Uncertainty about every facet of business will continue.                                                            Markets will be disruptive                                                                                                           Supply chains stretched                                                                                                                Customer service and experience demanding                                                                            Competition unrelenting, and                                                                                                        The cost of everything rising

Long-term planning is a waste of time. 2022 will be all about facing near-term realities. The key will be flexibility! Additionally, you will have to incorporate cultural and social changes into your planning as you would inflation, market competition, sales forecasts, etc.

Adaptive Planning

Adaptive Planning requires much more collaboration between you and the customer. You’ll need to hone adaptive skills and be able to switch your ‘routine’ way of operating/managing your business on the fly. This is a significant departure from traditional planning. Shedding old ways and habits isn’t easy but is a MUST of 2022 and beyond.

Instead of thinking in terms of projects, you must think in terms of ‘risk of actions‘. Or, what do you gain on the risk? Have your management team meet regularly to discuss their risks, learnings, failures, and successes.

If the past two years taught us anything it is that we have to respond and adapt quickly to forces out of our control. Flexibility is the key and a mindset ready to react to market and mandated changes are requisite. Businesses, by their nature, foster risk-averse cultures bases upon near-perfect execution of process…this no longer works.

Adaptive Planning must be embraced and used for 2022.