Authors
Yolande Chan & Veda Storey
Abstract
Spreadsheets have long been recognized as important tools for end-user computing. This research explores their use within business organizations.
A survey was carried out to investigate the relationships among tasks, spreadsheet proficiency, usage, and satisfaction. The results suggested that the spreadsheet proficiency can have a greater impact on the tasks than the task can have on the spreadsheet proficiency.
It was also found that spreadsheet users often do not use many of the commonly available spreadsheet features, and they do not appear inclined to use other software packages for their tasks, even if these packages might be more suitable.
The proficiency of the spreadsheet users was not found to be related to the importance of the decisions being taken as a result of the spreadsheet analyses.
Sample
The research examined relationships between the user's functional area, tasks performed, training, user's level of spreadsheet proficiency, source of data, and the importance of their analyses in the companys' decision making and operations.
Publication
1996, Information & Management, Volume 31, number 3, December, pages 119-134
Full article
The use of spreadsheets in organizations: Determinants and consequences
