
What does it mean if projects are mutually exclusive? Mutually exclusive projects are capital projects which compete directly with each other. For example, if a manager has to make a choice strictly between undertaking either project X or Y, but not both of them concurrently, then projects X and Y are said to be mutually exclusive.
What is the opposite of mutually exclusive project?
Mutually exclusive projects are also assumed to be designed to fulfill the same task, and choosing one affects the cash availability for other projects. The opposite of a mutually exclusive project is an independent project. An independent project does not affect the cash flow of other projects when chosen or rejected.
How do companies decide between mutually exclusive or independent projects?
Companies that consider mutually exclusive or independent projects likely follow a capital budgeting decision-making process. This process helps decide the long-term investment decisions of a company and uses three financial metrics: the project’s payback period, its net present value and its internal rate of return.
What is mutual exclusivity in capital budgeting?
The concept of mutual exclusivity is often applied in capital budgeting. Companies may have to choose between multiple projects that will add value to the company upon completion. Some of these projects are mutually exclusive.
What is a mutually exclusive event?
Mutually exclusive events are completely independent of all other events and have no impact on the outcome of the other event. The time value of money (TVM) and other factors make mutually exclusive analysis a bit more complicated.

How do you know if a project is mutually exclusive?
Mutually exclusive projects are capital projects which compete directly with each other. For example, if a manager has to make a choice strictly between undertaking either project X or Y, but not both of them concurrently, then projects X and Y are said to be mutually exclusive.
What are mutually exclusive projects examples?
Example of Mutually Exclusive For example, assume a company has a budget of $50,000 for expansion projects. If available Projects A and B each cost $40,000 and Project C costs only $10,000, then Projects A and B are mutually exclusive. If the company pursues A, it cannot also afford to pursue B and vice versa.
What does it mean to say two things are mutually exclusive?
Definition of mutually exclusive : being related such that each excludes or precludes the other mutually exclusive events also : incompatible their outlooks were not mutually exclusive.
What does it mean to say two things are not mutually exclusive?
Mutually exclusive is often used in negative constructions about things that are said to be not mutually exclusive—meaning they can both happen or be true at the same time.
What are mutually exclusive projects and independent projects?
Unlike independent projects, in which a decision to invest in one project has no bearing on the decision to make investment in another, investment decision in case of mutually exclusive projects is dependent on the relative merit of the projects.
What are mutually exclusive and mutually inclusive projects?
2 events are mutually exclusive when they cannot both occur simultaneously. 2 events are mutually inclusive when they can both occur simultaneously. The possible results of 1 trial of a probability experiment. The chance that something will happen.
When two projects are mutually exclusive which project should be selected?
Mutually exclusive projects: If the NPV of one project is greater than the NPV of the other project, accept the project with the higher NPV. If both projects have a negative NPV, reject both projects.
How do you select mutually exclusive projects?
Methods used by Companies to Evaluate Mutually Exclusive ProjectsNPV refers to the present value. ... It is nothing but the discount rate that would make all of the present values of cash flows equal to the initial outlay. ... The payback Period. ... One drawback of the payback period. ... Profitability Index. ... Calculation of NPV.More items...
What is mutually exclusive project?
What are Mutually Exclusive Projects? Mutually Exclusive Projects is the term which is used generally in the capital budgeting process where the companies choose a single project on the basis of certain parameters out of the set of the projects where acceptance of one project will lead to rejection of the other projects.
When faced with a conflict between IRR and NPV in the case of mutually exclusive projects, it is?
Nevertheless, when faced with a conflict between IRR and NPV in the case of mutually exclusive projects, it is suggested to go ahead with the NPV method as this happens to show the amount of real wealth gain for the company.
Does NPV Seem Like a Better Option then IRR?
Well yes. An important assumption that NPV makes is that all future cash flows are reinvested at the most realistic discount rate-opportunity cost of funds. NPV, too, has its disadvantages as it does not consider the scale of a project.
What is the IRR of a project?
