Learning Excel What-If Analysis
1h 22mIntermediate2022-02-08
Authors
Curt Frye
President of Technology and Society, Incorporated
Course details
Excel is a useful and versatile tool, but did you know you can also use it to analyze hypothetical business cases? Instructor Curt Frye walks you through the complete process. Curt begins by showing you how to create, define, edit, and delete scenarios, then goes into defining data tables. He explains how to use Goal Seek and Solver to create models, define constraints, and require integer solutions. Next, Curt covers ways to organize your analysis worksheet, use checkboxes to turn options on and off, and manipulate a worksheet model to analyze your business. Plus, he defines and demonstrates how to perform a Monte Carlo simulation.
Learning objectives
Explain how to create a scenario in Excel.
Identify the two input values that should be used to create a two variable data table.
Recall what the Excel feature Goal Seek is used for.
Recognize the three things that must be separated from one another to make reading a worksheet with multiple units easier.
Describe the tools that Excel provides to manipulate data.
Break down the steps required to recalculate a worksheet's formulas.
Learning objectives
Explain how to create a scenario in Excel.
Identify the two input values that should be used to create a two variable data table.
Recall what the Excel feature Goal Seek is used for.
Recognize the three things that must be separated from one another to make reading a worksheet with multiple units easier.
Describe the tools that Excel provides to manipulate data.
Break down the steps required to recalculate a worksheet's formulas.
Skills covered
SpreadsheetsBusiness StrategyMicrosoft ExcelBusiness Analysis and StrategyLeadership and ManagementBusiness Software and ToolsMicrosoftOne-Off
Concepts
0. Introduction
- 01 - Improve decision-making with what-if analysis
- 02 - What you should know
1. Defining Scenarios and Data Tables
- 03 - Create a scenario
- 04 - Show and hide scenarios
- 05 - Summarize scenarios
- 06 - Edit and delete scenarios
- 07 - Define a one-variable data table
- 08 - Define a two-variable data table
2. Creating Goal Seek and Solver Models
- 09 - Find a target value using Goal Seek
- 10 - Activate Solver
- 11 - Set up a Solver worksheet
- 12 - Select an optimization target and operation
- 13 - Define constraints
- 14 - Require integer solutions
3. Creating a Configurable Model
- 15 - Organize your analysis worksheet
- 16 - Create a slider
- 17 - Create check boxes
- 18 - Manipulate your model
4. Performing Monte Carlo Simulation
- 19 - Define a scenario
- 20 - Create an input table
- 21 - Calculate demand
- 22 - Run and evaluate your simulation
Conclusion
- 23 - Next steps