a. Read the article "Tweaking the Numbers," by Theo Callahan in the June 2001 issue of the Journal of Accountancy (either the print edition, likely available at your school's library, or access the Journal of Accountancy archives at www.aicpa.org). Follow the instructions in the article to create a spreadsheet with graphs that do what-if analysis.

b. Now create a spreadsheet to do graphical what-if analysis for the "cash gap." Cash gap represents the number of days between when a company has to pay its suppliers and when it gets paid by its customers. Thus, Cash gap = Inventory days on hand + Receivables collection period - Accounts payable period.

The purpose of your spreadsheet is to display visually what happens to cash gap when you "tweak" policies concerning inventory, receivables, and payables.

c. Set the three spin buttons to have the following values:

Spin button for Inventory Spin button for Receivables Spin button for Payables

Linked cell C2 C3 C4
Maximum 120 120 90
Minimum 0 30 20
Value 30 60 20
Small change 10 10 10

D. In addition, conduct research and seek out an ERP accounting system. Briefly summarize what report writer software is either embedded in it or which one would work to provide management with a production report. Include links to your source.