Question

A property title search firm is contemplating using online software to increase the productivity of the researcher performing the search. Currently, an average of 64 minutes is needed to do a title search. The researcher cost is $1.70 per minute. Clients are charged a fee of $410. Company A’s software would reduce the average search time by 20 minutes, at a cost of $3.50 per search. Company B’s software would reduce the average search time by 21 minutes at a cost of $5.50 per search.

a. Calculate the productivity in terms of revenue per dollar of input.
b. Which option would have the highest productivity in terms of revenue per dollar of input?
a) Company A
b) Company B
c) Current

Answer 1

a. Productivity in terms of revenue per dollar input:

Cost = Average time taken * Cost per minute + additional cost per search

Current cost = 64 * 1.70 = $108.80

Company A cost = (64 - 20 mins) * 1.70 + 3.50 = $78.30

Company B cost = (64 - 21) * 1.70 + 5.50 = $78.60

Productivity = Client fee / Cost

Current productivity

= 410 / 108.80

= $3.77

Company A

= 410 / 78.30

= $5.24

Company B

= 410 / 78.60

= $5.22

b. Company A is best.