15.363  Strategic Decision Making in the Biomedical Business

15.363 Alumni Linked in Group - Be Friends, Keep in Touch & All that Jazz

Hi all,

Hope you enjoyed 15.363! It's been fun being your TA (even with all the questions ;) ).

Here's the linkedin group URL:
https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=3858222&sort=POPULAR

If that doesn't work, search 15.363 Alum

Keep in touch!
Anita

Announced on 12 May 2015  7:39  p.m. by Anita E Kalathil

Homework 4 Advice & Expectations

Hi folks,

You may have noticed by now that this homework assignment is a little different than the others. You are not building huge financial models etc. It's also focused more downstream than the clinical trials. This assignment is really looking to see how well you understand the concept of sensitivity analysis (and to do a basic cap table).

This is very much about being able to define all your variables, draw out the tree and then run sensitivity analysis. For example, you don't know how much internal investment value may have to go away to support this,, so you make it a variable and run sensitivity to see at what level does it change your outcome. You could make that an NPV_of_internal_assets variable and see how much it would need to be to shift your most optimal path. If it doesn't matter whether the variable is 2 or 100+, then you know you can safely stick with that recommendation.

Make sense? the idea is being able to use sensitivity to run a wide range of outcomes and see what seems logical. This is how you are to make a decision when you don't have certainty in numbers.

The trick here is going to be figuring out which variables you just put an assumption for and which are the key drivers you want to run the sensitivity. You can choose those key variables based on logic, using a tornado analysis, whatever. Just tell me why you chose what you did and interpret the outcome. (you should AT least do 2 way sensitivity, 3 is also an option).

So TLDR, I would recommend laying out assignment as: assumptions, list of variables, cap table, decision tree, sensitivity analysis on key variables (tell me why you picked them) and recommendations.

Best,
Anita

Announced on 09 May 2015  6:55  p.m. by Anita E Kalathil

America's Epidemic of Unnecessary Care

Hi all,

Here was the article mentioned in class:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/overkill-atul-gawande

Announced on 06 May 2015  10:37  a.m. by Anita E Kalathil

Awesome Panel on Thursday, Course Evaluations & Homework

Hey all,

Announcements from class today:

1. Awesome Panel This Thursday:

Join the Healthcare Club and Initiative for Health Systems Innovation for a women in health innovation panel! We have great healthcare executives lined up for the panel. Please see attached the flier for more information.

When: Thursday, May 7th , 11:45-12:50
Where: E62-262
RSVP: http://bit.ly/1EwxSbL

Speakers:
Deborah Thebald, Executive Director, Vecna
Bonnie A. Brescia, Founding Principle, BBK Worldwide
Gail Marcus, President and CEO, Calloway Labs

2. Last Homework posted

3. Course Evaluation Info:
This term, all subjects are using our SHORT set of universally relevant questions. It will take you only 3-5 minutes to complete an evaluation and your feedback is read and valued.

Visit: http://web.mit.edu/subjectevaluation

Announced on 05 May 2015  7:27  p.m. by Anita E Kalathil

Last Homework Assignment Update - Will be Posted on 5/5, Due 5/12

Hi all,

Title says it all, but the last homework assignment will be posted next Tuesday 5/5 and due the following week 5/12 in class as always.

Any confusion, please let me know.

Thanks!
Anita

Announced on 30 April 2015  8:00  p.m. by Anita E Kalathil