Tech Tool: Spreadsheet Software
Software Videos: Spreadsheet Data Tables, Spreadsheet PivotTables and PivotCharts
This technology exercise is a continuation of the Chapter 7 illustration, STAR of Autism.

Although the foundation board voted to continue the golf benefit, the walkathon, and the silent auction, but to discontinue the carnival, one of the board members requested additional analysis be conducted regarding the carnival. The board member was concerned that the board was making a hasty decision and felt that the carnival had been a successful fundraiser in past years.
One of the staff members collected the following additional data and has asked your assistance in analyzing it. In particular, the staff member asked if you could organize the information in a data list for 2008 and 2009 for the carnival as has been done for 2010. In addition, the board members had asked for a dashboard to summarize the analysis using PivotTables and PivotCharts.

1. Download the spreadsheet data file for this exercise for STAR for Autism.
2. Using the downloaded spreadsheet data file, create a digital dashboard that compares prior years to the current year results, including a PivotTable and PivotChart.
3. What relationships and insights do you see? What intelligence can you glean from your analysis?
By looking at data from 2008 till 2010 we have a better understanding of the STAR for Autism. The analysis of the three years data shows a loss from the carnival in year 2010, a small gain in 2009 and a $6300 gain in 2008, a steady decline. This will support that the discontinuing the carnival is the right decision. Furthermore, the Golf Benefit needs further scrutiny.