Characteristics of a Good Spreadsheet and Importance of Formatting and Design for Data Presentation

This text discusses the characteristics of a good spreadsheet, the importance of formatting and design for data presentation, and the organizational requirements for ergonomics, work periods and breaks, and conservation techniques. It covers topics such as the VLOOKUP function, the SUM function, and the ISO 9001 naming convention. It also includes examples of rainfall data tables and explains the three R's for problem-solving.

Assessment 1
Question one
According to (Yusuf Jafry, 2008) and (Miller, 2009), the characteristics that make a good
spreadsheet are;
i. Choosing a good font. A good font ensures that the work is well appealing.
ii. Defining headers. Headers create a good appeal of the work.
iii. Adding a table style. Arrangement of words in good tables ensures the work appeal.
iv. Choosing colors carefully. The right color combination for the work improves appeal.
v. Using consistent cell styles. Consistency in the cell styles makes the work and
spreadsheets look appealing.
Question two
Effectiveness. The reported work should effectively communicate the content of our work (Frank
Hodge, 2009).
Appearance. The work being reported should be appealing and;
Consistency. The style of writing should be consistent throughout the report (Blackwood, 2014).
Question three
According to (Wilfried, 2014) and (PROKHOROVA, 2014) the three R’s are as;
Solving the right problem: This ensures that we have right solutions to specific problems.
Realistic: Solutions should be realistic and solve specific problems to ensure that the solution is
reliable.

Revise: There should be continuous revision of approaches towards solving of problems.
Question four
A table for recording rainfall for a
calender year
Dat
e
Janua
ry
Februa
ry
Mar
ch
Apr
il
Ma
y
Jun
e
Jul
y
Augu
st
Septem
ber
Octob
er
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Tot
al

Question five
Rainfall data for a calender year
Dat
e
Janu
ary
Febru
ary
Mar
ch
Ap
ril
M
ay
Ju
ne
Jul
y
Aug
ust
Septem
ber
Octo
ber
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
1 2 1 6 5
2 4 1 12
3 2 17 6
4 1 7 25
5 11 25 23 5
6 1 5 9
7 5 6 17 6
8 3 15 8
9 9 18 35 4
10 14 1 12 1
11 6 3 1 17 1
12 9 22
13 3 9 3 2
14 1 5 5 1
15 4 1 3
16 6 6 9 1 1
17 8 6 9
18 1 1 3
19 1 4 2
20 5 6 11 9 4
21 8 7 16
22 1 15 18 2
23 2 12 5
24 5 15 4
25 32 1
26 9 25 1
27 5 11 2 8
28 3 3 1
29 1
30 1 6
31 1 8
Tot
al 14 3 18 32 68
13
3
13
2 125 85 75 39 15

Question six
Rainfall data
Month Rainfall
January 14
February 3
March 18
April 32
May 68
June 133
July 132
August 125
September 85
October 75
November 39
December 15
Total 739
Question 7A
Dat
e
Janua
ry
Febru
ary
Mar
ch
Apr
il
Ma
y
Jun
e
Jul
y
Augu
st
Septem
ber
Octob
er
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
1 2 1 6 5
2 4 1 12
3 2 17 6
4 1 7 25
5 11 25 23 5
6 1 5 9
7 5 6 17 6
8 3 15 8
9 9 18 35 4

10 14 1 12 1
11 6 3 1 17 1
12 9 22
13 3 9 3 2
14 1 5 5 1
15 4 1 3
16 6 6 9 1 1
17 8 6 9
18 1 1 3
19 1 4 2
20 5 6 11 9 4
21 8 7 16
22 1 15 18 2
23 2 12 5
24 5 15 4
25 32 1
26 9 25 1
27 5 11 2 8
28 3 3 1
29 1
30 1 6
31 1 8
Tot
al 14 3 18 32 68
13
3
13
2 125 85 75 39 15
Question 7B
Rainfall data
Month Rainfall Adjustment Adjusted figure
January 14 0.98 14.98
February 3 0.21 3.21
March 18 1.26 19.26
April 32 2.24 34.24
May 68 4.76 72.76
June 133 9.31 142.31
July 132 9.24 141.24
August 125 8.75 133.75
September 85 5.95 90.95
October 75 5.25 80.25
November 39 2.73 41.73
December 15 1.05 16.05
Total 739 51.73 790.73

