STRUCTIONS 1) Create, title, and save your workbook

a) Create a new workbook using Microsoft Excel.

b) Create two (2) sheets inside the workbook and title them "Implementation Plan" and "Costs Chart". You can name the sheets by right clicking the tab at the bottom of the sheet and choosing "Rename."

c) Add the same titles at the top of your spreadsheets in Cell A1, then use "merge and center" on the home ribbon when you are finishing your formatting. This will center your title at the top of your work and make the printed version (if you choose to print out your workbook) look more professional.

2) Create an Implementation Plan and Timeline on Sheet #1. Regardless of what problem you are trying to solve, a plan is only as good as the effort taken to think through its steps.

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a) Create labels as shown on the sample in the first three columns of this worksheet; one titled "STEPS," one titled "TARGET COMPLETION DATES," and the last titled "TIME ESTIMATES."

STEPS

i) List each major step you would need to complete under the "STEPS" column. Bold the font of each step. Customize these to fit your actual ideas (don't just label them "Step 1", "Step 2", etc. like in the sample) and be descriptive of what each step is. For example, "Painting", "Baking", "Writing", etc. Add additional rows as needed.

ii) List at least two (2) actions you need to take for each major step. Again, be descriptive (don't just label them "Action 1", "Action 2", etc. like in the sample)

TARGET COMPLETION DATES

i) List the target deadline for each major step and action under the "TARGET COMPLETION DATES" column. Note that completion dates for the major step should be equal to the last date of the action within that step that will take the longest. Use DD/MM/YYYY format for your target deadlines (ex: 01/31/2017)

TIME ESTIMATES

i) List a time estimate (in hours) for each major step under the "TIME ESTIMATES" column.

ii) Using the Sum function, calculate the total time estimate for your entire implementation plan at the bottom of this column as shown in the example.

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3) Create a Costs chart on Sheet #2. Even if the problem you chose was personal, there are likely going to be some costs associated with solving it. If you did choose a problem with minimal to no costs involved, (for example, stress management) here is where you would include all potential costs for good and/or services you could purchase to help you reduce stress, such as a massage or a meal delivery service.

a) First, create headers for two columns; one titled "ITEM" and one titled "COSTS."

b) List each of the major items or factors you would need for your solution (i.e. your own and others' time, equipment, transportation, products, etc.) under the "ITEM" column. You'll need approximately 5-15 items total. If you have fewer than 5 items, break these down into smaller sub-items. If you have more than 15 items, consolidate similar items. Be descriptive here and adjust the width of your columns as needed.

c) Include a realistic cost estimate for each of the items involved in your plan under the "COSTS" column.

d) Add a third column labeled "Comment" and comment on each of the costs, explaining how you came up with that cost. These notes to yourself are very helpful when you look back on an older spreadsheet, and also help explain to others why things are on the sheet.

e) Add up the total costs using the Sum function. Remember to start all function cells with an equal sign (=).

f) Next, add an "Average" label and calculate the average cost of the item costs you've identified for your plan. This way, you can easily see if each cost is larger or smaller than the average.

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g) Add a "Lowest" label next, and calculate the smallest of your costs. This might come in handy to show you which item you can easily knock out first. Use the MIN function here.

h) Add a "Highest" label after this, to show which item is the largest cost. You'd be surprised how useful this label can be when you have a lot of data to sift through. Use the MAX function here.

i) Test your data by putting in some random numbers. Make sure your MIN and MAX functions are working correctly by changing one of the values to a small number and one to a large number. Add up all of the figures on a calculator or use all "1's" and count them to make sure the sum and average functions are working correctly. After you test your formulas, enter the real data.

j) Create a pie chart graphic that shows a breakdown of the percentages of each cost area by using the layout functions. The pie chart is used to represent percentages of the whole.

It allows you to see at a glance how much of your total cost is represented by each individual cost. Insert the pie chart as an object in the sheet.

Click on one of the pie labels once and select the Enlarge button shown here to make the pie chart large enough to read (size 12-14 font recommended).

Right-click on the label and select "Format Data Labels". When you see the panel options, set them as "percentage". Uncheck the "Value" option, and ensure that the "Percentage" option is checked. If you have a lot of labels, be sure to check the "Show Leader Lines" option See Format Data Labels options below:

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k) Merge and Center the title at the top of your spreadsheet just as you did in Sheet #1.

4) Format your workbook.

a) Change the font for all dollar amounts to a new font that you feel is clean and easy to read in spreadsheet format.

b) Add professional-looking color to some of the font in the sheet (For example, the titles or headers). Remember, the goal is to make your workbook easier to read. So you wouldn't want to use light yellow fonts, for example, because they would be hard to see against a white background.

c) Add additional formatting elements such as centering and bolding to make your sheet more visually appealing and easier to read.

d) Be sure to spell check your workbook to check

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