Building a template for your model
It is always important to be systematic in the way you build and maintain your model. Even if only you will make use of the model, whenever you have cause to revisit the model after a period of time, you do not want to have to wade through various schedules and worksheets to find what you need.
This is even more important if your model is going to be used by someone else.
A good way to ensure that your model is easy to follow and use is to build a template (a standard format) with some simple rules guiding how data is to be input and presented. In general, you will require at least six columns of figures, three each of historical and projected years, and another three or four columns for descriptive information. The template should enhance navigation and be easy to follow. The first major decision is whether to adopt a single-worksheet or multiple-worksheet approach.
In the following sections, we will learn about some of the features of both...