A cost benefit analysis
December 30th, 2008 at 5:30 pm by David FarrarA couple of months ago I was invited to a lockup at an economics company for a study they were releasing. However on the day in question, it was the most filthy weather so I piked. As I’m deleting old e-mails, I found my e-mail to them giving a cost-benefit analysis of my attendance. It said:
I’m sitting at home calculating the cost/benefit ratio of attending the NZIER survey lockup in person and getting soaked to the bone in the three minutes it would take to run from my place to your office, and the alternative of staying warm and dry, having a huge mug of coffee and waiting for the information to be released online.
So far my calculations of benefits for each approach are:
Attend in Person
- Get to be first to blog the survey results as can write story during lockup
- Can ask staff questions
- Get to see your offices
Wait for online release
- Will not resemble a drowned puppy
- Will not have to then change clothes once back home
- Will not risk laptop getting wet
- Will get to watch last night’s TV while drinking hot coffee
I did consider possible mitigating strategies
Mitigating Strategies
- Drive to NZIER offices – but have lent car to flatmate to attend a funeral
- Get a taxi to NZIER offices – taxi driver would probably beat me up for ordering a taxi to take me one block!
- Have my private chauffeur pick me up and drop me off – I don’t have one yet
- Use an umbrella – will probably get destroyed by the wind, as my previous 20 umbrellas have been
So having failed to identify a mitigating strategy, sadly I conclude the risks of drowning outweigh the benefits of attending!
This is probably the most convuluted “no” I have ever sent to an RSVP!
Related posts:
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- How to gain a bigger benefit
- Sickness Benefit
- Benefit Numbers
December 30th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Yes.
Vote:December 30th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
here’s a cost benefit analysis I’d love to do
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10550043
Vote:December 31st, 2008 at 8:26 am
Why Wellingtonians persist with umbrellas never ceases to amaze me.
I prefer the old style trench coat.
It makes a great wind break -and doubles as a sail when spread wide.
Once the inevitable rain falls it becomes so heavy any chance of blowing away
is totally removed.
Here’s to the end of 2008
Vote:December 31st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Why give a simple ‘no thanks’ when you can eliminate all future invitations from them?
Vote:January 1st, 2009 at 11:19 pm
You spend time on what you value,
Vote:And value what you spend time on!