Blog

A Good Plan: Spend Time on User Stories
In this guest blog series, Anaplan partner Spaulding Ridge examines what they have found to be integral parts of a good plan: the level of detail, the process, the people involved, the timing, and pitfalls to avoid. Writing user stories is one of the most impactful and exciting phases of the early Anaplan implementation…
Game of Thrones: The Great Plan is Coming
The final season of "Game of Thrones" is quickly approaching, and it’s best we prepare our battle cries and learn the strategies of our rivals. Or at least use this time to discover the different types of planning involved when waging war for not only the Iron Throne but also against the White Walkers! Within the past…
International Women’s Day Roundtable: Career Advice From The Women of Anaplan
Photo Credit: Laura Rae PhotographyHappy International Women’s Day! Today marks 111 years of celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Over just the past 19 years, women in leadership roles have doubled. According to Pew Social Trends, “The share of women sitting on the boards of…
Why You Should Join the Anaplan Community (Infographic)
There are many reasons for joining an online community, from wanting to be exposed to different perspectives and connecting with peers, to sharing ideas and growing professionally. With so many online communities out there ranging from social media platforms, such as LinkedIn or Facebook, to industry-leading forums, it can…
Busting the Two BIG Myths of Cost Reduction
Most organizations, at some point, will need to find ways to significantly reduce spending. We are all familiar with general exhortations to spend less, as if managers willingly commit to frivolous spending and can easily "cut a little fat." Sure, there are always some small things that can be reduced, although in practice…
Strategic Planning: 6 Steps for Small Businesses
As a small business owner, you’re a member of a unique group of people that face a specific set of challenges when it comes to business planning. You’ve identified the right niche, hired a rock-star team, and are poised to conquer the business world! When the initial buzz wears off and you’re left to compete in an…
A Good Plan: Avoiding Scope Creep
In this guest blog series, Anaplan partner Spaulding Ridge will examine what they have found to be integral parts of a good plan: the level of detail, the process, the people involved, the timing, and pitfalls to avoid. Now that you have decided the level and type of detail in your planning process that works best for…
Strategic Planning Quiz
Now that you’ve brushed up on your strategic planning expertise, it's time put what you've learned to the test. We’ve created the ultimate strategic planning quiz featuring 10 questions pulled from the strategic planning articles featured on the Community Blog this month. Need a refresher on what was covered this month?…
Our 10 Favorite Strategic Planning Movies
You’re in your seat, popcorn in hand. The lights go down and soon you’re following the adventures of the larger-than-life characters on the screen. You’re invested. You’re excited. And then… …one of them makes a decision that is so foolish and utterly unbelievable that it undermines your enjoyment of the movie. “Why would…
Effective Collaboration: Planning a Foundation of Success
When it comes to achieving the best results, effective collaboration in an organization is not just nice to have; it’s a critical element for success. By definition, collaboration happens when people work together. Applied to organizational goals, and strategic planning strategies, effective collaboration can take this to…
User Groups Live! is Coming
User Groups Live! is coming, and you’re invited. Join Anaplanners from around the world on March 21st for the Anaplan Community’s inaugural international virtual meetup! User Groups Live! is a half-day, online experience that will boost your Connected Planning knowledge and model building skills. The agenda is packed with…
Goal-Based Strategic Planning 101
Imagine you are the CEO of a new organization producing an up-and-coming electronic entertainment device which is quickly becoming the most sought-after item in the market. You’re a small, independently-owned company that has sold enough units in your short, twelve-month existence to keep your business operating with a…
Connected Planning in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The rules of planning are evolving daily. While we still steer businesses based on numbers, plans, budgets, and assumptions, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) developments, computing power, and data we are on the cusp of a major transformation in the way we operate our businesses. We are progressing from static, cycle…
How to Plan the Ultimate Party: The Anaplan Way
Planning is a quintessential part of life. Whether you're building out a project at work or planning a wedding, the same tools and skills can be applied. However, too often we avoid letting our personal and work lives cross; we dismiss the structure we put in place at work and opt for a looser (and less efficient) planning…
A Good Plan: How Much Detail Do I Need?
