What do users typically adjust in a what-if analysis?

In a what-if analysis, users typically adjust variables to simulate different outcomes based on varying conditions. This approach allows them to explore the potential impact of changes in inputs on the results of a scenario. For instance, a financial analyst may modify sales forecasts, expenses, or interest rates to see how those changes would affect profitability or cash flow. This type of analysis is crucial for decision-making, as it helps users to assess possible future scenarios and make more informed choices.

The focus on adjusting variables reflects the fundamental purpose of what-if analysis, which is to model different scenarios and assess their consequences. This is significantly distinct from visualizations and layouts, which primarily deal with how data is displayed rather than the underlying data itself, and access permissions or data storage locations, which relate more to data management and security rather than analyzing scenarios.