The Spreadsheet Nobody Understands
It started simple. A few columns to track a few things. Then it grew. More columns. More tabs. More formulas. Now it’s a monster. Only one person understands how it works—and they’re nervous about vacation.
Spreadsheets are the backbone of business operations. Budgets, tracking, reporting, analysis—if it involves numbers, there’s probably a spreadsheet. But most spreadsheets are fragile, confusing, and held together with prayers and hidden formulas.
A well-designed spreadsheet is a tool. A poorly-designed spreadsheet is a liability.
Why Spreadsheets Become Nightmares
Spreadsheets usually start fine and gradually become unusable. Understanding the pattern helps avoid it.
Organic growth without structure. Adding columns and tabs as needs arise without considering overall architecture. Frankenstein spreadsheets that no longer make sense.
Hidden complexity. Formulas buried in cells that nobody remembers creating. Dependencies that break silently. Logic that exists only in the original creator’s head.
No documentation. Assumptions that are obvious to the creator, mysterious to everyone else. Abbreviations and conventions that made sense once.
Single point of failure. One person who knows how it works. One corrupted file that destroys everything. No backup plan. No version control.
Spreadsheets That Work
We create spreadsheets designed for clarity and reliability—structured systems that serve their purpose without creating new problems.
Logical structure. Clear organization that makes sense to anyone who opens the file. Intuitive layout that guides users to what they need.
Robust formulas. Calculations that work reliably and handle edge cases. Error checking that catches problems before they propagate.
Documentation and training. Clear instructions for use and maintenance. Knowledge transfer that ensures the spreadsheet outlasts its creator.
Data validation. Input constraints that prevent errors. Formatting that enforces consistency. Quality controls built into the structure.
Tools, Not Traps
A good spreadsheet should be a tool anyone can use—clear, reliable, and maintainable. It shouldn’t require its creator to interpret it. It shouldn’t break when someone enters unexpected data. It shouldn’t be scary to open.
Spreadsheets power business decisions. They deserve professional design.
