Managing the Future


Book Description

Equipping your organization for an uncertain future is a daunting task. If you're already over-stretched dealing with the pressures of today - it can seem like an impossible one. But building future planning into your everyday practices is not only vital - it's eminently doable. And who better to show us how than Stephen Millett - historian, futurist and management consultant for three decades? Managing the Future offers a straightforward and pragmatic approach to strategic planning. It takes an honest look at the limitations of forecasting, and shows (through real-life examples and a wealth of experience) how managers can best use a variety of futuring methods, including scenarios, horizon scanning and trend monitoring. Dr. Millett first outlines his Five Futuring Principles: they provide a clear theoretical framework for preparing an organization for the future. He then takes us through the practical steps involved in managing a forward-facing organization, including managing "e;futuring"e; (the external-to-internal process of scanning the environment to anticipate the trends that will affect your organization) and "e;visioning"e; (realizing the internal mission, values, aspirations and goals of an organization and its management, and then turning your organization outward to face the world).













Strategic Business Forecasting


Book Description

A book on practical business forecasting belongs in the library of everyone interested in business. Forecasting is extremely important to finance and accounting executives, business economists and managers at all levels. Strategic Business Forecasting: The Complete Guide to Forecasting Real World Company Performance provides you with a working knowledge of the fundamentals of business forecasting that can be applied in the real world regardless of the size of the firm. The author explains the basic forecasting methodology and the practical applications. All aspects of business are discussed, making this a comprehensive and valuable reference. The author avoids theoretical and mathematical discussions to gets right into how, when , and why to use this book. Many practical examples, applications, illustrations, guidelines, measures, checklists, rules of thumb, tips, graphs, diagrams and tables aid your comprehension of the subject. The author displays and explains printouts obtained using many popular spreadsheet programs and software packages. The book goes far beyond just sales forecasting, encompassing a wide range of topics of major importance to practical business managers and finance professionals, including cash flow forecasting, cost prediction, earnings forecasts, bankruptcy prediction, foreign exchange forecasting, and interest rate forecasting. Written in an easy-to-read style, it is practical, current, and intriguing - a reference book to use throughout your business career.




Long-range Planning in American Industry


Book Description

If the management attitude, top management support, business organization and use of statistical method in forecasting technological change and economic conditions are accurate, long term planning can improve the efficiency, administrative aspects and management of the enterprise and contribute to the financial aspects stability and economic growth of USA. 2 case studies. Bibliography pp. 265-279. Many statistical tables.







Improving Forecasts with Integrated Business Planning


Book Description

This book provides both a broad overview of the forecasting process, covering technological and human aspects alike, and deep insights into algorithms and platform functionalities in the IBP toolbox required to maximize forecast accuracy. Rich in technical and business explanations, it addresses short-, medium- and long-term forecasting processes using functionalities available in demand planning and demand sensing. There are also several theoretical concepts underpinning the algorithms discussed; these are explained with numerical examples to help demystify the IBP forecasting toolbox. Beyond standard procedures, the book also discusses custom approaches (e.g. new segmentation criteria, new outlier detection and correction methods) and new methods (e.g. the use of Markov chains for forecasting sporadic demands), etc. It subsequently benchmarks common practices using these innovative approaches and discusses the results. As measurement is an important precondition for improvement, an entire chapter is devoted to discussing process improvement and value using the Six Sigma methodology. In closing, the book provides several useful tips and tricks that should come in handy during project implementation.