Here are five compelling reasons to embrace the FAST Standard

FAST is a financial modelling standard which promotes a set of modelling (or spreadsheet design) principles.

Excel spreadsheets are widely used throughout most businesses. From our experience Excel users typically build models according to their own tastes, based on tips they have gleaned from the office ninja or from Google and You Tube.

The result of this approach is overly complex, poorly designed models that cause a host of user issues that in turn lead to business inefficiencies and increased risk.

As Jeffrey Dean McClelland rather neatly puts it:

“Spreadsheets are like underwear, you like yours, but you don’t necessarily want to share anyone else’s.”

The FAST Standard

The FAST Standard was created to define and promote good financial model design founded on the acronym FAST: Flexible, Appropriate, Structured, and Transparent. It promotes a consistent, transparent model structure and clear, crisp modelling style.

Whilst The FAST Standard was created with Financial Models is mind, here at Clarity we believe the core principles could and should be applied to all spreadsheet modelling. And here is why:

1. Accuracy

Well-structured spreadsheets are less prone to errors and easier to review. The FAST Standard prescribes consistency of structure. The calculation block methodology of bringing the ingredients for each calculation together makes it much easier to validate calculation logic and accuracy.

2. Consistency

Spreadsheets built to the FAST Standard have a consistent structure at the workbook, worksheet and row/column level making it easier to review and share models. Imagine picking up someone else’s model and being able to understand it as if you built it yourself. This is what you get when you adopt the FAST Standard.

3. Efficiency

Spreadsheets are easier to use and to share, saving time at key points in critical processes. It's very easy to underestimate the amount of time wasted each month due to your team using poorly constructed spreadsheets. Applying the FAST Standard to your spreadsheet models will make your team more efficient.

4. Flexibility

Spreadsheets built to the FAST Standard are easily changed and extended without the need for a complete re-work.

Changing a model significantly increases the risk of mistakes. Using FAST modelling techniques, the model logic and flow is much easier to trace and change correctly, reducing the risk of error.

5. Clear and simple

Spreadsheets are clear and simple. No more “one-page-wonders” or formulae that are five rows long that you need a degree in quantum physics to understand. Just a well-structured, clear and simple model.

Full Stack Modeller is a signatory of the FAST Standard and our training program has been certified by the FAST Standard Organisation.

For more information about the FAST Standard visit their website here.