Explore effective ways of presenting data in a meaningful, interesting and engaging way. Improve the way you inform and persuade your key stakeholders.  

• Understand why your existing reports don’t excite or engage your stakeholders
• Learn the basics of data visualisation and how to communicate information
• Apply “2 key questions” and start the use the tools and resource you need

Develop your flexibility offering with deeper analysis of your supply and demand, driving a workforce strategy.

- Understand the scale of volatility
- Engage your stakeholders with advanced analysis
- Use this to drive decisions and develop a workforce strategy

The setting of an arbitrary blanket target of say +/-5% forecast accuracy highlights that an organisation does not truly understand the nature of forecasting. Explore the key responsibilities of forecasting and how to take a holistic view when setting measures of success.  Learning outcomes include:

- What does good look like?  Explore the key characteristics of an ideal forecast and key considerations to develop understanding and learning.

- Define your purpose.  Understand how forecasting can support your business strategy and impact it can have on customers and colleagues.

- Creating the right measures.  Understand different perspectives and develop a holistic framework of success measures.

Learn how to incorporate all relevant information using Statistical and Expert methods to produce the best possible predictions. Further your knowledge in the types of technique and how they can be applied, and which performs best dependent on the problem. Learning outcomes include:

- Statistical Methods. Explore the key characteristics of Pure Time Series models and key considerations. 

- Standard Deviation. See how Standard Deviation can help you understand variability and support your forecasting approach.

- Explanatory & Expert Methods. Learn how to build a multiple regression model in excel and explore how the Delphi method could be a powerful tool in your forecasting armoury.

The basis of a best practice scheduling strategy is a clear understanding of the volatility of workload and the amount of flexibility to need and can afford.  This module introduces you to theoretical models and calculations to understand your flexibility need.  Learning outcomes include:

- What does volatility & flexibility mean and the importance of defining these for your business.

- How to calculate the volatility of demand and amount of flexibility available

- Understanding different flexibility needs based on different starting positions, e.g. annually and daily, compared to average, compared to budget

Introduction into shrinkage calculations, tiered shrinkage, historical tracking.  Understand the importance of calculating shrinkages so they are optimised for your operation the key differences and impact on your resource requirements
 - What is included in shrinkage?
 - The importance of calculating shrinkage correctly.
 - Which method should you use for planning, budgeting.