Computer-based financial planning

There are now many computer-based aids to financial planning. This article is concerned with the basic principles behind these new techniques and will hopefully draw management's attention to both the strength and weakness of the systems described. A short description of the Financial Planning Process is given together with brief descriptions of some of the areas in which computers have been successfully used. The principles behind the construction of a company model are described and finally an account is given of two computer-based systems which make use of on-line computing facilities.