3 ms·

'Excel' is a problem or a solution depending on the size of the business. For SMB, it is an enabler and quickly gets things done. For big businessess, "System

by njx 14y ago

'Excel' is a problem or a solution depending on the size of the business. For SMB, it is an enabler and quickly gets things done. For big businessess, "System of records", "single source truth","SOX", regulations, compliance etc don't mix well with Excel approaches. -- http://www.infocaptor.com/bubble_viz/insightsquaredcom201302tacklingtheexcelproblem.html http://www.infocaptor.com/bubble_viz/insightsquaredcom201302...

kamjam 14y ago
Exactly this. Sometimes you need to get something done quickly, and getting sign off for a "proper system" just takes too long, or there are too many budgetary constraints, or the dev team is working flat out on higher priority projects that means your will project will never likely see the light of day. And sometimes you just need something which is much more flexible than what a pre-programmed computer churns out. It's the reason that so many bank still use Excel for financial modelling. They can change a few parameters and instantly see the output of the bottom line. Totally agree with your second point, the trick is to get a proper system in place before the Excel gets too mammoth.
- witten 14y ago
  It sounds like using Excel correctly is as a prototyping tool or a means of doing one-offs. If that's the case, then Excel is to a proper business intelligence system as shell scripting is to a real programming language. Each has their place.
  - kamjam 14y ago
    Yes, I think that's a good way of putting it. I think it's data manipulation and reporting capabilities are excellent. In previous jobs where I used to work with a lot of data it was often easier just to output to Excel to allow the teams to manipulate and create whatever reports they needed.
    - joshuapayne 14y ago
      Indeed. As a product manager at the company authoring the post, I frequently prototype a new report in this manner.
- kyllo 14y ago
  This is why the business (intelligence/systems) analyst role was invented. If you have a business team that is making decisions based on data, you really need a dedicated person who is competent with databases, statistics, reporting, and visualization. Otherwise you will be doomed to drown in e-mails of Excel spreadsheets with manually copy-pasted data and broken formulas. This is how most businesses operate, and I'd go as far as to say it's a major reason why we have been in an economic recession.

by njx 14y ago

kamjam 14y ago

Exactly this. Sometimes you need to get something done quickly, and getting sign off for a "proper system" just takes too long, or there are too many budgetary constraints, or the dev team is working flat out on higher priority projects that means your will project will never likely see the light of day. And sometimes you just need something which is much more flexible than what a pre-programmed computer churns out. It's the reason that so many bank still use Excel for financial modelling. They can change a few parameters and instantly see the output of the bottom line. Totally agree with your second point, the trick is to get a proper system in place before the Excel gets too mammoth.

witten 14y ago
It sounds like using Excel correctly is as a prototyping tool or a means of doing one-offs. If that's the case, then Excel is to a proper business intelligence system as shell scripting is to a real programming language. Each has their place.
- kamjam 14y ago
  Yes, I think that's a good way of putting it. I think it's data manipulation and reporting capabilities are excellent. In previous jobs where I used to work with a lot of data it was often easier just to output to Excel to allow the teams to manipulate and create whatever reports they needed.
  - joshuapayne 14y ago
    Indeed. As a product manager at the company authoring the post, I frequently prototype a new report in this manner.
kyllo 14y ago
This is why the business (intelligence/systems) analyst role was invented. If you have a business team that is making decisions based on data, you really need a dedicated person who is competent with databases, statistics, reporting, and visualization. Otherwise you will be doomed to drown in e-mails of Excel spreadsheets with manually copy-pasted data and broken formulas. This is how most businesses operate, and I'd go as far as to say it's a major reason why we have been in an economic recession.