Getting Access to Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Some students feel that homework problems should be directly parallel to what we discuss in class. We disagree, because exact parallelism isn't available in the real world.

When you try to apply in the real world what we'll be showing you, the real world will make no such commitment to you. You need to practice what we show you, that much is true. But you also need to practice applying what we show you to situations that aren't quite the same as what we presented in class. Only when you can do that will you have learned anything useful, that will distinguish you as an employee and professional of outstanding capability. Some of the homework we assign is intended to "stretch" you in this way.

A similar situation exists in the area of ambiguity. Some of the word problems we assign can be interpreted in different ways. In the real world, ambiguity abounds. Our homework is intended to give you practice in determining the most probable interpretation.

Even with all of that, you still have an advantage over the real world in this class. That advantage derives from the knowledge that the critical steps needed for each homework assignment are in some way related to the topics of that assignment. In the real world, you'll find no such guidance.