Is unplanned demand proving to be a disruptive force in your organization? When it comes to fitting in new projects with limited capacity, you may be facing the painful reality that annual planning isn’t working. Continuous planning in a digital economy may be the answer.
If today’s constantly evolving landscape is causing chaos in your organization, you’re not alone. In a recent IDG CIO Research Services survey, 85 percent of CIOs and IT leaders report they are deviating several times a year from their approved annual plan.
Whether struggling with internal or external business demands, it is clear that annual planning lacks strategic effectiveness, while continuous planning can provide much-needed agility.
Findings in a recent “IDG CIO Quick Poll: Planning for the Digital Economy” concluded:
- Only 50 percent rate their organizations as extremely or very effective at adapting to unforeseen demand
- 60 percent want to prioritize improved communication with business units and executives
- 59 percent are less likely to view resource constraints as a strategic planning challenge when they prioritize improved adaptability to new demands and data-driven business trade-offs
So, what is the best path forward when it comes to planning for the unplanned? In speaking to customers, I’ve found that having access to real-time updated plans will spark the very conversations needed to avoid over-committing resources.
The IDG Poll also found enterprises need to:
- Embrace a continuous planning model to empower each role within the organization to persistently plan and support the overall portfolio
- Update plans regularly using actuals and new demands so a roll-up of real-time, in-flight projects can provide a holistic view into the organization
- Map projects to business outcomes so the highest priorities are above the line, lending confidence that the current portfolio represents a realistic plan
To take a deeper dive into the results, get your free copy of CIO QuickPulse Survey, Planning for the Digital Economy: Adapting to Today’s Constantly Evolving Environment. If you’re wondering how to get started, I recommend watching The Myth of Annual Planning video. It provides a short overview on the movement to continuous planning and the impact it can make on your business.
I’d like to hear from you. What are some of your challenges when it comes to planning? Share by leaving a comment below.
