Use of Computers for Financial Economic Analysis

process simulation/project evaluation/finan-cial evaluation software is available that can be applied to a wide variety of projects in the chemical and petroleum industries. The most sophisticated evaluation systems contain built-in design systems, scheduling systems, and up-to-date knowledge bases of international cost and work-hdCif mdd dsV Software can work from a bri outline of a project s scope and automatically develop design details in the early stages of a project. Software packages available can produce detailed cost estimates within -5% to +14% of actual cost [6]. 

However, at present, there is no single software package that can (1) design the process system, (2) develop and evaluate project scope, and (3) develop the financial and economic analysis. Therefore it is common for several software programs to be used to develop and evaluate the same project. 

Since 1982, UNIDO has developed COMPARE from a model for financial analysis at the enterprise level into a complex system for financial and economic analysis of investment projects for use on personal computers. It features guiding the user through the data entry system by requesting exactly the input required for the computation of the system output as predefined by the user assisting with the analysis by allowing a comparison with key data from similar investment projects making en- 

The UNIDO Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting. User licenses may be obtained from the UNIDO Department of Industrial Operations, Feasibility Studies Branch. 

Due to these kinds of problems, many spreadsheets have undetected errors. It is therefore important that spreadsheets used for sensitive tasks be well documented and reviewed. Spreadsheet users should incorporate checks and balances within spreadsheets to ensure that errors in design are eliminated. 

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