Visual interactive financial models: An overview of microcomputer software offerings and discussion of potential decision support

Visual inveractive (VI) modeling supports an ever-increasing variety of problem classes. VI problem solving methodologies evolved from third generation software-based models to support production-oriented simulations, and commercial VI software continues to maintain this area as a primary thrust. Financial management is a relatively new area to be supported by VI models. Support for this area comes from both the enhanced capabilities of VI modeling software and new, microcomputer-based, interactive financial management software. Software currently used on microcomputers for financial modeling can, to varying extents, support a VI modeling format. This paper offers a discussion of some major support packages for VI financial modeling and offers an example of an evaluation of this format via an experimental framework.