Analyzing Performance Factors

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Analyzing Performance Factors
Systems Interface
MS Excel is a systems interface that people use daily in the course of data entry and data analysis and preparation of schedules. Schedules can be looked at as a time management instrument that describes the specific period where certain activities can be undertaken. The application can help organize schedules in a chronological order and the sequence often dictates the attainment of certain goals. Scheduling refers to the course of coming up with a specific schedule, as it entails coming up with an intricate order for the attainment of a given task and allocation of the specific resources necessary for their execution.
Workload Analysis
The red line of workload refers to the point where the systems transverses safe and effective multitasking to dangerous and ineffective multitasking (Grier et al 1204). Excel is a powerful tool that can multi-task on a variety of functions, and when used for such simple tasks as scheduling, data entry and analysis, but it could be difficult determining the red line workload point for excel. Despite the apparent level of proficiency associated with excel, it cannot be effective at a certain level. This is because tracking huge amounts of items on the application software increase the chances of errors, in particular, when a data item frequently moves from one location to another. Besides, it demands that one spends an excessive amount of time authenticating the values in the workbook.

To optimize usage of the application, one can use tables to hold the given data items, use named ranges or formula when tracking down data items and use pivot tables. Recent versions of Excel provide people with the requisite ability to keep all the related data items in a table. Tables are used in formulas coupled with structural inferences, which are applicable as a source for a pivot table. When one uses names and named formulas one can just simplify the spreadsheet, and this is because named ranges and formulas keep lists of values, and one can keep values that one may need to look into several times in the stated formulas. Such a technique reduces the formula overhead and makes the workbook become very quick. When the pivot has been built, it can be used to refer to the pivot value with simple references.
Stress Analysis
There was a day when the Excel refused to open a spreadsheet and the built in open and repair dialog box failed to assist in any manner, however, much effort was used. The interactions become stressful because as an individual, one desires to perform certain tasks aided by the application and submit the same on time. As the systems continue to be unresponsive to the continued usage, its performance declines substantially, and begins to hangs and the user develops more frustrations and stress with the application. In the short term, stress can lead to mild mental problems, which include migraines, headaches, and hard breathing (has adverse effects to those with lung disease or asthma), and amongst others CITATION Ame161 l 1033 (American Psychological Association). In the long-term stress on the individual can lead to depression, cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Working with a powerful and a highly responsive computer, which boasts of high speeds of processing, can be effective in working with a responsive application, and which reduce unresponsive stressful application. Second, it would be important for the user to be comfortable, which implies working in a clean, comfortable and relaxed place, which invariably relieves stress. Taking regular breaks for the user and the computer while working on the application can help in reducing stress. It will help the computer to function effectively and the user to be more effective.

Works Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY American Psychological Association. Stress Effects on the Body. 5 November 2016 <http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body.aspx>.
Grier, R, C Wickens, D Kaber, D Strayer, D Boehm-Davis, J G. Trafton, and John M. St. “The Red-Line of Workload: Theory, Research, and Design.” Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. 52.18 (2008): 1204-1208. Print