This course is part of the Connected Planning for Business Transformation Specialization

Linda Scott +1 more instructor

Offered By

Connected Planning for Business Transformation SpecializationAnaplan

About this Course

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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.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 1 of 4 in the

Connected Planning for Business Transformation Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

How Connected Planning differs from traditional planning approaches and why it is critical in today’s business environment
How Connected Planning bridges the gap between strategic planning and operational execution
The quantitative and qualitative benefits of Connected Planning for an organization

Skills you will gain

Technology Disruption
Business Planning
Strategic Planning
Connected Planning
Business Strategy

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 4 in the

Connected Planning for Business Transformation Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Linda Scott

Senior Instructional Designer

Anaplan Academy

1,241 Learners

4 Courses

LA Foster

Senior Instructional Designer

Anaplan Academy

1,241 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

Anaplan

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

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.

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 10 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 68 min), 5 readings, 6 quizzes

13 videos

What is Connected Planning?4mWhat Does Connected Planning Mean for Businesses Today?1mWhy Implement Connected Planning? 3mWhat Do We Mean by Connected?1mThe World Today4mDigitization in Everyday Life1mCustomer Perspective - Markel Insurance4mTurn Change into Advantage: CXO Roundtable22mCross Functional Business Agility in Times of Disruption3mFive Connected Planning Truths14mPillar of Connected Planning: Data1mPillar of Connected Planning: People3mPillar of Connected Planning: Plans57s

5 readings

Introduction to the Lesson1mWhat is Digitization?2mDigitization and Connected Planning5mAn Agile Approach in Uncertain Times10mIntroduction to the Three Pillars1m

6 practice exercises

What is Connected Planning? 10mDigitization in Everyday Life10mTurn Change into Advantage5mAn Agile Approach in Uncertain Times10mThree Pillars of Connected Planning15mWeek 2 Assessment5m

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 31 min), 7 readings, 6 quizzes

7 videos

History of Planning4mThe Mess4mExample of Traditional Planning Process1mThe Revolution8mThe Messy Middle5mTraditional Planning Approaches Have Failed Us2mElegant in its Simplicity4m

7 readings

Introduction to the Lesson1mThe Blueprint for Connected Planning and Decision-Making5mFive Costs and Perils of Spreadsheets for Business Analytics7mEnterprise Performance Management: 20 years Gone and Contemporary Connected Planning10mIntroduction to the Lesson1mTraditional Planning vs. Connected Planning8mFortify, Fast-Track and Invest in your Digital Future5m

6 practice exercises

Costs and Perils of Spreadsheets for Business Analytics10mThe Messy Middle10mTraditional Planning Approaches Have Failed Us10mElegant in its Simplicity10mFortify, Fast-Track, and Invest in Your Digital Future15mWeek 3 Assessment10m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 54 min), 14 readings, 4 quizzes

12 videos

The Rise of Connected Planning and the Chief Planning Officer6mWhy Do We Need a Chief Planning Officer?1mEnter the Chief Planning Officer4mCharacteristics of a Chief Planning Officer1mWhere Would You Find a Chief Planning Officer?1mCase Study - Cargill Finance2mAcceleration of Finance Function Transformation5mHow is Artificial Intelligence Helping Companies Plan?5mFuture-Ready Predictive Forecasting and Agile Scenarios8mHyper Charging the Anaplan Platform3mIncreasing Sales Accuracy with Predictive Insights11mValue of Incorporating Predictive Analytics into Daily Planning and Forecasting2m

14 readings

Introduction to the Lesson1mThe Birth of the Chief Planning Officer2mIntroducing the Essential C-Suite Role: The Chief Planning Officer2mChief Planning Officers: Maximizing the Value of an Organization's Data5mIntroduction to the Lesson1mThe Rise of Today’s Influential CFO6mUpdating FP&A's Mission: A New Approach for the 2020s10mxP&A = Connected Planning1mStrategic Roadmap for Cloud Financial Planning and Analysis Solutions30mBuilding Next-Generation Capabilities10mFour Pillars of the Futurist CFO6mIntroduction to the Lesson1mAdvanced Analytics Yield Insights for Competitive Advantage4mTranforming Information into Insights6m

4 practice exercises

Role of Finance in Driving Connected Planning20mPre-Lesson Reflections5mPost-Lesson Reflection10mWeek 4 Assessment10m

Week5

Week 5

2 hours to complete

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.

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 11 min), 11 readings, 4 quizzes

3 videos

The State of Connected Planning - Key Trends1mCase Study - Amgen2mUnlocking Value in a Digital Transformation7m

11 readings

Introduction to the Lesson1mConnecting the Enterprise by Expanding the Definition2mState of Connected Planning Report6mIntroduction to the Lesson1mQualitative Benefits of Connected Planning2mKey Benefits of Connected Planning5mQuantitative Benefits of Connected Planning2m2022 Forrester Study: Total Economic Impact of Anaplan5mConnected Planning Technology Checklist2mIntroduction to the Lesson1mGuidebook: Best Practices5m

4 practice exercises

Return-on-Investment (ROI) Estimator20mReturn-on-Investment (ROI) Estimator - Scenarios20mImplementation Challenges5mModule 5 Assessment15m

Week6

Week 6

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

2 readings

About the Connected Planning for Business Transformation Specialization

This Specialization is for business professionals and students who are building business strategy and planning skills. It’s also ideal for senior leadership who need insight beyond basic business modeling and scenario planning to capture value from their strategic planning and budgeting processes. Through three courses, you will cover the principles and benefits of Connected Planning, learn from real-life Connected Planning case studies from a wide range of industries and functions, and explore the organizational imperatives critical to successful Connected Planning adoption. Together, these courses will prepare you to drive a Connected Planning implementation in your own organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Overview of Connected Planning

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Skills you will gain