Manpower modelling using a spreadsheet

This paper describes how a spreadsheet system was used to build a simple manpower planning model for a manufacturing company. The software used allowed modelling to be developed rapidly but the requirements of the project quickly dictated that more sophisticated software was required. The results produced were useful to management initially but by the time more sophisticated software had been organised management requirements had changed. Thus the ease of use of spreadsheet software allowed a short term gain to be realised but did not help in the longer term.