Authors
C. Wendy Olphert & John M. Wilson
Abstract
This paper describes an investigation into the influence of contingency factors on the validation of spreadsheet-based decision support systems (DSS), and develops a methodological framework for validation that takes account of the effect of contingency factors.
The research extends and confirms previous research by one of the authors who identified relevant contingency factors. The perceived influence of these contingency factors on validation effort was investigated by an empirical study, and the results of this study were then used to derive contingency-related guidance for validation.
This was evaluated by a sample of practitioners and academics with experience in the development of spreadsheet-based DSS, and was then incorporated into a methodological framework for validation.
The framework is designed to enable managers, decision-makers, project leaders and other non-OR specialists to identify the extent of validation effort likely to be required to ensure that the spreadsheet models that they build are valid. The research has implications for the validation of other types of OR models.
Sample
The data collected during the interviews were used to construct an influence diagram, indicating the expected direction of the effect of the contingency factors on validation effort:
- A plus sign indicates that the higher the level of the factor, if present, the greater the validation effort.
- A minus sign indicates that the higher the level of the factor, the lower the level of validation effort.
- Both signs together indicates that the value of the factor could result in either more or less validation.
Publication
2004, The Journal of the Operational Research Society, Volume 55, Number 1, January, pages 12-22
Full article
Validation of decision-aiding spreadsheets: The influence of contingency factors
