Spreadsheet Applications for Small Contractors

Based on the findings above, then a spreadsheet application prototype was developed with a Gnome AM (Abdu et al. 2007). The name 'gnome', which means dwarf dwarf, taken to represent the condition of small contractors. While the PM is Project Management. This spreadsheet application developed using the many capabilities of Microsoft Excel automatically so the user will unknowingly use these utilities and have the benefit of speed and ease.

Gnome PM to assist the contractor in the project management of the following three stages:

1. Project Planning. In this stage the user can create a list of planned work on the project, establishes the relationship of logic one job with another job (Start-to-Start or Finish-to-Start), and set the duration, volumes, and the cost of each job. Data entry is assisted by a simple electronic form (Figure 1). The result of data entry will then be processed by the application and automatically generated S-curve and a bar-chart plans.
2. Monitoring or Update. Furthermore, this application can be used to monitor the work week by updating the progress of each job, both in terms of start and end of execution, or using the percentage of progress of physical work. For this update process, a simple electronic form provided (Figure 2).
3. Control. To exercise control, must be no data plan and actual data for comparison. This application has provided weekly reports in the form of tabulations that draw together the work plan as well as actual job performance. In addition, the integrated graphics in the form of curve-S and both plan and actual barchart also provided by these applications automatically. Thus, small contractors do not have to laboriously make weekly reports to be submitted to the supervisor or owner (Figure 3 and 4).