Managing the User of the Spreadsheet

Now suppose the organization is gathering spreadsheets, and the end user community submits those spreadsheets for inclusion into corporate data. Suppose the end user community objects to having to comply with a standard spreadsheet format. After all, the end user community argues that the world of spreadsheets is a freeform, uncontrolled world, and the end user can do anything the end user wants.

Such an attitude is entirely within the realm of reasonability, as the end user community has never before been subjected to discipline and rigor when it comes to the subject of spreadsheet structure.

A good rejoinder to this attitude is that the end user is free to submit whatever spreadsheets that he or she wants to. However, because it will take the analyst considerable time and effort to reformat these spreadsheets into the standard form, a processing fee will apply.

Another approach is to “publish” the specifications for what...