Rounding rules can be set globally, sheet by sheet or cell by cell

Description

This functional requirement allows users to decide the level of precision they need in their reports and calculations. Users can control the level of detail by adjusting rounding rules at the global, sheet, or cell level as needed.

Example Use Case

Scenario: A multinational manufacturing company utilizes CPM software for their financial and operational performance reports. Certain data, like revenue figures, need to be rounded to the nearest whole number on a global level for simplicity and readability. However, on specific sheets, they require detailed cost figures down to the penny. In certain cells, they might need to adjust rounding rules for calculations involving percentages.

Solution: The company uses a CPM system that allows them to modify rounding rules at the global, sheet, and cell level. This flexibility ensures their reports are precisely tailored to their needs, combining simplicity where necessary and detailed precision in others. These formatting rules cascade across dimensions, ensuring that anyone using a common sheet such as a P&L will view the same level of data granularity.

Considerations

This is a basic formatting requirement that most systems will accommodate, although they accommodate it in different ways:

1. Allow rounding to be set by the user on each sheet or report
2. Allow the administrator to set rounding rules globally based on the data being viewed
3. Number 2, with number 1 being an exception when needed

Questions to Ask a Vendor

• Flexibility: How can we implement rounding rules at the global, per sheet and per cell level?
• Multiple Versions: If we set rounding rules on a specific cell, will it carry over when we roll the forecast forward? In the same vein, will it carry over if we make a what-if scenario from the version that has unique rounding rules?
• Rounding Rules: Does your system support different rounding methods (like rounding up, rounding down, or banker's rounding)?