Authors
Leonidas Anastasakis, C. Wendy Olphert, & John M. Wilson
Abstract
The use of spreadsheets has become routine in all aspects of business with usage growing across a range of functional areas and a continuing trend towards end user spreadsheet development.
However, several studies have raised concerns about the accuracy of spreadsheet models in general, and of end user developed applications in particular, raising the risk element for users. High error rates have been discovered, even though the users/developers were confident that their spreadsheets were correct. The lack of an easy to use, context-sensitive validation methodology has been highlighted as a significant contributor to the problems of accuracy.
This paper describes experiences in using a practical, contingency factor-based methodology for validation of spreadsheet-based DSS. Because the end user is often both the system developer and a stakeholder, the contingency factor-based validation methodology may need to be used in more than one way. The methodology can also be extended to encompass other DSS.
Sample
This diagram summarizes the three-step approach to developing a practical methodology for spreadsheet-based decision support systems (DSS).
Publication
2008, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Volume 59, Number 6, June, pages 756-761
Full article
Experiences in using a contingency factor-based validation methodology for spreadsheet DSS
