I think you’re right that programs like Excel make things easier, but I still think that technological skill is still needed to effectively address rhetorical situations in the workplace. It’s true that it’s hard to imagine professional communicators not being able to use programs like Excel to manipulate data. For me, it comes down to training. If you don’t know how to use Excel, then you’ll be in the same position as those in Mirel’s article who were frustrated with the database.