Introduction to information systems T. Cornford, M. Shaikh is1 060 2013

Activity
When choosing a graph as the output from a spreadsheet suggest the type of data that 
would be suitable for display using:
• a pie chart
• a bar chart or histogram
• an x/y plot or scatter plot.
Two example assignments are given below. These are intended to illustrate 
the type of problem that you are expected to tackle. As with the database 

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Chapter 2: Preparing for the project work
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project you must choose your own spreadsheet problems from the world 
around you – from your college or business or something associated with 
some hobby or pastime. Economic data, exchange rates, share prices, 
demographic data or even the weather report may provide appropriate 
data. Suitable problems are those that require you to summarise or model 
numerical data (say up to 80 raw data points), to show a result or a trend, 
to permit some ‘what-if?’ questions to be asked and to produce a printed 
report and a graphic chart. Our experience as Examiners suggests that 
projects based on basic accounting reports, balance sheets, flow of funds, 
etc. are not good topics for this project. They are usually so set in their 
format, and so reliant on simple addition and subtraction, that you have 
little opportunity to demonstrate your own analysis and design skills.
Example 1
A spreadsheet is to be used by a motor racing team to calculate the appropriate 
volume of fuel to have in the race car at the start of the race. A driver can have 
more fuel, but the car will be heavier and will travel more slowly. On the other 
hand, if the car is light on fuel, it will have to refuel more often 
– and that takes 
time. Other relevant issues are the length of the race, the running conditions 
(fast or slow, wet or dry), the air temperature and an estimate of what the 
competition is going to do. A spreadsheet is needed to let the team manager 
and the driver evaluate alternative approaches. During the race, the model can 
be updated with the actual fuel usage and refuelling times. 
This example is probably of no interest to most readers, but to a car racing 
fanatic it is a fascinating and a welcome challenge. Your task is to find 
something as interesting to you to serve as the basis of your spreadsheet.
Example 2
A spreadsheet is used to analyse the tax position of an employed person in your 
country. This will need you to do some research into the exact details of the 
tax rules of your country and will include issues of income tax as well as health 
and other social insurances, pension contributions, etc. The circumstances of an 
individual 
– for example, married or with children – will also generally affect 
the amount of income taken in tax, as may other characteristics, such as age or 
student loans.
The spreadsheet can be used to generate a table and chart showing the 
marginal tax rate that applies at various levels of income – that is the 
percentage of income taken in tax and other deductions as income rises. The 
model may also answer the reverse question, ‘How much do I need to earn 
gross to take home a given net amount?’ This is an example of goal seeking. 
You might also use such a model to inform a politician about the marginal tax 
rate that various individuals face and as a way to model new and perhaps fairer 
policies.