The Future of Analytics in Integrated Business Planning

According to Wikipedia, prescriptive analysis is – after descriptive and predictive analysis -the third and final stage of business analytics. Gartner plots prescriptive analysis as the final and most difficult stage of data analytics. This article will draw an analogy with the mapping and car industry to suggest that prescriptive analysis as an opportunity to support Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and business optimization, is not … Continue reading The Future of Analytics in Integrated Business Planning

How to Build more Positivity in Your Day: #2

Ever get caught in negative thoughts? That’s ok, we all do. This is the second post where we explain why positivity matters and give you some tips on how to develop more positivity in your day. When our ancestors were roaming the fields to hunt for food, they had to constantly scan their environment and be prepared for danger at any given moment. They survived … Continue reading How to Build more Positivity in Your Day: #2

4 Phases of Behavioural Change in the Journey to S&OP Excellence #1

An S&OP implementation requires many changes, not the least behavioural change.  However, there are different behavioural change requirements during a journey to S&OP excellence.  These behavioural changes often require coaching to be addressed properly. In four posts, four coaching phases will be explained to support leaders with behavioural change required to reach S&OP excellence. These are; Coach to change, coach to sustain, coach for excellence … Continue reading 4 Phases of Behavioural Change in the Journey to S&OP Excellence #1

How to Build More Positivity in Your Day: #1

Ever get caught in negative thoughts? This is the first of two posts where we explain why positivity matters and share some tips on how to deal with negative thoughts to develop more positivity in your day. In our busy day to day lives, our mind wonders of frequently in to distracting thoughts. It can simply be about our shopping list, our next business meeting … Continue reading How to Build More Positivity in Your Day: #1

How marketing is killing Integrated Business planning

Not too long ago I sat down with a software vendor. He showed me a very interesting demand and promotional planning tool. It was user-friendly, collaborative with workflows and well integrated financially. Then it happened: ‘This is our Integrated Business Planning tool’, he said. I said; ‘That’s not IBP, or at least, I have a different definition’. After a longer chat he came around and … Continue reading How marketing is killing Integrated Business planning

A new definition for Integrated Business Planning

In one of my S&OP pulse check surveys, I asked participants the following question; ‘Do you believe there is a difference between S&OP and IBP?’ Most (48%) of the 120 survey participants believe there is a difference. 20% answered ‘don’t know’ and the remaining 32% believed there is no difference.  The answers made me realize I actually don’t know any widely acknowledged definition for IBP. And … Continue reading A new definition for Integrated Business Planning

Three Critical Soft Benefits you get with S&OP Experience

A lot gets written about S&OP maturity and how S&OP has soft benefits like improved teamwork and collaboration.  Soft S&OP benefits like leadership, cultural and behavioral changes related to S&OP are important. In the end, S&OP is just a bunch of processes, meetings and information which has to be given meaning by people to get value out of it. A lot of the S&OP improvements … Continue reading Three Critical Soft Benefits you get with S&OP Experience

The 6 Ultimate Signs of S&OP process maturity

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is a 30 year old horizontal business management process that provides executives with forward visibility on how their business is expected to perform against budget and strategy. Many companies have implemented an S&OP process and continuously improved to aim for the highest level of S&OP maturity and create business value. Although there are plenty of S&OP maturity models around to … Continue reading The 6 Ultimate Signs of S&OP process maturity

How to prevent Groupthink in S&OP meetings

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon, which occurs when a group of people, in which the desire for harmony results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Teams suffering from groupthink, minimize conflict and create an ‘ingroup’ mentality that rejects challenges to current viewpoints, decisions, or the addressing of controversial issues from the ‘outgroup’. We need discussion and challenge, so these are behaviours that need to … Continue reading How to prevent Groupthink in S&OP meetings