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Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science pp 780–782Cite as

Spreadsheets

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INTRODUCTION

The electronic spreadsheet is a computer application that displays on a computer screen a worksheet, which is a rectangular grid of numeric and text information. This row and column organization mimics many situations, such as an accountant's worksheet, a teacher's grade book, an invoice, or a scientist's data journal. Through the use of the computer keyboard and pointing device (mouse), the user is able to manipulate the information using mathematical operations, logical operations, and text operations. The worksheet is the foundation for graphs and reports designed to communicate information in a user-friendly manner.

The computer spreadsheet, operating primarily on personal computers, is a serious business tool. It is used for a myriad applications, including simple budgets, cash flow analysis, financial planning, optimizing investments, tracking production, forecasting, facilities analysis, and printing address labels.

VisiCalc, the first personal computer...

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References

  1. For a full description of contemporary spreadsheets, see the documentation provided with current versions of spreadsheet software. These publishers include: Corel Corporation, publishers of Quattro Pro. Lotus Development Corporation, publishers of 1-2-3. Microsoft Corporation, publishers of Microsoft Excel.

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  2. For information about spreadsheet add-ins, contact publishers such as Palisade Corporation; Decisioneering, Inc.; Frontline Systems Inc.; and Lindo Systems Inc.

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  3. Saffo, P. (1989). “Looking at VisiCalc 10 Years Later,” Personal Computing, 13, 233–236.

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  4. Plane, D.R. (1994). Management Science: A Spreadsheet Approach. Boyd & Fraser, Danvers, Massachusetts.

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  5. Winston, W.L. and Albright, S.C. (1997). Practical Management Science: Spreadsheet Modeling and Applications. Duxbury Press, Belmont, California.

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  6. Ragsdale, C.T. (1998). Spreadsheet Modeling and Decision Analysis: A Practical Introduction to Management Science, South-Western College Publishing, Cincinnati, Ohio.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, USA

    Donald R. Plane

Authors
  1. Donald R. Plane
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Part, Maryland, USA

    Saul I. Gass

  2. School of Information Technology & Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA

    Carl M. Harris

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© 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Plane, D.R. (2001). Spreadsheets . In: Gass, S.I., Harris, C.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0611-X_984

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0611-X_984

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-7827-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-0611-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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