Compute the payback period for each of these two separate investments: A new operating system for an existing machine is expected to cost $280,000 and have a useful life of five years. The system yields an incremental after-tax income of $80,769 each year after deducting its straight-line depreciation. The predicted salvage value of the system is $11,000. A machine costs $200,000, has a $15,000 salvage value, is expected to last seven years, and will generate an after-tax income of $44,000 per year after straight-line depreciation.

Leading guitar string producer wound up inc. has enjoyed a competitive advantage based on its proprietary coating that gives its strings a clearer sound and longer lifespan than uncoated strings. one of wound up's competitors, however, has recently developed a similar coating using less expensive ingredients, which allows it to charge a lower price than wound up for similar-quality strings. wound up's competitive advantage is in danger due to a. a lack of perceived value b. a lack of organization c. direct imitation and substitution d. resource immobility