electronic spreadsheets are among the most popular types of programs sold for microcomputers and have been instrumental in bringing microcomputers onto business desktops. electronic spreadsheets originally evolved as standalone packages. that is the spreadsheet packages were designed to operate independently with no interaction or data transfers from files created by other packages. however consider the function of spreadsheets to present data from many sources in a comparative format. this function is applicable for decision making activities in virtually every area of business.
one of the most valuable features of electronic spreadsheets is its ability to perform calculations. cells can contain arithmetic symbols that instruct the computer to ad subtract multiply or divide values from other cells. Upon entry of a single instruction the computer performs these calculations with both speed and accuracy.
people can ask any number of "what if" questions by changing numbers of formulas and the spreadsheet then quickly recalculates new answers. thus armed with a computer and electronic spreadsheet software people interested in forecasting no longer need to spend long hours with a calculator to develop a complete "what if" analysis.
the primary value of electronic spreadsheets lies in the ease of making and processing changes. people can create large worksheets a thousand rows by several hundred columns with greater accuracy and in less time than with manual methods. As result people can test data under many circumstances to build a broader base of information from which to make decisions.