Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

7-2008

Abstract

Excel spreadsheets have been used in many classrooms to teach modeling and analysis of real business problems. This can be done with relative ease but often the modeling approach may be inappropriate and the analysis results not easily implemented. In this article, we illustrate these difficulties with the modeling of the number of equipment required in future years, given demand (historical and projected) and the amount of equipment held. We show how the desired output can be, and needs to be related to the given input. For this purpose, we apply the TREND function to predict data into future years. The real learning of this article comes from deriving actionable implementation solutions from the modeling results. We discuss this in terms of converting future equipment numbers into an equipment acquisition plan.

Discipline

Computer Sciences | Education | Management Information Systems

Research Areas

Intelligent Systems and Optimization

Publication

Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education

Volume

6

Issue

2

First Page

365

Last Page

373

ISSN

1540-4595

Identifier

10.1111/j.1540-4609.2008.00181.x

Publisher

Wiley

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4609.2008.00181.x

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