Excel Basics to Blackbelt: An Accelerated Guide to Decision Support Designs
Review of previous edition: 'There's nothing else out there that covers the full potential of Excel in the way that this text does. It's easy to read even if you're a novice to graphical decision support tool development, but it has gems that I doubt some of the most advanced developers are even aware of. The presentation of various approaches to leveraging Excel with other applications such as MS MapPoint, XLStat, and RISKOptimizer is particularly valuable. Similarly eye-opening are the unique tactics Bendoly presents for capitalizing on many of the built-in but underutilized capabilities of Excel. The application examples provided serve as the building blocks for a whole universe of DSS development now made accessible to readers at all levels. This book should become a standard reference for analysts and consultants regardless of industry.' Daniel Bachrach, University of AlabamaReview of previous edition: 'This is a must-read book for people seeking to get the best out of the wonderful tool of Excel. It fits in the sweet spot between the 'Excel made simple' and the math- and stat-based Excel technical manuals. The practical feel of the book is conveyed through such evocative section headings as Harvesting Intelligence and Leveraging Dynamic Analysis. Though each of the chapters is worthy of comment, I think that the chapter on Scenario Generation and Optimization is of particular interest to managers wanting to put some real muscle behind their search for the best decision in the face of uncertainty. All together, this book is a major contribution to the business literature.' Richard B. Chase, University of Southern CaliforniaReview of previous edition: 'Excel is the duct tape of decision support - handy, pervasive, and surprisingly effective. Bendoly's book helps users unlock its considerable power while avoiding costly errors. You'll be amazed at all you can do with a spreadsheet.' Thomas H. Davenport, Babson CollegeReview of previous edition: 'Excel Basics to Blackbelt provides the guidance and tools needed to help anyone develop a solid analytical skill set from the ground up. The skills I learned were instrumental in helping me differentiate myself from my peers and [become] a go-to resource for both my team members and clients.' Geoffrey Grant, Deloitte