Training Gamble leads to Corporate Grumble?

TL;DR

This paper reviews the effectiveness of various methods to reduce spreadsheet errors, emphasizing that only cell-by-cell code inspection has been proven effective, and calls for further research into other techniques.

Contribution

It highlights the limited proven techniques for reducing spreadsheet errors and advocates for additional research into alternative error mitigation methods.

Findings

Cell-by-cell code inspection is effective.

Spreadsheet errors are common and non-trivial.

Further research is needed for other techniques.

Abstract

Fifteen years of research studies have concluded unanimously that spreadsheet errors are both common and non-trivial. Now we must seek ways to reduce spreadsheet errors. Several approaches have been suggested, some of which are promising and others, while appealing because they are easy to do, are not likely to be effective. To date, only one technique, cell-by-cell code inspection, has been demonstrated to be effective. We need to conduct further research to determine the degree to which other techniques can reduce spreadsheet errors.