Project definition, starter workbook assignment, workbook setup, and initial inventory analysis
Milestone 1 — Project Kickoff & Workbook Setup
In Lesson 07, every student worked with the same shared dataset and the same workbook structure. That was your dress rehearsal. Today, you move into the real project.
Each group now receives its own inventory starter workbook for a different business. The workbook structure stays exactly the same as Lesson 07. What changes is the data, the business context, and your team's recommendation.
Sarah Chen needs your team to analyze her client's inventory data and recommend the best inventory valuation method. Your recommendation must be backed by numbers from your workbook, not opinions.
- Define the inventory problem, scope, and stakeholders for your assigned business
- Identify what success looks like: accurate COGS, reliable ending inventory, clear method recommendation
- Plan how your team will work through the milestone
- Open and rename your group's assigned starter workbook
- Confirm the workbook keeps the same sheet structure from Lesson 07
- Review your group's data in Inputs, BeginningInventory, Purchases, and Sales
- Start tracing goods available for sale, COGS, and likely method fit
Each group has been assigned one starter workbook. Use only the file assigned to your group. Do not use another group's workbook.
Group Starter Workbooks
- Group 1: unit07-group1-inventory.xlsx
- Group 2: unit07-group2-inventory.xlsx
- Group 3: unit07-group3-inventory.xlsx
- Group 4: unit07-group4-inventory.xlsx
File Naming Convention
Save your workbook as: Unit07_Project_GroupX.xlsx where X is your group number.
Keep working in this same workbook for Lessons 09 and 10.
Your project workbook must use the exact same sheet structure you practiced in Lesson 07. Do not rename, remove, or reorganize these sheets.
Data Sheets
- ReadMe — Project brief and team info
- Inputs — Key assumptions and parameters
- BeginningInventory — Opening stock levels and costs
- Purchases — Dated purchase transactions
- Sales — Dated sales transactions
Analysis Sheets
- Valuation — FIFO, LIFO, Specific ID, Weighted Avg calculations
- MethodCompare — Side-by-side method comparison
- Checks — Reconciliation and error checks
- Dashboard — Visual summary of findings
- Recommendation — Claim, evidence, and risk statement
- Correct workbook opened and named with your group number
- All required sheets present and aligned to the Lesson 07 structure
- BeginningInventory, Purchases, and Sales sheets reviewed for your group's business data
- Goods available for sale traced correctly from the starter workbook data
- One draft claim or early direction statement about which method might fit best
- Risk/assumptions list with at least 2 mitigation steps
- Plan (10 min): Read your starter workbook, discuss the business context, assign roles
- Setup (15 min): Download your starter workbook, rename it correctly, verify all required sheets
- Data Review (15 min): Inspect BeginningInventory, Purchases, and Sales for your group's business
- Initial Analysis (10 min): Trace goods available for sale and draft an early claim
- Check-in (5 min): Quick review with teacher, confirm you're on track
- Workbook Setup (40%): Correct starter workbook opened, correctly named, and aligned to the Lesson 07 structure
- Initial Analysis (30%): Goods available for sale traced correctly, early claim shows reasoning
- Team Organization (15%): Roles assigned, file naming correct, workbook ownership documented
- Risk Planning (15%): At least 2 risks identified with mitigation steps
Lesson 09: Complete the remaining sheets (Valuation, MethodCompare, Checks, Dashboard). Write your full recommendation with cited workbook numbers. Rehearse your explanation with peer critique.
Lesson 10: Final polish, presentation, and submission. Your team will defend your method recommendation to an audience.