Are you doing IBP or S&OP because it's ‘sophisticated’... or because it solves your problems?

If your team fights fires instead of looking ahead, more IBP / S&OP isn't the answer.

Often, simple beats sophisticated. Keep It Simple.

Your forecast is a promise - but it's going to be attacked. Are you ready for that?

Risks push you under the forecast line. Opportunities push you over it. Smart companies actively manage both and stay in balance.

Here's how to do it with one simple page.

Thirty-five years ago, Hubble launched into orbit. The planning was almost perfect.

Almost.

One wrong assumption cost $50 million to fix.

How much time do you spend on the assumptions behind your numbers?

Let me be clear, a CEO needs to be unreasonable, not evangelical. Here's the crucial difference and why understanding it matters for everyone in the planning process.  

"Right, we're going to fill up that warehouse and fix this DIFOT problem once and for all!"

I call that Evangelical Forecasting. But it’s Churches that are the places for faith. Businesses are for facts.

Short-term planning feels safe and manageable, but it's like navigating a boat at night with just a spotlight – you're essentially moving from crisis to crisis. Stop that!

Maybe you can predict snow in December (Note: I’m Southern Hemisphere), but if you can't deliver it, you're just creating expensive PowerPoint presentations about opportunities you can't capitalise on.

Conflict hits your business.

Within hours, executives are wading in about priorities, resources, and who gets what.

This is NOT the time to start making decisions.

The secret weapon in successful IBP/S&OP isn't better forecasting or fancier software.

It's storytelling. 📊➡️📝

The key to success is in your ability to tell the three essential business stories that drive decisions.

When customers place orders, they don't issue "get-out-of-jail-free" cards for incomplete deliveries. So why do we?

This article challenges some creative interpretations behind those comfortable 90% DIFOT scores while your customers look elsewhere.

Do you squirm in IBP/S&OP planning meetings when someone challenges the numbers?

Move their perspective. Show them this article: "Assumptions: From Theory to Practice”

Let’s challenge the conventional wisdom about "who owns inventory" and propose a controversial solution that could transform your approach to inventory management.

Hint: The answer might ruffle some feathers in your Supply Chain department...

Are your planning meetings just a battle over numbers? 🤔

The real magic of IBP happens between the numbers — in your assumptions.

Well-documented assumptions transform planning from mechanical exercises into strategic conversations.

Are your KPIs stuck in the past? 💀

Focusing on last quarter's numbers is like driving while only looking in your rearview mirror — crash inevitable.

Learn why predictive lead metrics matter 👇

Like choosing the right camera lens, it's about knowing what you need to capture - not how many features you can add.

Here I explore three distinct PMR approaches and why the best one might not be the most complex. Real experience, real examples, no fluff...

Another week, another 'important business initiative'... ever wondered how your organisation will deliver them all? 🤔

In this blog, I share how one company is rethinking their PMR scope to tackle the age-old question: "Can we really do all of this at once?"

Sore eyes from squinting at a 6-point font Gantt chart showing three years' worth of NPD launches on one page? Rise above that, I believe effective innovation portfolio management in IBP often comes down to just three fundamental measures. Here's my perspective on why focusing on these basics drives better decisions.

Want a forecast accuracy KPI that actually drives engagement? Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. 📊

I have a favourite that might just be the simplest one you've never tried.

No complex math required - promise! 📊

Ever sat through a Demand Review watching colleagues scroll through their phones while someone drones on about MAD and MAPE? 🤔

Stop making these meetings more complex than needed. Here’s 5 simple behavioural practices to steer your Demand Reviews into being value-driving forums.

Spoiler: It's not about perfect forecasts – it's about honest conversations about the future…

Implementing IBP without strong foundations is like building a penthouse on quicksand—it's destined to sink. Your first priority should be to get that Demand forecasting <> Supply response process in place and measured…