Question nine
Ans: It minimizes time on data entry
Ensures data is complete
Eliminates inconsistency from the data
Eliminates data non compliance
Question ten
Rainfall data for a calender year
Da
te
Janu
ary
Febru
ary
Mar
ch
Ap
ril
M
ay
Ju
ne
Ju
ly
Aug
ust
Septem
ber
Octo
ber
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
1 2 1 6 5
2 4 1 12
3 2 17 6
4 1 7 25
5 11 25 23 5
6 1 5 9
7 5 6 17 6
8 3 15 8
9 9 18 35 4
10 14 1 12 1
11 6 3 1 17 1
12 9 22
13 3 9 3 2
14 1 5 5 1
15 4 1 3
16 6 6 9 1 1
17 8 6 9
18 1 1 3
19 1 4 2
20 5 6 11 9 4
21 8 7 16
22 1 15 18 2
23 2 12 5
24 5 15 4
25 32 1

26 9 25 1
27 5 11 2 8
28 3 3 1
29 1
30 1 6
31 1 8
Tot
al 14 3 18 32 68
13
3
13
2 125 85 75 39 15
Question 11
Rainfall
Month
Year
Day Rain
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

29
30
31
Total 0
Question 13
Item Quantity Store
Biscuits 12 Bakery
Fillet steak 2 Butcher
Sausages 6 Butcher
Apples 5 Fruit and veg
Bananas 5 Fruit and veg
Onions 3 Fruit and veg
Potatoes 5 Fruit and veg
Newspaper 1 Newsagent
Milk 3 Supermarket
Washing up liquid 1 Supermarket
Orange juice 1 Supermarket
Question 14
Item Quantity Store
Biscuits 12 Bakery
Fillet steak 2 Butcher
Sausages 6 Butcher
Apples 5 Fruit and veg
Bananas 5 Fruit and veg
Onions 3 Fruit and veg
Potatoes 5 Fruit and veg
Newspaper 1 Newsagent
Milk 3 Supermarket
Washing up liquid 1 Supermarket
Orange juice 1 Supermarket

https://screenshots.firefox.com/k0vR5J2bXDPVKkck/null
Question 15
Rainfall data
Month Rainfall Adjustment Adjusted figure
January 14 0.98 14.98
February 3 0.21 3.21
March 18 1.26 19.26
April 32 2.24 34.24
May 68 4.76 72.76
June 133 9.31 142.31
July 132 9.24 141.24
August 125 8.75 133.75
September 85 5.95 90.95
October 75 5.25 80.25
November 39 2.73 41.73
December 15 1.05 16.05
Total 739 51.73 790.73
Question 16
An organization can be the ISOO 9001 naming convention (HIRSCH, 1996). This convention
suggests that files be named according to document level and document number separated by
hyphens for example, 74-2-2.
Question 17
The file which is not valid excel file is;
1. sales.docx
(Francez, 2013)

Question 18
Rainfall data
Month Rainfall Adjustment Adjusted figure
January 14 0.98 14.98
February 3 0.21 3.21
March 18 1.26 19.26
April 32 2.24 34.24
May 68 4.76 72.76
June 133 9.31 142.31
July 132 9.24 141.24
August 125 8.75 133.75
September 85 5.95 90.95
October 75 5.25 80.25
November 39 2.73 41.73
December 15 1.05 16.05
Total 739 51.73 790.73
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Rainfall monthly totals
Month
Rainfall

