Ventana Research Launches Business Planning Benchmark Research

    SAN RAMON, CA, March 08, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ventana Research is set to begin new benchmark research on the current state and maturity of business planning.

Planning is an essential part of all organizations. Especially in challenging economic environments, planning can make a big difference in how well companies perform. Every part of a business has a plan. There are sales plans, production plans, R&D plans, financial plans and so on, but they are almost always loosely connected. Consequently, when things change (as they always do), companies react uncoordinated ways. Integrated business planning is a relatively new approach to a longstanding need: bringing together the disparate strands of forward-looking activities in a way that fosters internal alignment and enhances agility, enabling the corporation to improve its operating performance, financial return and strategic position. However, few companies actually do this. Today, the only real integrated planning activity is the corporate budget. Budgets are essential for the finance department but they are not nearly as useful for the rest of the organization. Integrating business planning (not just financial projections) gives CEOs, senior executives and the CFO greater forward visibility and a deeper understanding of future activities and requirements across all parts of the organization.

This benchmark research will identify, explore and quantify the ways in which companies plan. What sort of planning takes place? How often do people plan? How integrated is it? How effective is it? The research will investigate the best practices and benefits of the planning processes, how companies use information that is generated from business planning and what software they use to manage the process. In 2009, Ventana Research conducted its first benchmark research on Integrated Business Planning, which was the first quantitative research to document how organizations plan and assess their maturity in performing this core function. The results of the 2009 benchmark research identified many issues. For example, it found only 10 percent of organizations are very well coordinated in planning. One fourth take more than a week after a review meeting to resolve issues, drill down and review aspect of the plan. The new benchmark will look at trends and changes in the last three years and the progress seen in integrated business planning.

"The dynamics of planning across finance and operational areas are still challenging organizations. Too many decisions are uncoordinated and reactive to opportunities and crises, and there's too little detailed contingency planning," said Robert Kugel, SVP Research of Ventana Research. "Our benchmark and its ability to demonstrate best practices and process improvement opportunities will help organizations plan more effectively."

Those interested in learning more about this benchmark research can do so at http://www.ventanaresearch.com/ibp. As a part of your registration you will receive insights and education from Ventana Research on using technology effectively in business.

To view Ventana Research's 2012 research agendas, please visit http://www.ventanaresearch.com/researchagenda/.

About Ventana Research

Ventana Research is the most authoritative and respected benchmark business technology research and advisory services firm. We provide insight and expert guidance on mainstream and disruptive technologies through a unique set of research-based offerings including benchmark research and technology evaluation assessments, education workshops and our research and advisory services, Ventana On-Demand. Our unparalleled understanding of the role of technology in optimizing business processes and performance and our best practices guidance are rooted in our rigorous research-based benchmarking of people, processes, information and technology across business and IT functions in every industry. This benchmark research plus our market coverage and in-depth knowledge of hundreds of technology providers means we can deliver education and expertise to our clients to increase the value they derive from technology investments while reducing time, cost and risk.

Ventana Research provides the most comprehensive analyst and research coverage in the industry; business and IT professionals worldwide are members of our community and benefit from Ventana Research's insights, as do highly regarded media and association partners around the globe. Our views and analyses are distributed daily through blogs and social media channels including Twitter, Facebook,LinkedIn and Business Week's Business Exchange.

To learn how Ventana Research advances the maturity of organizations' use of information and technology through benchmark research, education and advisory services, visit www.ventanaresearch.com.

Media: Copies of benchmark research report and interviews are available upon request.

Media Contact:
Bailey Donoghue
(925) 242-2412
[email protected]

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