Choose the Right Response to a Unit or Time-Scale Mismatch
Respond to unit and time-scale mismatches with explicit normalization rather than ad hoc fixes.
Boundary problem Imported costs are monthly and in thousands; the planning model is annual and in dollars. A local patch can look correct in one row while leaving the rest of the workbook inconsistent. Control principle Normalize at ingestion, not inside each consuming formula. A model should have one unit convention and one time convention. Translate imported data once into that standard. Weak shortcut Patch the first formula that breaks. One consistent convention across the workbook. A visible normalization layer is an error-prevention device, not a formatting nicety. Set the standard Step 1 What should you do before changing any…
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