Authors
Dermot Balson
Abstract
This is a business case study of three simple guidelines:
- Make it easy to check (and maintain).
- Make it safe to use.
- Keep business logic out of code.
These guidelines changed user attitudes and improved spreadsheet quality in a financial services organisation.
Sample
We learned that:
- Everybody makes mistakes, even experts.
- Spreadsheet mistakes vary widely.
- Mistakes happen even on large, important models built by finance 'experts'.
- Models need to be checked, but it is almost impossible to eliminate errors.
- Checking is hard to do well, and requires a certain mindset.
User attitudes can be effectively addressed with attitudinal guidelines, provided they are strongly supported by management and reinforced with skills training.
Guidelines are not a substitute for training and discipline, but they provide relevance for safety techniques, and they also appear to make users more receptive to improving their skills, leading to more effective training.
Publication
2010, EuSpRIG
