Connected Planning

Data-Driven Forecasting for the Holidays
During the holiday season, the ability to analyze and react to data effectively can be the deciding factor between having your shelves stocked or scrambling with inventory transfer issues. Historic data can provide the basis for true statistical forecasting, accounting for seasonality, and other retail trends. Cleansing…
Transforming IT Project Planning for CIOs
Project planning and tracking is something that falls under the responsibility of most Chief Information Officers (CIO). With many stakeholders, it is a cumbersome process to manage, is disconnected across cost centers and business units, and often does not generate insights at a meaningful level of detail. The Current…
Connected Planning Internship Program—Minneapolis
After a long winter season, there’s nothing like the energy and excitement of a Minnesota summer to lift your spirits. This year, Anaplan is stepping up its summer game with the introduction of the Connected Planning Internship program. This 11-week program is designed to help build the next generation of talented model…
3 Planning Tips from the Rebel Alliance
May the 4th be with you! In recognition of Star Wars Day, we wanted to share some insights on planning that we picked up a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. In this special dual blog post, we’re analyzing the successes and failures of both the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire throughout “Star Wars: Episode IV…
3 Planning Tips From the Galactic Empire
In celebration of May the 4th (be with you!), we’re analyzing some planning-based highlights from arguably the most famous Star Wars film of them all, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” In this special dual blog post, we’re analyzing what worked, what didn’t work, and what can be learned from the planning successes and…
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?…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
How Much Do You Know About Anaplan?
It's trivia time! Here's your chance to see how much you know about Anaplan—or at least learn a bit more about Anaplan's history and culture. Tackle these 10 questions and see how well you do. If you get stumped, try searching for answers (hint: the Anaplan.com filter option may help you here!). And if you like testing…
Ready, Set, Go? 5 Ways to Get Started with Planning Your Next Project (Infographic)
1) Brainstorm It's no surprise that a simple round of brainstorming makes the list as a great way to get started with planning. Either individually or with a team, take the classic approach of a "no idea too big" brainstorm where all ideas, wants, needs, goals, concerns, sidebars, and comments are documented for all to…

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