7.9: Hands-on Exercise - Mini Decision Lab (Pivot + What-If + Audit)
- Page ID
- 138198
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Hands-On Exercise: Mini Decision Lab (Pivot + What-If + Audit)
Turn raw sales data into insights, test assumptions, and validate calculations.
Data Setup
- In SalesData (convert to Table with Ctrl+T), include: Date, Month, Region, Rep, Category, Units, Unit_Price.
- Add a calculated column Revenue = =[@Units]*[@Unit_Price].
Part A — Pivot Analysis
- Insert a PivotTable from SalesData.
- Build view 1: Rows = Category, Columns = Month, Values = Sum of Revenue.
- Build view 2: Rows = Region, Values = Average of Revenue (format as Currency).
- Add a slicer for Region (optional) and a PivotChart (Clustered Column) for view 1.
Part B — Goal Seek (Back-solve)
- On a new sheet (Targets), enter: Target Monthly Revenue (cell B2), Current Units Sold (B3), Unit Price (B4), and a formula Projected Revenue = B3*B4 (B5).
- Use Data ▸ What-If Analysis ▸ Goal Seek to set B5 to the target in B2 by changing B3 (units).
- Record the required units as the solution.
Part C — Scenario Manager (Compare cases)
- On Scenarios sheet, set inputs: Units (C3), Unit Price (C4), Discount % (C5).
- Output cell Projected Revenue (C7) = C3*C4*(1-C5).
- Scenario Manager: create three scenarios (Conservative, Expected, Aggressive) by changing C3:C5.
- Produce a Scenario Summary (choose C7 as the result cell).
Part D — Audit & Harden
- Pick a complex formula (e.g., Revenue per Rep on a report sheet). Run Trace Precedents and Trace Dependents.
- Use Evaluate Formula to step through and identify any logic issues.
- Wrap fragile portions with IFERROR (e.g., =IFERROR(A/B, "Check input")) and add data validation for key inputs.
Deliverables
- Sheet Pivot (two PivotTables + one PivotChart)
- Sheet Targets (Goal Seek)
- Sheet Scenarios (Scenario Summary)
- Sheet AuditNotes (1–3 bullets on issues found + fixes)