I like spreadsheets. But not for everything (Part 1 of 3)

I like spreadsheets. I really do. I don’t have a love affair with them as some people do, but they can be used for so many different things to help you get the job done. And if I knew half as much as my sister-in-law (who trains others at CP in her excel expertise), I could do even more. Of course, the best problems they solve are ones where you need numbers crunched.

As I learn about different businesses and the way they work, so many of them are managing an astounding amount of their business-critical work using spreadsheets.  On one hand, this makes perfect sense on a number of different levels: spreadsheets are very familiar as everyone has virtually used one; they are inexpensive and there is usually no incremental cost to use them; and they can be quickly setup by a project manager – and changed just as fast. 

But (and it’s a big but),

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