Simulation analysis in which key quantitative assumptions and computations (underlying a decision, estimate, or project) are changed systematically to assess their effect on the final outcome. Employed commonly in evaluation of the overall risk or in identification of critical factors, it attempts to predict alternative outcomes of the same course of action. In comparison, contingency analysis uses qualitative assumptions to paint different scenarios. It is also called what-if analysis.
What-if analysis basically involves asking questions of the type “What if a value changes?” and is used every day by those involved in data analysis and decision making. “What will our profit be if our sales increase?” or “What will the future value of an investment be if we increase the annual deposit?” are common examples of what-if type questions. The flexible nature of spreadsheets makes them ideal for carrying out what-if analyses, and Excel provides a number of tools to simplify the process of creating dynamic models, such as data tables, the Scenario Manager, Goal Seek, and Solver.
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