Key Web Links
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Chapter 3: Planning and Forecasting Key Web Links |
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Planning and Forecasting
Planning
Vision, planning, and goal setting have proven to be crucial to an organizations' performance; these are the components of "strategic planning". Strategic planning is a process which provides direction and meaning to daily activities and the following sites pertain to components of strategic planning.
http://www.apeo.org/guide/missions.htm
Developing goals and objectives.
This site provides information and guidance in the development and writing of goals. It also provides the necessary tools used to access progress towards meeting those goals.
http://www.ncrtec.org/capacity/guidewww/eval.htm
Implementing the plan.
This site discusses how technology implementation is a continuous process that adapts to the organizations changing circumstances and how effective evaluation will force planners to rethink and adapt objectives, priorities, and strategies as technology implementation proceeds.
http://www.ciras.iastate.edu/toc
Measuring progress and revising the plan.
This site offers a variety of methods for measuring performance and realizes its important role in the "strategic planning" process.
Forecasting
Forecasting is defined in many ways: to foreshadow, to predict the future, to foresee, and to estimate or calculate in advance. Technical forecasting is needed to aid the decision maker by reducing the uncertainty of the future. Forecasting has become a necessary factor in today’s society. To make future sales, estimate the number of potential employees needed, help determine the amount of machines and/or equipment to be purchased, etc., forecasting methods need to be utilized by companies. Many forecasting methods are available and are used to the advantage of researchers, educators, practitioners, consultants, and engineers. Companies are not limited to using only one forecasting method. In fact, the most successful companies combine different forecasting methods in order to make the most effective decision. See sites below.
http://www-marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/forecast/welcome.html
The Forecasting Principles site summarizes all useful knowledge about forecasting
so that researchers, practitioners, and educators can use it. This knowledge is
provided as principles (guidelines, prescription, rules, conditions, action statements,
or advice about what to do in given situations). The principles apply to management,
operations research, and social sciences.
http://www.bettermanagement.com
This website provides in-depth articles, case studies and other helpful information
concerning management to forecasting. One can search forecasting by typing forecasting
in their search page.
http://www.lsp.ups-tlse.fr/Stephen/STATS/quotes.html
This site is about famous quotes concerning forecasting. It lists different
famous people and their takes on forecasting.
www.e-forecasting.com
Infometrica's indicators, forecasts and analyses of global markets presented
at this site provide a way to monitor the factors that drive the local, national
and international economy and affect each company's performance. Infometrica's
Data Center is a recognized provider of business forecasting, unique indicators,
analyses and information that helps clients track and evaluate business and economic
conditions, which directly influence their industry and specific markets strategically
targeted to improve corporate performance.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1038/3_42/55083930/p1/article.jhtml?term=forecasting
The following link is in reference to a study conducted by John T. Mentzer
as a follow up to a previous study on the "Seven Keys" for forecasting management.
It involves 20 companies at various levels in the supply industry. Based on the
results, four dimensions: Functional Integration, Approach, Systems, and Performance
Measurement are use as benchmarks.
http://www-marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/forecast/welcome.html
The above references site offers the full gamut of information on forecasting,
for researchers, practitioners, and educators, to include, but not limited to:
·Critiques and links of forecasting software programs, both shareware and those for sale. ·Information on papers and journal related to forecasting ·Information on conferences both national and international ·Review and information on text and trade books (over 30 listed or reviewed)
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