| Step 1: Make Cell E6, Total Sales, the
active cell by placing the cursor on it. |
Permutation control behaviors can be assigned to individual cells to
deliver alternative models thus creating an omnidirectional modeling environment. |
| Step 2 Click on the Interactive
speedbutton on the toolbar to activate the interactive permutation method for permutations
which affect this cell. |
Among the toolbar speedbutons are these three permutation controls. The
first is for an automatic increment to the next permutation in a sequntial fashion, the
second is a control to select a single impact mode of behavior for the current cell, and
finally, the third is the interactive impact behavior. This third behavior prompts the
user dynamically during a model permutation to select a path for the model permutation
process to follow. |
| Step 3 Select cell E15, net profit, by
placing the cursor on it. Then, in order to solve for a breakeven price or mailing volume
enter the value zero. This has the effect of triggering a model permutation. |
In this omnidirectional example, a zero net profit triggers a model
permutation. Since this model permutation affects cell E6, which is an interactive impact
cell, an interactive targeting dialog will be displayed for dynamic targeting and delivery
of alternative forms of analysis at the user's direction. |
| Step 4 During the model permutation
process just triggered in step 3, the interactive permutation behavior is triggered at
cell E6. The interactive behavior prompts the user to select a next cell to permute. In
this case cell E5 is highlighted which is average price. |
Shown is a targeting mechanism for Interactive user selection of a
permutation path during model permutations. This mechanism delivers dynamic user
interaction to answer various analytical questions based upon a single initial user
defined model. In this example the user selects cell E5 which solves for average price. |
| Step 5 After the model permutation
is complete, it is recalcuated. In this model permutation the user selected cell E6 to
become a formula cell which has calcualted a value of $364.73. This is the breakeven price
given the model's financial structure and a mailing volume of 1,500 pieces. |
The selected model permutation solves for average price at 1,500 units
mailed. |
| Overview In contrast to the previous
example, What-if Modeling Example, cell B3 remains an
input cell while cell E5 becomes a calculated cell. Cell E15 triggers the permutation
process and changes from a formula cell to an input cell.
This model, as a whole, is a different model than the initial model and a different
model from the What-if Modeling Example. Thus, we have
identified three different models that are automatically available for use based upon the
initial user defined model. These alternatives spring from the Aware Technology
implementation of pemutation enhanced modeling. |
The initial model is driven by the number of mailing pieces to solve for net profit.
The What-if Modeling Example is driven by a net
profit value to solve for mailing pieces. Finally, this Omnidirectional Permutations
example is driven by net profit, and interactively allows the user to select between a
solution that leads to mailing pieces or alternatively that leads to the average price.
These three alternatives represent significantly different analytical perspectives driven
from a single initial user defined model.
Within the initial model, there are other analytical questions that are available
depending upon the cell that is triggered and the permutation controls that have been
used. In this example we have shown you one new control, the interactive permutation
behavior which is user selectable from the toolbar speedbuttons. There are a whole list of
additional speedbuttons and corresponding permutation behaviors that continue to expand
upon the models productivity and permutation possibilities.
We have shown three simple examples to illustrate the just a small portion of the
potential alternative controls for omnidirectional permutations which can deliver
potentially unlimited options. As models become larger and interrelationships more
numerous the possibilities grow exponentially!
We describe the benefits of this type of omnidirectional permutation behavior by the
slogan, "write once, use many models." Clearly there is a significant
productivity impact when you are able to answer numerous analytical questions found in
alternative forms of the initial model. The Patented Aware™ technology delivers these
omnidirectional permutation behaviors with the benefits of increased analytical scope
without the need to write multiple models to resolve each new question that you ask the
model to answer.
Thus the advantage and power in what-if modeling is the exponential increase in the
number of questions that you can ask a model to answer.
Go Back to: What-if Modeling Example
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