PBL Milestone 1 — Project Definition: scope, datasets, Excel model plan, risks, and acceptance criteria.
Sarah Chen leads TechStart Solutions, a growing digital services company. Your team will build an investor-ready three‑statement model with a simple KPI dashboard. Start with a clear plan. Write in plain language that an executive can skim and trust.
Today you define your problem, choose the right KPIs, and set a clean Excel structure. You will use one dataset for the whole project. A focused plan now saves hours later and helps avoid messy errors.
Business Objectives
- Define TechStart's project scope and investor-focused goals
- Identify stakeholders and their needs (Sarah, clients, investor)
- Select KPIs that tell a clear financial story
- Document risks, assumptions, and mitigation steps
- Set a clean file naming and version control plan
Excel Objectives
- Plan tabs for a three-statement model + dashboard
- Use Tables with XLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH and named ranges
- Add scenario switch (SWITCH/CHOOSE) for what-if analysis
- Build validation checks (A=L+E, NI→RE, cash ties)
- Design charts, sparklines, and status rules (R/Y/G)
Use this checkable list as you draft and review:
- Problem statement, scope, stakeholders, and success metrics are written in clear language.
- Data inventory and source plan are listed; a file naming convention is set.
- Excel model plan lists tabs, validations, method switching, and a small dashboard.
- Risks/assumptions and simple mitigation steps are documented.
- Evidence started: brief outline + workbook skeleton (tabs created, headers set).
- One draft claim or early direction statement written (e.g., "TechStart should pursue...")
Correct modeling, formulas, and validations
Aligns insights to business goals and trade-offs
Concise story, useful visuals, audience fit
4–5 minutes, smooth transitions
Confident, concise responses
- One‑page project brief (PDF or doc link)
- Workbook skeleton (tabs set, headers added)
- Link to dataset used (g1–g6)