Instructions on using the Trend Analysis document Before we begin, make sure this file is opened in MS PowerPoint, not Internet Explorer. You may need to open MS PowerPoint separately and navigate to the “Trend Analysis.ppt” file on the CD, in the “Powerpoints and other media” directory. Slide six of this presentation contains a datasheet and a linked chart for trend analysis. Click on the title “ABC Company” and change it to whatever you’d like: your company name, details on the specific trend being analyzed, etcetera. Right click on the chart and select “Datasheet.”

Instructions on using the Trend Analysis document The window that opens is your datasheet, where you will input the information concerning the trend that you wish to analyze. The fields with words are the label fields, which you can change to suit the needs of each trend. The fields named “Trend A” and “Trend B” will represent the relationship as time passes. The fields with the zeros in them are the actual data cells, where you will enter the necessary numbers. For example:

Instructions on using the Trend Analysis document

In this chart, “Trend A” has been designated the “Cost” trend while “Trend B” has been designated the “Number of Injuries” trend. The total cost to the business is entered in the row 1 of the datasheet, while the total number of injuries each month are entered into row 2. Here, the trends are on a month-to-month basis, but you may use whatever timeframe you wish: daily, weekly, yearly, quarterly – whatever suits you best.

Instructions on using the Trend Analysis document Now try it yourself! If you get stuck, refer back to the example chart on slide 3.

ABC COMPANY