Some comments on ‘modeling optimization problems in the unstructured world of spreadsheets’

This paper suggests that the use of spreadsheets for teaching students about LP modelling can be further enhanced by supplying students with a suitable template at the introductory stage. With a rearrangement of the layout, which corresponds to a standard pedagogic approach, it is possible to create a template, with locked formulae, which is easy to use and flexible enough to handle problems of different sizes. Such a template would help students concentrate on LP modelling concepts rather than being distracted by spreadsheet errors.