Question 19
a) The VLOOKUP FUNCTION
This is a function that is used to search for a chink of information from a large data set
and bring that data to a newly formed table.
b) The SUM function
This particular function is used to sum a set of numbers in a particular column of data. It
has a button specifically for it in the Home tab that can be used for summing after
selecting the part of the column.
Question 20
Formatting and design are very important for the presentation and readability of data in several
ways. First, a good design of a spreadsheet ensures that errors that would have otherwise gone
unnoticed are greatly reduced. This obviously enhances accuracy which is the goal of any
spreadsheet analysis. A good design also helps ensure easy navigability of the spreadsheet, ease
of use of the spreadsheet and reduce repetitive inputs and easy error location. A well formatted
spreadsheet is ensures data is presentable. It is also very clear and therefore easy to understand.
Question 21
Organisational requirements for ergonomics, work periods and breaks, and conservation
techniques are very important in a number of ways as is explained in this text. Firstly proper
requirements and by extension measures for ergonomics in a work place will help ensure
productivity for the full duration of working hours as. This is because measures are put in place
to ensure the worker is not fatigued at any point during the working hours thus ensuring that they

work without feeling wasted thereby greatly enhancing their productivity. In the same way
defined work periods and breaks not only ensure productivity but also timely delivery of
assigned tasks as workers will always be aware of the time required for them to deliver a
particular work assigned to them or what they must do once they are at work before taking a
break. They will also understand the lengths of the breaks and aim to maximize their outputs
within the specified time. Conservation techniques on the other hand ensures proper resource
utilization by promptly cutting down on wastes.
Question 22
One of the simplest yet most efficient energy and resource conservation technique is turning off
all electric devices when not in use. This can be done by making it a requirement or part of the
organizational safe work practices to ensure that all electric devices are switched off whenever
they are not in use. Follow up can always be done after a particular job requiring electrical use
has been completed to ensure this is done. Employees found not to have done this should then be
encouraged to do so next time. When this is done, it will ensure no unnecessary resource wastage
on electricity subscription bills.

Assessment 2
TASK B
Year
Month
Date Sales
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Total

Employee sales
Year
Mont
h
Employee
Day 1 2 3 4 5
Average daily
sales Highest daily sale
Lowest daily
sale
1 #DIV/0! 0 0
2 #DIV/0! 0 0
3 #DIV/0! 0 0
4 #DIV/0! 0 0
5 #DIV/0! 0 0
6 #DIV/0! 0 0
7 #DIV/0! 0 0
8 #DIV/0! 0 0
9 #DIV/0! 0 0
10 #DIV/0! 0 0
11 #DIV/0! 0 0
12 #DIV/0! 0 0
13 #DIV/0! 0 0
14 #DIV/0! 0 0
15 #DIV/0! 0 0
16 #DIV/0! 0 0
17 #DIV/0! 0 0
18 #DIV/0! 0 0
19 #DIV/0! 0 0
20 #DIV/0! 0 0
21 #DIV/0! 0 0
22 #DIV/0! 0 0
23 #DIV/0! 0 0
24 #DIV/0! 0 0
25 #DIV/0! 0 0
26 #DIV/0! 0 0
27 #DIV/0! 0 0
28 #DIV/0! 0 0
29 #DIV/0! 0 0
30 #DIV/0! 0 0
31 #DIV/0! 0 0

References
Blackwood, N. (2014). Advanced Excel Reporting for Management Accountants (Blackwood/Advanced)
|| Management Accounting and Excel. 5.
Francez, N. (2013). Extended naming conventions for communicating processes. 14.
Frank Hodge, P. E. (2009). Management reporting incentives and classification credibility: The effects of
reporting discretion and reputation. 12.
HIRSCH, D. B. (1996). File It Under EZ2Remember: Adherence to naming conventions can avoid
document retrieval problems. 2.
Miller, S. G. (2009). The Simplified Menu-Cost Spreadsheet: Here's an easy way to use a computer
spreadsheet as a menu-analysis tool to help you get a handle on food costs and profits. 4.
PROKHOROVA. (2014). METHODS OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. 9.
Wilfried, L. (2014). Integrated Performance Management strategy. Review of Business and Economics
Studies, 11.
Yusuf Jafry, C. M.-N. (2008). The Use of Spreadsheet Software in the Application of Management Science
and Operations Research || Hypo International Strengthens Risk Management with a Large-
Scale, Secure Spreadsheet-Management Framework. 8.