Overview of Connected Planning from Coursera

Connected Planning is a technology-enabled approach to business planning that transforms the way organizations use their data, people, and plans. Decision makers, and ultimately the entire organization, plan and pivot with confidence when faced with changes, whether in an organization, the marketplace, or even the global economy.

From this Introduction to Connected Planning, you’ll understand its history in business modeling and scenario planning, the trends that make it essential to business success today, and the measurable impact that Connected Planning has had on organizations.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Describe the key characteristics of Connected Planning

• Understand the history of Connected Planning and its roots in business modeling and scenario planning

• Explain why current events and trends are leading many organizations to adopt Connected Planning

• Articulate the benefits of Connected Planning

This course is presented by Anaplan, provider of a leading technology platform that is purpose-built for Connected Planning.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Overview of Connected Planning

The world in which we live and work is full of change, uncertainty, and opportunity. By leveraging a Connected Planning approach and technology, organizations around the world are finding ways to not only survive, but thrive. In this short lesson, we'll introduce you to the course and reflect on what it takes for business to plan and adapt in disruptive times to meet the needs of the moment while continuing to work towards long-term goals.

What is Connected Planning? Why Should You Care?

As the title of this module suggests, this week's lessons provide a foundation to understand both what Connected Planning is, as well as why it is needed now more than ever. We'll look at some key trends impacting organizations around the world, and we'll discuss how and why Connected Planning bridges the gap between strategic plans and operational execution better than traditional planning approaches do. We'll also introduce the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans.

How Did We Get Here?

Now that you understand what we mean by Connected Planning and why it is so important to today's organizations, let's actually take a step back and talk about how we got to this point. Using technology to help with planning activities isn't new, but the technology tools needed to enable Connected Planning are much different than what most companies have used in the past. We'll start with a brief history lesson, and then we'll look at how Anaplan, as the leader in Connected Planning technology, is rewriting the story of planning for many organizations.

Where is This Going?

In this module, we'll cover a few industry trends that are emerging in conjunction with the move towards Connected Planning: (1) the emergence of a new corporate role: Chief Planning Officer, (2) the changing role of the Finance function in an organization, and (3) the incorporation of intelligent technology into planning - predictive analytics, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence. Whether these trends are driven by Connected Planning or are drivers of Connected Planning is less important than the fact that they are happening. Forward-thinking companies are embracing these trends as they look for new ways to gain a competitive advantage. For those organizations, the future is already here.

Is It Worth It?

Is is worth it? That's always the question when considering a change as large as the shift to a Connected Planning approach. More and more organizations around the world are discovering that indeed, it is worth it. In this week's lessons, we will explore the benefits that companies have achieved, both quantitative and qualitative. We'll also consider the technology and other organizational requirements that are necessary for successfully capturing the benefits of Connected Planning.

Connected Planning and You Project

All organizations plan at some level, and usually at many levels. Budgeting, sales forecasting, worker scheduling, production scheduling, promotion planning, territory assignments, and communication planning are all examples of different types of planning. The final requirements for this course are to complete and submit a project and to complete a peer review for two other learners' projects. In this project, you will assess the state of planning in the organization where you currently work (or most recently worked). If you do not have experience working in an organization, you will need to interview someone about their organization to complete the project.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops planning skills, which are core skills for roles like the Chief Planning Officer

Explores Connected Planning, which is standard in the business modeling and scenario planning industry

Taught by Linda Scott and LA Foster, who are recognized for their work in business planning and modeling

Teaches Connected Planning, which helps learners bridge the gap between strategic plans and operational execution

Provides hands-on labs and interactive materials, making it a practical learning experience

Presented by Anaplan, a leading technology platform for Connected Planning

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Overview of Connected Planning with these activities:

Understand basic overview of business planning

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Review basic overview of business planning to prepare for this course by understanding the scope and fundamentals of business planning.

Browse courses on Business Planning

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Read an article or blog post about the importance of business planning.
Watch a video about the different types of business plans.
Talk to a business owner or manager about their planning process.

Follow a guide to business data architecture

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Guided tutorials can help you build a strong foundation in data modeling, a crucial component of Connected Planning.

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Choose a reputable tutorial provider
Follow the tutorial step-by-step
Complete all exercises and assignments
Apply what you've learned to a project of your own

Create a glossary of Connected Planning terms

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Creating a glossary will help you solidify your understanding of the key concepts in Connected Planning.

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Review the course materials
Identify and define key terms
Organize the terms alphabetically or by category

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all four activities

Practice scenario planning

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Practice drills can help you improve your ability to develop and execute scenario plans.

Browse courses on Scenario Planning

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Choose a scenario you want to plan for
Identify the key variables that could affect the scenario
Develop a plan for each possible outcome
Test your plan by simulating the scenario
Revise your plan based on the results of the simulation

Career center

Learners who complete Overview of Connected Planning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects to achieve specific goals. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Project Managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Project Managers to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers plan and execute sales strategies to achieve revenue goals. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Sales Managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Sales Managers to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Technology Manager

Technology Managers plan and implement technology solutions to meet the needs of an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Technology Managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Technology Managers to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Manager

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts help organizations to make informed decisions about their financial future. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Financial Analysts develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Financial Analysts to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers plan and oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Operations Managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Operations Managers to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Strategy Consultant

Strategy Consultants help organizations to develop and execute strategies to achieve their goals. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Strategy Consultants develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Strategy Consultants to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations to improve their performance by identifying and solving business problems. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Business Analysts develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Business Analysts to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify, assess, and manage risks to an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Risk Managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Risk Managers to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make better decisions. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Data Analysts develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Data Analysts to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Product Manager

Product Managers plan and develop products to meet the needs of customers. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Product Managers develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this role. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Product Managers to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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Consultant

Consultants advise organizations on a wide range of issues, including business planning. The Overview of Connected Planning course can help Consultants develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective advice on this topic. The course provides an overview of the key characteristics of Connected Planning, its history, and its benefits. It also covers the three pillars of Connected Planning: data, people, and plans. This knowledge can help Consultants to better understand the needs of their clients and to develop effective solutions.

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CIO

CIOs are responsible for the technology infrastructure of an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course may be useful to CIOs who want to gain a better understanding of how they can use data, people, and plans to achieve their goals.

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CFO

CFOs are responsible for the financial performance of an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course may be useful to CFOs who want to gain a better understanding of how they can use data, people, and plans to achieve their goals.

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CEO

CEOs are responsible for the overall performance of an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course may be useful to CEOs who want to gain a better understanding of how they can use data, people, and plans to achieve their goals.

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Board Member

Board Members oversee the governance of an organization. The Overview of Connected Planning course may be useful to Board Members who want to gain a better understanding of how organizations can use data, people, and plans to achieve their goals.

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