What-If Parameters and Scenario Analysis

What Is a What-If Parameter?

A what-if parameter allows users to explore hypothetical business scenarios by changing a value and observing its effect on calculations.

For example, a company might want to understand how a 5%, 10%, or 15% increase in product prices could affect projected revenue.

A what-if parameter can provide a selectable input for this analysis.

Creating a What-If Parameter

In Power BI Desktop:

1. Open the Modeling tab.
2. Select New parameter → Numeric range, where available.
3. Specify the parameter name.
4. Define the minimum, maximum, and increment.
5. Set an appropriate default value.
6. Create the parameter and its slicer.
7. Use the generated parameter measure in a DAX calculation.

The exact options depend on the Power BI Desktop version.

Example: Calculating Revenue After a Price Increase

Suppose your report already contains a measure named [Total Sales]. You create a numeric parameter named Price Increase that represents a percentage.

You can create a measure like this:

Projected Sales =

[Total Sales] *

(1 + 'Price Increase'[Price Increase Value])

If the parameter value is 0.10, the calculation increases the existing sales value by 10%.

For example, if current sales are ₹500,000, the projected value becomes ₹550,000.

This example assumes the parameter returns a decimal percentage, such as 0.10 for 10%.

Practical Applications

What-if analysis can support:

• Price adjustment scenarios.
• Sales growth projections.
• Discount impact analysis.
• Cost increase simulations.
• Budget planning.

Remember that a what-if parameter does not automatically predict the future. It calculates the result of the assumptions entered by the user. Real business outcomes may differ.