The future of spreadsheets in the big data era
File(s)The Future of Spreadsheets Slides.pdf (1.25 MB) Future of Spreadsheetes_EuSpRIG.pdf (670.94 KB)
Supporting information
Accepted version
Author(s)
Birch, DA
Lyford-Smith, D
Guo, Y
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
The humble spreadsheet is the most widely used dat
a storage,
manipulation
and modelling
tool
. Its ubiquity
over the past 30 years has seen its successful app
lication in every area of life.
Surprisingly the spreadsheet has
remained fundamentally unchanged over the past
three
decades. As spreadsheet technology enters its 4
th
decade
a number of drivers of change
are
begin
ning
to impact upon the spreadsheet. The rise of Big Data, increased
end
-
user computing and mobile computing will undoubtedly increasingly shape the evolution
and use of
spreadsheet technology.
To explore the future of spreadsheet technology a workshop was convened
with the aim of
“
bringing together
academia and industry to examine the future direction of spreadsheet technology and the consequences for
users
”
.
This paper records the view
s
of the participants on the reasons for the success of the spreadsheet, the
trends driving change
and
the likely directions of change for the spreadsheet. We then set out key directions for
further research in the evolution and
use of spreadsheets. Finally we look at the implications of these trends for
the end users who after all are the reason for the remarkable success of the spreadsheet.
a storage,
manipulation
and modelling
tool
. Its ubiquity
over the past 30 years has seen its successful app
lication in every area of life.
Surprisingly the spreadsheet has
remained fundamentally unchanged over the past
three
decades. As spreadsheet technology enters its 4
th
decade
a number of drivers of change
are
begin
ning
to impact upon the spreadsheet. The rise of Big Data, increased
end
-
user computing and mobile computing will undoubtedly increasingly shape the evolution
and use of
spreadsheet technology.
To explore the future of spreadsheet technology a workshop was convened
with the aim of
“
bringing together
academia and industry to examine the future direction of spreadsheet technology and the consequences for
users
”
.
This paper records the view
s
of the participants on the reasons for the success of the spreadsheet, the
trends driving change
and
the likely directions of change for the spreadsheet. We then set out key directions for
further research in the evolution and
use of spreadsheets. Finally we look at the implications of these trends for
the end users who after all are the reason for the remarkable success of the spreadsheet.
Date Issued
2017-07-06
Date Acceptance
2017-05-01
Citation
A Pilot Study Exploring Spreadsheet Risk in Scientific R esearch Ghada AlTarawneh , Simon Thorne Cardiff Metropolitan University Abstract This paper discusses the risks and potential impacts of spreadsheet errors in scientific research data in a Neuroscience research centre in the UK. Spreadsheets us age in neuroscience, or indeed any medical discipline, is a largely unreported area of spreadsheet research. This paper presents a case study exploring the possible risks and impacts of spreadsheet e rrors in the neuroscience research centre at the University of Newcastle. Data was collected using an online questionnaire with 17 participants and two detailed semi- structured interviews. The analysis highlights that errors in research data may lead to s evere impacts such as misleading science and damaged personal and organisational reputations . In addition, many risks factors arise from using spreadsheets such as inadequate design and a lack of training. Spreadsheets are used widely in business and the impacts and risks in these fields have been studied and highlighted in detail . However, scientific research and spreadsheets have also a significant relationship that has not been clarified. The paper also draws out the similarities in spreadsheet practice between the scientific and business communities. Proceedings of the EuSpRIG 2016 Conference “Spreadsheet Risk Management”
Publisher
EuSpRig
Journal / Book Title
A Pilot Study Exploring Spreadsheet Risk in Scientific R esearch Ghada AlTarawneh , Simon Thorne Cardiff Metropolitan University Abstract This paper discusses the risks and potential impacts of spreadsheet errors in scientific research data in a Neuroscience research centre in the UK. Spreadsheets us age in neuroscience, or indeed any medical discipline, is a largely unreported area of spreadsheet research. This paper presents a case study exploring the possible risks and impacts of spreadsheet e rrors in the neuroscience research centre at the University of Newcastle. Data was collected using an online questionnaire with 17 participants and two detailed semi- structured interviews. The analysis highlights that errors in research data may lead to s evere impacts such as misleading science and damaged personal and organisational reputations . In addition, many risks factors arise from using spreadsheets such as inadequate design and a lack of training. Spreadsheets are used widely in business and the impacts and risks in these fields have been studied and highlighted in detail . However, scientific research and spreadsheets have also a significant relationship that has not been clarified. The paper also draws out the similarities in spreadsheet practice between the scientific and business communities. Proceedings of the EuSpRIG 2016 Conference “Spreadsheet Risk Management”
Copyright Statement
© EuSpRig & the author(s)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/K503733/1
Source
European Spreadsheet Risk Interest Group Conference 2017
Publication Status
Accepted
Start Date
2017-07-06
Coverage Spatial
Imperial College London