Cash Flow Estimation biases are hindrance to the financial or
investment planning of the firm/ business organisation.
To curb the cash flow estimation biases one needs to follow
certain steps or plan of action:
- First: Preplanning - Preplanning of the project for estimation
is must. One must be ready with the required information,
resources, plan of action & goal determined. Because it will
ensure that there are no major hindrances to the estimation
process.
- Second: Ensuring the data source is legit or viable and
uptodate - i.e. if the organisation is into financing a newer
project, it needs to get market data & if the data source is
not apt or it is old then the estimates no matter how accurate they
are, will make no sense.
- Third: Accuracy of the data - For any financial/investment
decision the company will rely on accounting datasets of its own
& the external sources. So it is very important to ensure
accuracy beforehand.
- Fourth: Peer Reviewing or Cross Checking - Cash Flow
Estimates are based on assumptions of the estimator. Thus there is
possibility that the estimator has either missed something or has
incorporated a wrong assumption. Therefore getting reviews or
rechecked from experts will reduce estimation errors.
- Fifth: Opinions - Once the estimations are ready, it can be
rolled out for opinions from all the members who are associated
with the decision. This is important step because, it is known that
there can be a behavioural/psychological influence on estimation.
Therefore, opinions or discussion on the estimations will be
beneficial if the estimations are based on overoptimism or
pessimism.