Build a Pivot That Answers One Question

A revenue manager asks which channel drove the February shortfall. The workbook has transaction rows with date, channel, customer, SKU, revenue, and plan category. A PivotTable should summarize one declared question at the right grain, not become a dumping ground for every field. The common trap is to treat the first working formula or chart as the answer, even when the data grain, filters, or assumptions have not been checked. Frame Question: Which channel explains the February revenue gap versus plan? The question sets the time filter, comparison field, and output shape. Prepare Convert the range to an Excel Table…

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