Getting Access to Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

You can write macros to do almost anything, but they aren't free. A well-written macro must be designed, implemented, tested, documented, and maintained. And for some, you'll have to train users so they know how and when to employ them. Making these investments is sensible only if the return on investment justifies it.

Macros that carry out tasks that are expensive might offer such justification. What makes a task expensive? One qualifier is task complexity. A task that is intricate and laborious might be a good candidate for replacement with a macro. Repetition is a second factor. If a task is performed reasonably often, it might also be a candidate.

A third factor is the cost of errors in performing the task. Even if a procedure is simple, and rarely performed, it can be worth replacing with a macro if the cost of an error is high enough.

Finally, there is speed. High throughput can provide a competitive advantage, by enabling procedures that would otherwise be impossible. For instance, if all sales regions place their data on network servers each night, an automatic roll-up macro can poll all their workbooks overnight and produce a detailed report each morning — even sending it by email to a subscription list for morning delivery.