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See Also:     Omnidirectional Example     Permutation Controls:  Toolbar Speedbuttons      Menu Commands

AWARE SPREADSHEET
patented What-if Modeling enhances spreadsheet operation through permutations. A single user defined model automatically changes into any one of many different forms to answer many more analytical questions. Excel cannot do this.
It allows you to enter values into formula cells, automatically permutes your model to a valid alternate form and calculates a result.  Features single, interactive, multiple and user defined permutation behaviors to provide write once, use many models, a true productivity gain.

Our Models Know
How to Change!

C O M P A R E

What-if Analysis
which
computes alternative results

T O

What-if Modeling
which
generates a new model
and then performs the what-if analysis

Aware™ Technology

The Aware Spreadsheet
A new paradigm

The Aware Spreadsheet implements the methods of the "Polymorphic Enhanced Modeling" Patent as a means to enhance the performance of the spreadsheet and delivers "permutation enabled, polymorphic modeling." [View the Patent]

We present the following example using a typical spreadsheet model for financial analysis to conceptually differentiate what-if modeling from what-if analysis. The first three screens shown below depict a typical what-if analysis. The fourth and fifth screens go beyond what-if analysis and illustrate what-if modeling which generates a new model before performing the what-if analysis.

A brief summary of the example shown below:

Screen 1, below,  is a screen snapshot which depicts a marketing model that allows you to change certain inputs, such as the number of mailing pieces (cell B3), and calculate certain financial outputs, such as net profit (cell E15).

Screen 2, zooms in on cell B3 as the user enters a new value (2500). In what-if analysis, the user changes inputs in order to see the calculated results.

Screen 3, is a screen snapshot which depicts the calculated results using the value of 2500 in Cell B3. Notice that the net profit (cell E15) is still negative.

As you continue onto the next sequence of screen shots we describe how what-if modeling provides alternative kinds of analysis beyond the limits of what-if analysis.

Screen 4, zooms in on cell E15, which is a formula cell, as the user enters a value of zero (0). This triggers a model permutation which generates and substitutes an alternate model.

Screen 5, is a screen snapshot which depicts the calculated results of the alternate model. This model solves for cell B3 which is now a formula cell, using cell E15, which is now an input cell. We also introduce the subject of omnidirectional modeling by way of a second example. To access the second example of omnidirectional permutations, click on the link at the bottom of this page.

The Screen shots are shown on this page, below... What-If Example

Try to get your mind around this...

"Knowledge is power
and our models know more than any others you've ever used."

What-if Analysis versus What-if Modeling
Marketing Plan Example

See Also:     Omnidirectional Example     Permutation Controls:  Toolbar Speedbuttons      Menu Commands

Marketing Plan Spreadsheet Model

This model calculates net profit (cell E15) based upon the number of mailing pieces the user enters in cell B3.

What-if Analysis -- Initial Model
Initially a mailing of 1,500 pieces, net profit is negative ($24,860).

User enters a value of 2,500 in cell B3.

This is the first step in what-if analysis, i.e., changing an input cell.

What-if Analysis -- Enter Value2,500

What-if Analysis Result Screen, Calculated Spreadsheet

The result of this what-if analysis is that mailing out 2,500 pieces (B3) yields a negative net profit of ($8,100.00) (E15).

What-if Analysis -- View Results
A mailing of 2,500 generates a loss of ($8,100)

What-if Modeling

The user enters a target breakeven value of zero net profit in cell E15.

Cell E15 is a Formula Cell. this means that the model must take a new alternate form in order to solve for mailing pieces.

What-if Modeling -- Trigger Permutation
Cell E15 is a Formula Cell which triggers a model permutation when the user enters the value zero (0). The Aware technology changes the model into an alternate form before calculating a result.

What-if Model Results

The alternative, "what-if model" solves for Mailing Pieces using the input of net profit (0) in cell E15.

The result of 2,983 mailing pieces (cell B3) indicates the number of mailings needed to reach the breakeven point of zero net profit.

What-if Modeling -- Calculate and View Results
While what-if analysis could, through trial and error lead you to this same result, the what-if model answers the question, "what is the size our breakeven mailing?" in a single step.

We want to be perfectly clear, however, that permutation enabled modeling goes well beyond this simple bidirectional example. In fact, permutation enabled modeling is "omnidirectional."

In omnidirectional modeling, every cell or node in the model can represent a decision point that leads to one or more alternate cells. Thus, in combination, all of the nodes can potentially provide decision points in the permutation process. In combination, the possible model forms are almost limitless. Thus, omnidirectional operation is not a calculation method at all, it is a permutation method. Thus, What-if modeling uses omnidirectional permutations to achieve the alternate model form that it will then calculate.

Our next example introduces a directional decision point into the model at cell E6. The user selects a toolbar speedbutton to change this cell's permutation behavior to make it an interactive impact cell. This means that if a model permutation is called for, this cell will prompt the user to determine the path for the model permutation to follow. As a result, it is possible to interrupt the permutation that initially is headed from net profit to mailing pieces and redirect it to solve for a breakeven price for a given number of mailing pieces. By making cell E6 interactive during the permutation process, the user can select between the original and two alternate model forms. One alternate form solves for breakeven mailing pieces the other alternate form solves for a unit price for a given net profit at a specified number of mailing pieces.

Thus, the introduction of omnidirectional permutations allows a single initial model to take on multiple alternate forms which gives rise to the slogan, "write once, use many models."

Next Example, Go to: Omnidirectional Example

See Also:     Omnidirectional Example     Permutation Controls:  Toolbar Speedbuttons     Menu Commands