Strength in Numbers
The Value of Community

Learning Academy Box Sets

Take the opportunity to gain accreditation in a specific subject. Our Box Sets are groups of related modules that help you focus your learning. The full box set cost includes your accreditation. To complete accreditation, you need to watch all five modules and send an email to accreditation@theforum.social to describe what you have taken from the modules and how you have applied these in your role.
Each Box Set costs £325 +VAT. (Free to anyone on an Assisted Learning Pathway). Click on the descriptions below to book your place now.

Student takeaways

One of our members from Lifeplus completed the Capacity Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting box set these are the headline takeaways:
 - A small impact in your field can have a good effect higher up in the ranks at board level i.e. matching up with a higher strategic objective
 - Planning teams need to collaborate with other areas/organisations, engage stakeholders
 - Increase Operational effectiveness - As a team, we have vastly increased our communication channels 
 - Improve and manage the flow of your data cycle and version control
 - Long Term: Financial and Budget Planning – Operational: Drives capacity, scenario planning, and risk
 - In the middle of a transformation/plan, the challenges are still there, and targets not being met --> this must lead to evolving the approach to capacity and demand
 - Improve the quality of the data, focussing on what/why/how, determine what happened to the customer base
 - Demonstrating Value and ROI – benefits achieved, costs avoided, risks avoided

Box Set: Telling a Story with Numbers

Watch at your own pace

The analysis and insight we produce is of little use if it does not drive action. This box set looks at how we can present our data to gain the buy-in and support of our stakeholders so we can drive change and improvement. This series includes 5 online learning modules to apply the learning in your own role to become an accredited professional.

You can watch each module on its own without applying for accreditation. You will then be charged for each individual module.

Intro to The Planning Cycle

Hosted on 8th June 2020 by David Preece

Learn the role planning plays in implementing your strategic objectives.  Understand the importance of your role and how you can help others.
 - Understand how the strategic objective is implemented into a forecasting, scheduling and real-time plan.
 - Learn about the importance of effective data checkpoints, change governance and hand-overs
 - Play a part in driving continuous improvement and become the nerve-centre of the business

Descriptive Statistics - Part 2

Hosted on 29th May 2020 by Ian Robertson

Following on from Descriptive Statistics Part 1. In this module we look at applying these techniques to real life scenarios, you will receive exercises to complete before we talk you through the solutions.

Root Cause Analysis

Hosted on 21st April 2020 by Ian Robertson

Root cause analysis is a core skill for analysts and forecasters but is something that few of us do well.  If we want to predict or shape the future it is vital that we understand the past. In this webinar we will explore:

- Why do we need root cause analysis
- How do we ensure we are asking the right questions
- Common Mistakes
- Use of technology to support root cause analysis

Descriptive Statistics - Part 1

Hosted on 20th March 2020 by Ian Robertson

It is easy to lie with statistics it is easier to lie without them. Whether we are an analyst or a decision maker a basic knowledge of statistical knowledge is essential to;

 - Understand the predictability, variability and repeatability of our data and allow us to separate the exceptions from the normal
 - Ensure we are giving the right message
 - Make sure we aren’t being mislead and are focussing on the normal rather than the rare exceptions

In this pre-recorded webinar module we the introduce the principles of statistics including, standard deviation, standard error and confidence levels. The accompanying excel workbook allows you to pause and play, and practice with real life examples at your own speed.