This is the second post in our series. The first described the general problem, this one focuses on actions management can take, the next on IT.
What can management do to minimize the damage from Spreadsheets that won’t die? The short answer is to insist on quality.
A. Require validation - “Garbage in, gospel out” is nothing new. Today GIGO works faster than ever, fed by more sources including the “cloud.” Don’t assume the staff has produced a solid conclusion without having data entry, calculations, and model assumptions tested by other people.
B. Insist presentations are accompanied by data - Traffic lights diagrams are easily understood but require supporting data to accompany it. Lots of bad decisions and failures have come from forgoing basic quality auditing.
C. Budget for good analysis - Spend the money to get the correct results. Solid analysis relies on people, time, and reasoning. “AI”, “KPI based recommendations”, “Alerts from applications” – all cost real money in front (AI and applications rules), recently (just-in-time analysis), or continuously (now and in the future). While software and sensors receive all the hype, it’s a small piece of the t
otal cost of ownership.
Our final part of the essay focuses on what IT can do to put these zombie spreadsheets to rest. Read our next installment on the Ekalore page or feed tomorrow.
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