It is nothing but the discount rate that would make all of the present values of cash flows equal to the initial outlay. IRR is the discount rate at which the NPV of the project equals zero. Companies often have a hurdle rate or a required rate of return#N#Required Rate Of Return Required Rate of Return (RRR), also known as Hurdle Rate, is the minimum capital amount or return that an investor expects to receive from an investment. It is determined by, Required Rate of Return = (Expected Dividend Payment/Existing Stock Price) + Dividend Growth Rate read more#N#that serves as the benchmark.
Is NPV a disadvantage?
NPV, too, has its disadvantages as it does not consider the scale of a project. Nevertheless, when faced with a conflict between IRR and NPV in the case of mutually exclusive projects, it is suggested to go ahead with the NPV method as this happens to show the amount of real wealth gain for the company.
Can you choose all projects simultaneously?
Since the projects are mutually exclusive, we can’t choose all the projects simultaneously. However, since both the NPV and IRR are greater in the case of project A, we would choose project A since these are mutually exclusive projects.
Are There any Changes Off Late in Mutually Exclusive Projects?
Well, yes , there is something called incremental analysis Incremental Analysis Incremental analysis is the financial analysis undertaken by the company to evaluate the available options and improve profitability by optimizing the capacity utilization and workforce of the business. read more that is being undertaken when both projects seem feasible.
What Is Mutually Exclusive?
Mutually exclusive is a statistical term describing two or more events that cannot happen simultaneously. It is commonly used to describe a situation where the occurrence of one outcome supersedes the other.
What to consider when considering mutually exclusive options?
If considering mutually exclusive options, a company must weigh the opportunity cost, or what it would be giving up by choosing each option.
How much is the opportunity cost of choosing B?
Since A and B are mutually exclusive, the opportunity cost of choosing B is equal to the profit of the most lucrative option (in this case, A) minus the profits generated by the selected option (B); that is, $100,000 - $80,000 = $20,000. Because option A is the most lucrative option, the opportunity cost of going for option A is $0.
When faced with a choice between mutually exclusive options, a company must consider the opportunity cost?
When faced with a choice between mutually exclusive options, a company must consider the opportunity cost, which is what the company would be giving up to pursue each option. The concepts of opportunity cost and mutual exclusivity are inherently linked because each mutually exclusive option requires the sacrifice of whatever profits could have been generated by choosing the alternate option.
Who is Julie Young?
Julie Young is an experienced financial writer and editor. She specializes in financial analysis in capital planning and investment management. Somer G. Anderson is an Accounting and Finance Professor with a passion for increasing the financial literacy of American consumers.
Is Project C considered independent?
Project C may be considered independent. Regardless of which other project is pursued, the company can still afford to pursue C as well. The acceptance of either A or B does not impact the viability of C, and the acceptance of C does not impact the viability of either of the other projects.
How To Calculate Mutually Exclusive Events
So in short, events that are mutually exclusive (called disjoint events) are those that do not occur at the same time.
Synonyms of the Term Mutually Exclusive
To further your understanding of the term mutually exclusive, it can be helpful to discover words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as mutually exclusive.
Antonyms of the Term Mutually Exclusive
In addition to learning synonyms, discovering words that have the opposite meaning of mutually exclusive will sharpen your overall sense of language while strengthening your understanding of the term.
Mutually Exclusive Sentence Examples
Now that you have a pretty good understanding as to what mutually exclusive means, let’s take a look at some examples of the term being used in a sentence:

Methods Used by Companies to Evaluate Mutually Exclusive Projects
Examples
Does One Method Have An Advantage Over The other?
Does Npv seem Like A Better Option Then IRR?
Advantages and Disadvantages
Are There Any Changes Off Late in Mutually Exclusive Projects?
- Well, yes, there is something called incremental analysisIncremental AnalysisIncremental analysis is the financial analysis undertaken by the company to evaluate the available options and improve p...
- It refers to an analysis of differential cash flows of the two projects (Smaller cash flows are deducted from the cash flows of the larger project).
- Well, yes, there is something called incremental analysisIncremental AnalysisIncremental analysis is the financial analysis undertaken by the company to evaluate the available options and improve p...
- It refers to an analysis of differential cash flows of the two projects (Smaller cash flows are deducted from the cash flows of the larger project).
- However, fret not like this analysis is not predominantly used, and companies do majorly rely on NPV and IRR analysis.
Conclusion
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