In the final piece of this series on enterprise management requirements, we focus on the essential question: who can truly deliver on the requirements of management? The answer is not found in traditional Excel teaching or the social media-driven narratives of Excel in the enterprise. The truth is, to meet management’s expectations, social media techniques fall short. These techniques are limited by what can be recorded on a screen, whereas management requirements in an enterprise are far broader—spanning end-to-end processes that require a deep understanding of certain fundamental enterprise principles.
Before tackling the problem of meeting management requirements, we must first approach it from the right perspective. The right angle for addressing enterprise processes at their core is rooted in the Hub-and-Spoke concept. This client-server architecture has been the backbone of enterprise processes for over 35 years. It’s a standard that ensures integration, collaboration, and effective flow. Unfortunately, this principle is not widely taught on social media, nor is it addressed by popular influencers in the Excel or enterprise space.
Without understanding the Hub-and-Spoke model, we are building on quicksand instead of solid ground. To illustrate this point, consider the analogy of building the iconic Shard in London. You can’t build such a massive structure on the same foundation as Elvis Presley’s first home. The foundation needed for effective enterprise processes is the Hub-and-Spoke architecture. If anyone contests this, I welcome a heated debate. The fact remains: collaborative processes that are smooth and devoid of fragmentation are grounded in the understanding of the Hub-and-Spoke concept. Without it, any process is bound to be siloed, clunky, and inefficient.
This brings us to the ongoing issue of Excel’s reputation in the enterprise. The demonization of Excel is not really about Excel itself. Rather, it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding about the enterprise process design. Much like the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver, the issue lies in the absence of core principles—principles that would allow spreadsheets to be used effectively in a larger enterprise context.
In conclusion, the key takeaway is this: you cannot create an effective enterprise-level spreadsheet process without understanding the core principles of the Hub-and-Spoke architecture. Unfortunately, these principles are not taught on social media, nor are they easily conveyed through screen recordings or basic Excel tutorials. The fundamental misunderstanding of these principles is why we continue to struggle with building truly collaborative, enterprise-grade solutions. Until this gap is addressed, the enterprise will continue to face inefficiency in process design and execution.
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