I recently read an article on Techrepublic.com, entitled “10 technology traps to watch out for.” While the article contains some good tips, I’d like to add a particularly important technology trap that should have been included: Multi-user spreadsheets.
Spreadsheets are great when used correctly by one person. The spreadsheet was never meant to be a multi-department or even multi-user tool, yet many companies use it in these ways.
Why is that a problem? When multiple people edit the same spreadsheet, the chances for mistakes skyrocket.
What if someone sorts by one column only? When do you realize the error?
What happens to a spreadsheet after you email it off to a co-worker? How do you know the data is safe?
These are just a couple problems to watch for when dealing with spreadsheets, but there are many more. For more detailed list, as well as a solution, check out this article in our forum.
Joe Stangarone is a 30+ year veteran of the IT industry and president of mrc—the software company behind the award winning development platform, 
