An Interactive, Graphical Approach to Linear Financial Models

Abstract

Early attempts to utilize linear algebraic (L.P.) techniques in financial planning met with little success. This was probably due to a misunderstanding of the process by which financial and corporate plans were formulated. The planning process is now better understood and the use of computer-based models is well accepted. However current modelling systems perform only simple arithmetic evaluations. There is a prima facie case for re-examining linear algebraic methods to exploit the considerable amount of information which is available within a plan. This paper describes the work done in the South of Scotland Electricity Board to develop an interactive financial modelling system.

Keywords:

• underdetermined linear systems
• generalized inverses
• financial modelling
• interactive models