Real Options Framework for Dealing with Uncertainty in Project Management: A Moroccan Infrastructure Project

Abstract

The Real Options Valuation allows for the consideration of possible options that are instinctively embedded in investment projects, in which the decision-makers have the flexibility to respond to the outcome of uncertainty. The business managers’ abilities to react to future market conditions tend to impact the value of the investment project by maintaining or improving the upside potential and limiting the downside loss. This process must be regulated by a decision analysis model, capable of capturing the particularities of each project. This paper presents detailed literature review of the real options, includes their area of applications in the literature, then proposes a framework to ease the understanding and the use of this method. Later, a case study of a Moroccan infrastructure project, that had already undergone an evaluation, is outlaid. The paper fully addresses the gaps of the previous study, provides a corrected model for an improved valuation of this project and a suitable use of real options. It also illustrates its application and analyzes the obtained results.