A Dataset is a structured repository that stores a defined set of data within CWBC.

A Dataset may contain data for multiple Classes and Years, allowing users to organize information across different dimensions of planning and reporting.

A common use of Datasets is to store different versions of a budget as it progresses through the approval process, such as:

• Departmental Submission
• Finance Review
• Approved Budget

Each budget version is stored separately to preserve the integrity of prior stages and provide a clear audit trail.

Datasets may also be used to store other financial data, including:

• Year-to-Date (YTD) Actuals (typically imported from a source ERP system)
• Forecasts
• Multi-year Projections
• Scenarios.  Scenarios are alternative financial models used to evaluate different assumptions or planning conditions.  Data can be copied from a source Dataset and used as the basis of a new planning scenario.  
  Scenarios allow users to input new information, compare potential outcomes to the original Dataset(s) and perform “what-if” analysis, without altering the Approved Budget or a published Forecast. 
  A scenario might be used for:
  • Assessing the potential impact of a higher or lower revenue growth assumption
  • Projecting salary increases at different cost of living adjustment levels
  • Testing possible changes in funding allocations
  • Modelling strategies to reach cost reduction targets