Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets

Before spreadsheets, modeling of business concerns required some competency in mathematics (algebra, calculus, statistics, and probability) and in computer programming, skills that are rather intimidating for the average business executive and management school student. However, the spreadsheet and...

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Main Authors: LEONG, Thin Yin, CHEONG, Michelle L. F.
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Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2008
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/807
https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.1080.0015
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spelling sg-smu-ink.sis_research-18062018-08-20T06:56:47Z Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets LEONG, Thin Yin CHEONG, Michelle L. F. Before spreadsheets, modeling of business concerns required some competency in mathematics (algebra, calculus, statistics, and probability) and in computer programming, skills that are rather intimidating for the average business executive and management school student. However, the spreadsheet and the personal computer revolution challenged that paradigm. With its simple intuitive interface, direct interactivity, and universal presence, the humble spreadsheet has made business modeling much easier and has been considered by many analysts as the tool of choice for exploring business opportunities. Many university professors have already adopted spreadsheets as their computing platform in support of teaching business mathematics, statistics, and management science courses. Though some business modeling skills can be learned when spreadsheets are used in the courses, they are often secondary to the task of delivering the main subject content. Working out business challenges in the real world, however, requires good spreadsheet modeling skills, in particular that of using the spreadsheet for rapid understanding of ill-defined and unstructured situations. It has been argued that basic modeling skills should be taught prior to management science methods. We agree and further assert here that modeling skills should be taught in a separate full course on "exploratory" modeling of general business challenges rather than "computational" modeling of standard problems relevant to the application of management science methods. We have designed and successfully delivered to thousands of undergraduates over the past four years a course in business modeling with spreadsheets. In this paper, we will discuss the novelty of our course content and approach and will elaborate on the key pedagogical challenges. 2008-01-01T08:00:00Z text https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/807 info:doi/10.1287/ited.1080.0015 https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.1080.0015 Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University spreadsheets business problems teaching exploratory modeling Business Computer Sciences Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering
institution Singapore Management University
building SMU Libraries
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider SMU Libraries
collection InK@SMU
language English
topic spreadsheets
business problems
teaching
exploratory modeling
Business
Computer Sciences
Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering
spellingShingle spreadsheets
business problems
teaching
exploratory modeling
Business
Computer Sciences
Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering
LEONG, Thin Yin
CHEONG, Michelle L. F.
Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets
description Before spreadsheets, modeling of business concerns required some competency in mathematics (algebra, calculus, statistics, and probability) and in computer programming, skills that are rather intimidating for the average business executive and management school student. However, the spreadsheet and the personal computer revolution challenged that paradigm. With its simple intuitive interface, direct interactivity, and universal presence, the humble spreadsheet has made business modeling much easier and has been considered by many analysts as the tool of choice for exploring business opportunities. Many university professors have already adopted spreadsheets as their computing platform in support of teaching business mathematics, statistics, and management science courses. Though some business modeling skills can be learned when spreadsheets are used in the courses, they are often secondary to the task of delivering the main subject content. Working out business challenges in the real world, however, requires good spreadsheet modeling skills, in particular that of using the spreadsheet for rapid understanding of ill-defined and unstructured situations. It has been argued that basic modeling skills should be taught prior to management science methods. We agree and further assert here that modeling skills should be taught in a separate full course on "exploratory" modeling of general business challenges rather than "computational" modeling of standard problems relevant to the application of management science methods. We have designed and successfully delivered to thousands of undergraduates over the past four years a course in business modeling with spreadsheets. In this paper, we will discuss the novelty of our course content and approach and will elaborate on the key pedagogical challenges.
format text
author LEONG, Thin Yin
CHEONG, Michelle L. F.
author_facet LEONG, Thin Yin
CHEONG, Michelle L. F.
author_sort LEONG, Thin Yin
title Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets
title_short Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets
title_full Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets
title_fullStr Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets
title_full_unstemmed Teaching Business Modeling using Spreadsheets
title_sort teaching business modeling using spreadsheets
publisher Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University
publishDate 2008
url https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sis_research/807
https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.1080.0015
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