Integrated Business Planning

Let’s Rethink How We Manage Business

 

IBP is provocative, challenging, and, at times, contentious, yet the benefits are unquestionable. We have experience navigating the dynamics which impede IBP implementation in a variety of different businesses. This experience affords us the opportunity to help others take the concepts of IBP and provide pragmatic operational solutions, avoiding rabbit-holes, minefields, and some of the frustration associated with the deployment.  This site is created to provide online support, answer questions, and help others on their IBP implementation journey.

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Integrated Business Planning

What Covid-19 taught us about IBP

Implementation of an Integrated business planning (IBP) process in a large matrix organization is far from short on challenges and even after several years these challenges often persists.  Navigating the dynamics of an organization that has deep seated roots lacking transparency, subterfuge, turf guarding and even egocentric behaviors can plague an IBP process often longer than the organization has the patience to endure.   How is it possible to integrate different functions in such an environment where supply chain poor performance is often the result of perceived bad forecast, a sales and marketing team that continues to miss sales targets due…
Debbie Evans
March 24, 2021
Integrated Business Planning

“The Comedy of Integrated Business Planning: An Unparalleled Adventure”

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) - a concept that sounds as exciting as a spreadsheet party! While it may be a critical business process, let's take a lighthearted approach and dive into the world of IBP, where strategic decisions meet the unexpected twists and turns of corporate life. The Perils of Forecasting: IBP starts with forecasting, where businesses try to predict the future like fortune-tellers armed with spreadsheets. But alas, forecasting can sometimes feel like gazing into a crystal ball that stubbornly refuses to reveal its secrets. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, reality does a cheeky…
Debbie Evans
June 29, 2023
Business

Navigating Success: How Integrated Business Planning Can Propel New Businesses to Prosperity

Starting a new business venture can be an exhilarating yet daunting journey. Entrepreneurs often wear multiple hats, juggling countless responsibilities while striving to achieve sustainable growth. In this dynamic and competitive landscape, the concept of Integrated Business Planning (IBP) is often thought of as something for more mature businesses, but nothing can be further from the truth.  IBP is the valuable compass that can steer new businesses toward success by aligning all functions towards those strategic growth ambitions. Understanding Integrated Business Planning At its core, Integrated Business Planning (IBP) is a holistic approach to business management that aligns various organizational…
Debbie Evans
September 4, 2023
Operations

Order Control Gone Haywire: A Hilarious Guide to managing orders during a constrained supply situation

One of the challenges in the Integrated business planning (IBP) process is aligning the outcome of the monthly IBP process with the short-term tactical horizon.  It happens like this:  The demand review from the commercial team provides an unconstrained demand plan.  Supply Chain review responds with their known constraints that cannot be overcome, it is decided that the commercial team is then forced to constrain the demand plan and then supply chain is able to develop a supply plan that is both realistic and achievable.  The process works great! Right?  But not so fast, the customer, aware that there is…
Debbie Evans
July 12, 2023