Trace the logic chain from raw data through calculations to the final recommendation; identify what makes evidence weak
Audit the Shared Workbook Together
We'll trace the evidence chain together. For each step, answer the question and compare findings with your neighbors. Focus on where the recommendation comes from and what makes evidence strong.
Check that all 10 employees have valid hours, rates, and dates. Look for any validation errors highlighted in red.
Discussion:
What's one thing you'd flag as a potential problem here?
Pick one employee and manually verify their gross pay, deductions, and net pay. Do the formulas match what you expect?
Discussion:
Can you find one formula that uses structured references (like Table[Column])?
Find the total from payroll and compare to the bank statement amount. Are they within $0.01?
Discussion:
What's the dollar difference, if any? How is it explained?
Read the executive summary. Does it state a clear recommendation? Is there supporting evidence cited?
Discussion:
Where in the workbook does the evidence for this recommendation live?
Watch for these signs that evidence is weak:
- Recommendation without any numbers cited
- Calculations that don't tie to the totals shown
- Bank vs. register mismatch that's not explained
- Hard-coded values instead of formulas
- Charts with fixed ranges instead of Tables
A strong recommendation looks like this:
"Recommendation: Payroll is on track for Base scenario."
Evidence:
- Total gross pay: $8,360 (Employee_Data!B15)
- Bank reconciliation within $0.01 (Bank_Reconciliation!E10)
- Labor % of revenue: 32% (Dashboard!C3), below 40% threshold