Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Session 13
Using Macros I

acros, usually seen as a technical element of any spreadsheet model, are also an important tool of the manager. By encapsulating commonly used techniques in a macro, the manager assures that every time that technique is used, it's used in exactly the same way. This is the most valuable attribute of any macro — it increases the reliability of the models that use it.

A second advantage, of course, is decreased development cost. Once you have the macro, using it is as easy as using any Excel worksheet function. All intermediate forms are subsumed into the macro. While the costs of any models that use the macro decline, the organization does have to build and maintain the macro, and that isn't free. So choose wisely those clichés that you capture in macro form.

In this session, you'll build a few simple macros. The goal of this session is to introduce you to some of the issues that arise for a macro writer. As a manager, you'll benefit from some appreciation of those issues — you'll be better able to manage macro writers, and you'll have a better feel for what the tradeoffs are.

Below is a summary of the materials for Session 13.

• Readings
  • Excel Macros in Visual Basic for Applications
• Class notes
  • As PowerPoint: 2000-4 or 2007+
  • As Web pages
• Demonstration
  • Narrative
  • Excel Example: 2000-4 or 2007+
• Homework assignment
• Solution to Problem Set 12
  • Narrative
  • Excel Solution: 2000-4 or 2007+