A Paradigm for Spreadsheet Engineering Methodologies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive paradigm for organizing, evaluating, and selecting spreadsheet engineering methodologies, addressing the diversity and lack of standardization in the field to improve development practices.

Contribution

It presents a systematic framework for interpreting and comparing spreadsheet methodologies, highlighting essential elements and research gaps for future work.

Findings

Provides a structured paradigm for methodology evaluation

Identifies key factors influencing methodology choice

Highlights gaps and areas for further research

Abstract

Spreadsheet engineering methodologies are diverse and sometimes contradictory. It is difficult for spreadsheet developers to identify a spreadsheet engineering methodology that is appropriate for their class of spreadsheet, with its unique combination of goals, type of problem, and available time and resources. There is a lack of well-organized, proven methodologies with known costs and benefits for well-defined spreadsheet classes. It is difficult to compare and critically evaluate methodologies. We present a paradigm for organizing and interpreting spreadsheet engineering recommendations. It systematically addresses the myriad choices made when developing a spreadsheet, and explicitly considers resource constraints and other development parameters. This paradigm provides a framework for evaluation, comparison, and selection of methodologies, and a list of essential elements for developers or codifiers of new methodologies. This paradigm identifies gaps in our knowledge that merit further research.