Final answer:
The value of the company-owned truck represents an implicit cost and should be included in the initial investment as an opportunity cost, increasing the initial investment by $12,000 for the NPV calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the company-owned truck in the context of investment analysis, it's important to take into account opportunity costs. The truck represents an implicit cost to the project, as it can be sold for $12,000 if the project is rejected. This potential income is forgone by using the truck in the new project. Therefore, the correct approach would be to increase the initial investment by $12,000 to reflect the opportunity cost of not selling the truck. This is essential for accurately calculating the project's Net Present Value (NPV), which should include all relevant costs and revenues to determine if the project will create value for the company. By increasing the initial investment, Garida is considering the opportunity cost of not selling the truck. This way, the project's financial analysis will reflect the value of the truck as part of the investment. Therefore, the correct option is C. Increase the amount of the initial investment by $12,000.