Planning, Forecasting, What If Analysis and Reporting

• The objectives of the program are such that on completion, the delegates should be able to:
• Understand what is included in a solid strategic plan
• How to develop supportable assumptions
• Create realistic forecasts from solid assumptions
• Use the forecasting tools build into Excel©
• How the forecasting process leads to better budgeting
• Options for budget development
• How to run “what-if” scenarios to make better decisions
• Link responsibility, authority & accountability using reporting
• Develop needed reports that tell you what you need to know in a timely manner
• How to use these reports to match strategic goals to actual performance

The program will be conducted along with workshop principles with formal lectures, case studies, interactive worked examples. Relevant case studies will be provided to illustrate the application of each tool in an operations environment. Each learning point will be re-enforced with practical exercises. Difficult mathematical concepts are minimized wherever possible and handled in a visual way that is easy to understand with examples demonstrated. The Excel© tools will be demonstrated in a step-by-step process.

• You will be able to further your professional skills
• You will be able to make more informed and hence better corporate decisions
• You will walk away with a comprehensive planning to implementation tool
• You will be better placed to contribute to the overall success of your organization
• You can teach your peers your new skills
• The participants will become more aware of the importance of links between these critical areas
• New skills of integration management will help to make more informed and hence better management decisions
• Exposure to different techniques will help the company to efficiently collect and use the most critical data
• Forecasting of cash flows will help the company in its day-to-day and long-range plans
• The knowledge gained can be shared amongst other departments of the company

Everyone who is involved in strategic planning, forecasting, budgeting, reporting & measurements, to include:

• Senior executives
• Financial Professionals, Finance Controllers & Treasurers
• Operating and Inventory Professionals
• Any Professional, at a medium and senior level, who is a part of the decision making team
• New interns and trainees with any of the above related responsibilities

    Introduction

• What is strategic planning & why do it
• Limitations of strategic planning
• Specific problems associated with strategic planning
• Assessment tools including SWOT, Porter’s 5-forces, GE & BCG models
• Developing the plan & strategic objectives

Mapping your strategy

• Strategic Planning Process Flowchart
• Competitive Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Strategic Goals
• Why we have to plan before we forecast

• What is forecasting?
• Strategic role of forecasting
• The forecasting process
• Forecasting demand
• Sales forecasting using various methods in Excel

Qualitative Forecasting models

Market surveys, Delphi, Life cycle analogy, Expert opinions, Sales force polling

Quantitative Forecasting models

How the FORECAST, GROWTH & TREND Functions in Excel© simplify the forecasting process

The Components of a Time Series

“What-if” analysis

• What is Scenario analysis
• What is Sensitivity analysis
• What is Simulation analysis
• What is Optimization

What-if tools

• How to develop random numbers using Excel©
• How to use Goal Seek in Excel©
• How to use Solver in Excel©

Budgeting and the Management Process

• What is a budget
• Why & how is it different from a forecast
• Budgets – the financial expression of the operating plan
• The purpose of budgets – planning & control
• Advantages and limitations of budgets

The Framework for Budgeting

• Elements of the budget framework
• Types of budgets: flexible, zero-based, static
• The pro forma financial statements
• Operating versus non-operating revenue
• Listing of major budgeting software
• How to evaluate budgeting software

Budgeting Costs and Expenses

• Operating expenses – selling, G&A, R&D
• Direct variable expenses
• Indirect Fixed expenses
• Assignable and non-assignable expenses

Reporting & Meaningful Measurements

• Variance analysis
• Calculating different types of related variances
• Performance measurement as a linking and integrating tool
• The Balanced Scorecard
• Operational
• Financial
• Customer
• Learning & growth

Reporting

• Reporting
• Internal – managerial
• External – financial & regulatory

Linking it together

• Linking strategic planning , forecasting budgeting and reporting
• Reporting and performance analysis