In this guest blog series, Anaplan partner Spaulding Ridge will examine what they have found to be integral parts of a good plan: the level of detail, the process, the people involved, the timing, and pitfalls to avoid. What does a good plan look like? The core of planning is anticipating the future to the greatest degree…
Getting Better at Getting Ready: Scenario Planning for Competitive Advantage
What if you had, ready at hand, an instruction book that told you exactly what to do in the event of any kind of emergency? You would feel more prepared to handle whatever challenge comes at you, wouldn’t you? Maybe you’d feel more confident knowing you always had a "plan B." That’s what Scenario Planning is: an…
How Do You Plan? 5 Strategies to Increase Meeting Productivity
It’s only week two in the new year and meetings are already taking over our calendars as planning session after planning session is scheduled. With so many meetings in a row, it can start to feel like an episode of The Office where you’re caught in a Michael Scott meeting with no escape (or end) in sight. Not the best way…
The Evolution of the Anaplan Community
It may seem hard to believe, but the Anaplan Community will be six years old this spring! From its humble beginnings, to all things “Anaplan,” to becoming the go-to spot for Connected Planning thought leadership, the Anaplan Community has had quite a ride. In the spirit of the new year—a time for both reflection and…
Plan for Success in 2019: 5 Tips to Achieve Your Goals
The new year is the perfect time for reflection, evaluation, and planning for what you will accomplish in the next 365 days. Did you meet or exceed your sales goals, get in those steps every day, and remember to put down your phone more often? Did you take action to earn that promotion, join a volunteer organization, or…
Community Roundtable: State of Connected Planning, Part 2
Last week we spoke to four Community members to get their thoughts on the recent Anaplan State of Connected Planning report which uncovered leading planning trends in finance, supply chain, sales, marketing, human resources, operations, IT, and workforce functions. Today we’re publishing the second part of this…
'Twas the Night Before Planning
'Twas the week before Christmas, and at the North Pole The elves were a-stirring; they’d lost all control. The workshop was messy with toys everywhere, Unwrapped and unfinished and in disrepair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zth1T8de80M The problem was Christmas had grown every year ‘Til planning was now their primary…
Community Roundtable: State of Connected Planning, Part 1
We spoke to a number of Community members about the recent Anaplan State of Connected Planning report in which a survey of over 1,000 planning professionals across all business functions in 45 countries and 18 industries uncovered leading planning trends in finance, supply chain, sales, marketing, human resources,…
Racing the Red Queen: 3 Planning Processes to Beat the Competition
Have you heard of the Red Queen effect? The idea draws its name from a vignette in Lewis Carroll’s book, Through the Looking Glass. In the vignette, Alice is chasing the Red Queen in circles that seem to be taking them nowhere. When the two stop running, they are in exactly the same place. Alice is bewildered as she…
The State of Connected Planning Trends Review
Have you had a chance to review the State of Connected Planning report? Interested in finding out what four planning trends we uncovered and what they mean for your 2019 business strategy? Now is your chance to dive into the State of Connected Planning report with me, Anaplan’s Chief Planning Officer, as your guide. Click…
The State of Connected Planning
With FY19 coming to a close, planning efforts for FY20 are ramping up, and the question on everyone's mind is "how can we stay ahead of our competitors?" Connected Planning has become a driving force for organizations to strategize with greater agility, giving them the edge to become successful leaders in their industries.…
Who and What is a Chief Planning Officer?
You may have noticed this past summer we created a new role within Anaplan called a Chief Planning Officer. In my Connected Planning blog series, I plan to share the value we believe organizations will receive by placing a Chief Planning Officer in a seat at their executive tables. Within this series, I want to focus on…
Sales Planning Meets Production Planning
Planning complexity in manufacturing and order fulfillment stems from the attempt to “fit” forecasted demand with available production machines while hoping to leverage an algorithm that will provide the best “**** for the buck.” This algorithm normally incorporates Level 2 production machine metrics like run-rate, machine…
Costume Contest Winners!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural Community Costume Contest. We had some very creative entries! After evaluating all of the submissions, we are pleased to announce the winners. The Community team scored each entry on an objective points system based on creativity, quality, and execution of the…
Community Says: Simplifying the Complex
Think back to the last time you encountered a technical challenge. Even if the solution you ultimately found was a simple one, the frustration you experienced in the moment was very real, as was the relief upon finding the answer to the problem. That's why there's almost no better feeling than when someone understands what…
Simon Tucker Says: Be Agile With Your Plans
The Harvard Business Review recently published the article “Planning Doesn’t Have to Be the Enemy of Agile.” Given its implications for businesses, we asked our Chief Planning Officer for his thoughts on this timely and relevant topic. Simon Tucker: This is a great article about how companies should organize into agile…