Formal research into errors on spreadsheets has estimated that between 12% and 90% of spreadsheets have embedded errors. I suspect the variation is partly driven by greater complexity = more errors.
The boss may therefore have some justification for his distrust of "home-made" spreadsheets where the originators may be of varying capability.
Basic +/- percentage variations around a base case in sales, labour costs, timescales, material costs etc are too simplistic. Fundamental review of assumptions surrounding competition, price and demand sensitivity, time to market etc tended to be far more revealing.
Having said all that - Excel is a hugely capable tool for modelling and analysis which I would have thought should be understood by any competent manager. Using inflexible standardised systems also has weaknesses - in particular a limited ability to adapt them for different circumstances.
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