Decision Support System (DSS) tool

A Decision Support System (DSS) is a tool utilized by managers to make informed decisions. It is important to understand the roles that DSSs serve in assisting executives and managers in evaluating business processes and making decisions that will guide the future for enterprises.

In this activity, you will create a DSS component in the form of a spreadsheet that will be utilized by the corporate Finance Department Manager to reach structured decisions relating to aviation fuel purchasing contracts. You will utilize the Microsoft Excel application to create the DSS.

In this practical exercise, you are hypothetically employed as the IT Department Manager at an imaginary Fixed Base Operator (FBO) located in Somewhere, Kansas. You have been tasked to create a simple spreadsheet utilizing the Microsoft Excel application that will be the primary component of a Decision Support System (DSS).

The DSS spreadsheet will be utilized by the corporate Finance Department Manager to reach structured decisions relating to aviation fuel purchasing contracts. To be able to arrive at those decisions, the manager needs data that represents the pricing for two distinct types of aviation fuel, Jet Fuel, and AVgas, that is available from the five different vendors with which the company has accounts. The DSS should present the lowest pricing in U.S. dollars for each of the two types of aviation fuel along with the vendors that offer that pricing.

The following are the dashboard requirements:

• Submit      the DSS in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
• Submit two      “MIN” and two “IF” functions.
• Format      cells with TWO decimal places.
• Format      the spreadsheet per the steps below.

Your document submission is due by the posted due date. Your instructor will use the 2.4 Module Review: Practical Exercise Rubric below for evaluating and grading your submission.

Save your assignment using a naming convention that includes your first and last name and the activity number (or description). Do not add punctuation or special characters.

Steps to Create Decision Support System

n Row 1, create a header row with the following labels in bold font:

• Column      A: Vendor Name
• Column      B: Jet Fuel Price
• Column      C: Avgas Price

In Column A, Rows 2 through 6, list the following vendors in non-bold font:

• Yellow      Plains Fuel
• Okie      Stokie Fuel
• Best      Ever Fuel
• Smith      Bros Fuel
• Wild      West Fuel

In Columns B and C, Rows 2 through 6, enter imaginary pricing values for all vendors and both types of fuel, keeping the range of values between $5.00 and $10.00 for each type of fuel. The numerical values for each type of fuel must be different.

Format the cells in Columns B and C, Rows 2 through 6 as Currency with TWO decimal places.

• Label      the cell in Column A, Row 8, “Best Jet Fuel Price”      in bold font.
• Label      the cell in Column A, Row 9, “Jet Fuel Vendor”      in bold font.
• Label      the cell in Column A, Row 11, “Best Avgas Price”      in bold font.
• Label      the cell in Column A, Row 12, “Avgas Vendor”      in bold font.

Using Functions and Formulas

1. Using      the MIN function, create a formula for the cell located      in Column B, Row 8 that calculates the lowest      value for the Jet Fuel pricing available from the five      vendors.
2. Using      the MIN function, create a formula for the cell located      in Column C, Row 11 that calculates the      lowest value for the Avgas pricing available from the      five vendors.
3. Using      nested IF functions, create a formula for the cell      in Column B, Row 9 that places the name of      the vendor determined to have the “Best Jet Fuel Price.”
4. Select Align      Right for the data in the cell located at Column B, Row      9.
5. Using      nested IF functions, create a formula for the cell      in Column C. Row 12 that places the name of      the vendor determined to have the “Best Avgas Price.”
6. Select Align      Right for the data in the cell located at Column C, Row      12.
7. Select All      Borders for the cells in Columns A, B,      and C, Rows 1 through 12.

The following video offers valuable tips on how to create nested IF functions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=MtDGUHdS3VY