: Cost - Benefit Analysis.

What Happens If the Quantitative Framework Fails?.

Example 9.2: Break-Even Analysis of an Investment Decision Made Out of Necessity.

Keeping It Simple.

Integrating The Investment Evaluation with the Market Strategy.

Business Plans.

Components of the Business Plan - Review..

Strategy.

Tactics.

The Investment Evaluation and the Market Strategy - Integration Process.

Taking a Step Back.

Example 9.3:

Integration.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 10: Corporate Planning _ The Art Behind Integrating The Engineering Economic Study and the Business Plan

Organization - Personnel

Organizing the Management Thought Processes - Adaptive Planning.

Adaptive Planning Plus Organizational Structure Equals Integration.

Integrating Engineering Economy Study Results and Corporate Planning.

Assessment

Assessment: Environment

Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses.

Assessment: Opportunities and Threats.

Strategic Analysis.

Decision Making.

Decision Making by the Engineer.

Setting Objectives.

Resource Analysis.

The Final Phase - Planning Implementation.

Implementation - The Customer View..

Fundamentals versus Experience.

Summary.

Questions.

Answers.

Chapter 11: Project Planning & Cost Control

Detailed Estimates.

Chapter 12: Business & Revenue Models.

The Impact of Content on Wireless and Wireline Telecom..

The Conversion of Mobility and The Internet

The Challenges.

Glossary.



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