S&OP mindset shows a lack of pro-activity and long term focus

Some companies run their Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) with great effectiveness. However, too often S&OP maturity and performance stalls, even when the supporting S&OP processes and systems are properly implemented. S&OP culture and leadership has often been proposed as a mechanism to improve S&OP performance. More specifically, Tuomikangas and Kaipia (2014) suggest that this includes “the organizational mind-set and practices that facilitate and advance … Continue reading S&OP mindset shows a lack of pro-activity and long term focus

NielsMarch 15, 2018March 19, 2018Leave a comment

Leadership, S&OP

The ‘Why’ in S&OP: or How to Find More Meaning

There is a lot of evidence that S&OP is hard to implement and get right. And when S&OP is implemented it often stalls, doesn’t make enough progress and doesn’t deliver enough value. The reasons are plenty, but one of the core reasons is the lack of senior leadership support. Another reason is that employees just get tired of an overly dogmatic, bureaucratic process and data … Continue reading The ‘Why’ in S&OP: or How to Find More Meaning

NielsDecember 8, 2017March 15, 2018Leave a comment

Leadership, S&OP

Why Authenticity is Key to Transformational S&OP

S&OP has the potential to transform an organisation. S&OP can do more than create a rolling forecast, contribute to improved strategy execution and company performance. By driving and nurturing effective values and behaviours through the S&OP cycle, it can influence company culture and employee engagement, well-being and performance. Once S&OP is influencing company culture for the better and achieves these type of employee benefits, I … Continue reading Why Authenticity is Key to Transformational S&OP

NielsAugust 19, 2017November 16, 20171 Comment

Leadership, S&OP

The State of S&OP according to 7 Thought Leaders

S&OP continuous to be a popular topic that remains high on the agenda of executives. To assess the current state of S&OP, I interviewed 7 S&OP thought leaders at the end of 2016 for my blog supply chain trend. These leaders all have 20+ years S&OP experience and published books, whitepapers and articles in renowned magazines. A group, eligible to comment on the current state … Continue reading The State of S&OP according to 7 Thought Leaders

NielsJune 17, 2017June 30, 201714 Comments

Leadership, S&OP

Why companies should have a Chief Trust Officer

Great companies do not only have a clear ‘why’ or purpose. They don’t just have a clever differentiating strategy, which they execute seamlessly. Great companies also know very well ‘how’ they ought to behave whilst going about their daily tasks to execute their strategy. Not just to improve business performance, but also to improve employee well-being. And although there is not just one clear behavior … Continue reading Why companies should have a Chief Trust Officer

NielsJune 3, 2017April 28, 20236 Comments

Leadership, Supply Chain

Big Data: a Big Decision

Every so many years, a new supply chain terminology takes the front page and dominates the conversation in magazines and conferences. In the last decade or two we’ve seen JIT (Just in Time), TQM (Total Quality Management), 6 Sigma, S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), Lean, Agile, Demand-Driven Supply Chains…to name just a few. Often it is for good reasons that these concepts draw attention, as … Continue reading Big Data: a Big Decision

NielsMay 15, 2017July 22, 2017Leave a comment

Leadership, S&OP

The S&OP Pulse Check 2017 results

The S&OP pulse check is a unique survey that provides new and different types of insights for S&OP practitioners. The S&OP pulse check started in 2010 and is this year in its 6th edition. Thanks to everybody who has made the 2017 S&OP survey possible. Key insights this year are: People & Culture Effective S&OP processes see more positive cultural change Mental Toughness supports effective … Continue reading The S&OP Pulse Check 2017 results

NielsApril 5, 2017April 24, 20171 Comment

Leadership, Positive mindset, S&OP

Why Mindset Matters for S&OP

In an extensive review of S&OP literature, Tuomikangas & Kaipia* suggest S&OP culture and leadership as one of six S&OP mechanisms to improve S&OP performance. According to them, this includes ‘the organizational mindset and practices that facilitate and advance formal planning.’ Mental Toughness has been called ‘the mindset of the winner’ by Jim Loehr, a sport psychologist who first coined the term Mental Toughness. You might … Continue reading Why Mindset Matters for S&OP

NielsJanuary 13, 2017April 1, 20171 Comment

Leadership, S&OP

S&OP, a vision for the future. The expert interview series #8

Introduction In the last 30 years S&OP improved performance in many businesses. However, S&OP has not yet substantially delivered on its ultimate promise of enterprise wide resource management, rolling financial forecasting and strategy deployment. Whatever maturity model or consultancy support companies use, S&OP seems to get stuck. Worse, overall S&OP development and progress seems to have stalled. It sometimes seems like S&OP is stuck in … Continue reading S&OP, a vision for the future. The expert interview series #8

NielsDecember 20, 2016January 13, 20173 Comments