Spreadsheet Models for Managers


Getting Access to Spreadsheet Models for Managers


If Spreadsheet Models for Managersyou use Excel to model businesses, business processes, or business transactions, this course will change your life. You’ll learn how to create tools for yourself that will amaze even you. Unrestricted use of this material is available in two ways.

As a stand-alone Web site
It resides on your computer, and you can use it anywhere. No need for Internet access.
At this Web site
If you have access to the Internet whenever you want to view this material, you can purchase on-line access. Unlimited usage. I’m constantly making improvements and you’ll get them as soon as they’re available.

To Order On Line

Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, on-line edition, one month" by credit card, for USD 69.95 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.
Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, on-line edition, three months" by credit card, for USD 199.00 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.
Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, downloadable hyperbook edition" by credit card, for USD 199.00 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.

To Order by Mail

Make your check payable to Chaco Canyon Consulting, for the amount indicated:
  • For the download: USD 199.00
  • For access online for three months: USD 199.00
  • For access online for one month: USD 69.95
And send it to:
Chaco Canyon Consulting
700 Huron Avenue, Suite 19C
Cambridge, MA 02138

To use the course software you’ll need some other applications, which you very probably already have. By placing your order, you’re confirming that you have the software you need, as described on this site.

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Partial credit on homework 1/8
Session Links
  • We grade homework on both method and result
  • There are many paths to a numerically correct result
  • We want you to use the methods we teach
    • Getting the right answer is not enough
    • Using the methods we teach is also required
  • We’ll give partial credit if:
    • Your method was almost right, but contained some errors, leading to an incorrect result
    • Your result was correct, but you somehow misapplied (or failed to use) the methods we’re teaching
  • Examples of methods we want you to use when appropriate (after we present them):
    • Ripple principle
    • User-defined names
    • Array arithmetic
    • …many more

Your grade reflects how well your work demonstrates
mastery of the concepts and techniques we’re teaching

To enable us to give partial credit for incorrect results, we must allocate some credit to methods used. Not just any method will do. We want you to use the methods we’re teaching.

Some students have difficulty with this concept. They feel that as long as they find the “right answer,” we should grant full credit. We understand this point of view, and recognize that in some courses grades are allocated according to that standard. But that isn’t how we approach grading. We require not only a correct result, but also a method consistent with the principles we’re trying to convey. Those principles are valuable, because they reduce the likelihood of error and reduce maintenance costs for spreadsheets. We regard them as important enough to grade your level of mastery of these ideas, and we ask that you demonstrate mastery.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Apr-2016 04:15:26 EDT

Deciding What to Read

The first homework assignment has a fair amount of reading attached to it. Some students feel that the best approach is to read it all, and then try to do the homework. For most of us, such an approach doesn’t work very well.

Before you begin the course, read the general material, such as “Getting Started,” “Software You Need for This Course,” and “How to Work.”

Later, as you begin the homework, let the homework drive your reading choices. For instance, the first homework assignment does require that you master certain techniques. Read “Names” and “The Ripple Principle.” Then, if something confuses you, read up on it: examples are “The Basics of Recalculation” and “References.” Learning something when you need it, and only when you need it, is usually the best way to go.

Avoid Redundant Parentheses

Parentheses sometimes make a real difference. For instance A1*B1+2 is very different from A1*(B1+2). But A1*(B1*2) is exactly the same as A1*B1*2. When the parentheses don’t make any difference in the value of the result, it’s not usually a good idea to include them. They tend to make the formulas harder to read, and there’s always the chance that you’ll put them in the wrong place. More