Introducing Visual Basic for Application in a Spreadsheet Modeling Course

Abstract

Spreadsheet modeling courses often introduce students enrolled in undergraduate and master's degree programs in decision sciences and data analytics to key concepts in optimization and simulation. Use of Visual Basic for applications (VBA) can significantly extend Excel's capabilities. For instance, with VBA one can create one's own functions, automate repetitive tasks, perform a series of interrelated activities (e.g., setting up and running a model with no user intervention). provide a front-end interface for a model, and tackle complex problems that do not have ready-made textbook solutions. This article provides several relevant examples for students taking a spreadsheet modeling course that can introduce them in a few hours to some of the possibilities that VBA opens for enhancing model versatility and usability.