STUDY REGARDING THE USE OF THE TOOLS OFFERED BY MICROSOFT EXCEL SOFTWARE IN THE ACTIVITY OF THE BIHOR COUNTY COMPANIES

Abstract

A business activity involves many decision situations. These include organization, aggregation, processing, modelling and analysis of large volumes of information. By using specialized software that provides tools for analysis, aggregation and data modeling, company managers can quickly obtain significant information about company activity. For different reasons some companies are opting for a summary analysis of data, while others for a complex analysis of the data. Many companies use spreadsheet applications for inventory, data processing, modeling and analysis, useful for business activities. Microsoft Excel software is used by many of those who know and use spreadsheet applications for carrying out the work. Using tools to organize, aggregate, modelling and data analysis provided by spreadsheet application, these companies can make complex economic analyses and prognoses that lead to better decisions. For example, the Pivot tables are a simple way to extract relevant information from complex data sets in a quick and simple manner. Solver can be used to solve optimization problems. Correlation is useful in interpreting the relationships between various indicators. Based on these considerations we conducted a study in which we sought to obtain information on how instruments such as Pivot tables, Solver and Correlation are used in the business activities of companies. Companies that attaches high importance of using Pivot tables are medium and large companies. Among the companies using Solver tool, very little use GRG Nonlinear and Evolutionary Algorithms. Therefore, the Solver is used more to resolving optimization problems involving linear modeling. Correlation tool, which could help decision makers to understand more easily why the increasing of one of the factors implies the change of other factors and consequently help them make better decisions, is used far too little. Still too many companies give less importance to data organizing, aggregation, processing, modelling and presentation in a manner suitable for efficient decision making. This is due mainly because of insufficient knowledge of the Microsoft Excel abilities by the employees. Collected and stored data are not used to their full value. In this way, companies do not have information that could provide advantages in a rapidly changing market.