Documents » article on planning function of managemnt.
Abstract: Some managers have concluded that strategic
planning is nothing more than an exercise in futility, to be taken out and dusted off at annual meetings. However, strategic
planning can still help direct your company and improve earnings. The trick is strategizing well—which means having all the information you need, when you need it. Find out how to hone your competitive edge with integrated business
planning capabilities.
PubDate: 2/21/2008 1:27:00 PM
Abstract: Dynamic efficiencies can help companies combat margin erosion and cope with compressed product lifecycles. By shifting from advanced planning to adaptive planning, enterprises can increase their top and bottom line. Integrating the demand planning network, optimizing the supply chain network, and strengthening execution planning will help this move to adaptive planning and eliminate pockets of waste.
Abstract: Supply chain planning involves functions such as demand forecasting and planning, distribution inventory planning, and plant capacity planning and scheduling. The right mix of strategy, education, and systems can have a very high impact on a manufacturer’s overall operations—and ultimately its bottom line. Understand how supply chain functions such as demand and inventory planning can positively impact your company.
Abstract: Regardless of their functional or departmental roles, people participate in multiple planning activities. The objective of integrated business planning is to bring together and improve the accuracy of the disparate strands of forward-looking activities across a corporation in order to foster internal alignment and enhance agility. Discover what you can do to improve your company’s planning and budgeting activities.
Abstract: Function points (FPs) are the most popular unit of measure for measuring the size of software. But because FPs were developed in the 1970s, are they not now outdated for today’s event-oriented programming and multi-tiered software architectures?
Abstract: Once reserved for the upper echelons of senior management, succession planning is being redefined as a key component of board-level strategy. But if succession planning was easy, everyone would be doing it. The problem that exists today is that succession planning is barely automated, let alone optimized. This chief executive officer (CEO) guide provides five key tips for jump-starting your succession planning efforts.
Abstract: Chief information officer reporting relationships continue to be distanced from the strategy function. The marketing function is experiencing this same distancing from strategy. However, the two functions should be on the leading edge of strategy, rather than the receiving end.
Abstract: The credit and collection function is the most misunderstood, underutilized, and undervalued area of business. When allied with the sales function, controlled A/R can generate a significant cash inflow playing a huge role in the prospect-to-cash cycle.
Abstract: The S&OP game plans drive coordination of supply chain activities based on planning calculations. The primary coordination engine-termed the master scheduling task-generates a set of requirements data and suggested action messages, and the system supports multiple sets of requirements data for simulation purposes. Further explanation starts with a review of all demands and supplies considered by planning logic, and then proceeds to an overview of the planning calculations.
Abstract: Thanks, in part, to the fallout from the financial scandals of Enron, WorldCom, Tyco and others, the corporate spotlight is being refocused on the audit function. However, by waiting until systems are live and in production before applying an audit regimen, you may miss an excellent opportunity to establish effective controls at the outset, when the enterprise software is being implemented. Read on to learn where and how, as an executive sponsor, project manager, or team member, you can instill audit procedures that can continue throughout the life of the software.
Abstract: Most of the manufacturing software vendors have planning and scheduling software which assume either infinite production capacity for calculating quantities of raw material and work in progress (WIP) requirements or infinite quantities of raw and WIP materials for calculating production capacity. There are many problems with this approach. This paper discusses the pitfalls of this approach and how to avoid these by making sure that the software you buy indeed takes into account finite quantities of required materials as well as finite capacities of work centers in your manufacturing facility.
Abstract: To provide useful financial insight on projects, financial managers need to think about business strategy more like a series of options than a single projected cash flow. While the concepts of options are certainly familiar to most executives, the trick to valuing strategic choices lies in the complex and often overwhelming task of understanding the interaction between strategic options. This article provides a breakthrough planning approach for (1) rapidly realizing the business capabilities dictated by strategy (2) aligning process, technology and organization design and (3) through the financial lens of 'real options' shows how to quan
Abstract: System planning is the Achilles’ heel of a data center physical infrastructure project. Planning mistakes can propagate through later deployment phases, resulting in delays, cost overruns, wasted time, and a compromised system. These troubles can be eliminated by viewing system planning as a data flow model, with sequenced tasks that progressively transform and refine data from initial concept to final design. Learn more.
Abstract: Structured planning can make all the difference to your business’s growth. But are you using the right tools? Spreadsheets may not be meeting your financial management and budget planning needs. Find out the risks of using spreadsheets as a planning tool, and how enterprise performance management can help consolidate your departments’ financial information and budgets to give you real-time views of business performance.
Abstract: Planning is a crucial management discipline that enables organizations to optimally allocate their finite resources, and achieve maximum potential. The more intelligently these resources are allocated in response to changing conditions and objectives, the better the business will perform. Indeed, improved business performance is why so many companies are aggressively evolving their planning processes and embracing planning best practices.
Abstract: Companies still struggle to close the gap between strategy and day-to-day operational decisions, particularly when they over-complicate planning with practices delving too deeply into their business. A key issue is thus the consolidation of actuals into planning, and the visibility of details for specific plans and assumptions. This points to a need for more strategically aligned “planning and performance” approaches.
Abstract: The goal of any support function is to become a 'partner' to customer-facing business units of the enterprise. A strategic project management office is an indispensable part of the planning team. It is crucial to mature your PMO, so it can support each area of the company including governance and portfolio management, and benefits and cost management.
Abstract: Proper maintenance planning is the first step in moving from a reactive to a proactive mode. Yet organizations continue to struggle with establishing proper planning processes. This paper provides back to basics perspective on the key elements of maintenance planning.
Abstract: Effective planning is integral to the success of a bank. It helps define and ensure the achievement of the organization’s objectives. Understanding and implementing the planning cycle, which leverages forecasting, operational metrics, and multidimensional analyses can help management determine the feasibility of a strategy. An enterprise-wide, integrated planning and forecasting environment that reaches business units, products, customer segments, and geographies can align non-financial performance targets with high-level financial targets and help banks meet their goals.