3Using computer tools
The development of computers since the introduction of the PC in 1980 has completely changed the way in which we analyse and present data. Software can help you to find the message in data. There are specialist statistical packages but for most business analyses spreadsheets provide the functionality that you need. Spreadsheets are excellent for preparing documents that consist mainly of numbers. They are fairly straightforward to use for both calculations and for the drawing of charts and diagrams.
On the other hand, computer tools can only carry out specific tasks, following exactly the procedure that they have been set. They have no intuitive feel for the data. As an example, consider the problem of finding the mean of ...
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