Upcoming Webinars

These webinars are hosted by The Forum or in association with our partners. Register for the upcoming webinars below. New webinars will be added here as they are added to the calendar.

Catch up with past webinars.

By registering for a partner webinar you are consenting to sharing your information with them. If you do not receive joining instructions for a webinar please email events@theforum.social.

Measures of Success for Scheduling

Date TBC

Scheduling is much more than creating shifts and therefore the success criteria for shift design is much more than schedule fit.  This module will explore the key responsibilities of a scheduler and how a holistic view is required to set measures of success.  Learning outcomes include:

- What does good look like?  Understand the importance of scheduling and the key responsibilities, including key characteristics of good and bad schedules.

- Define your purpose.  Understand how schedules support your business strategy and its importance to customer and employee satisfaction

- Schedule fit & other measures.  Introduction to different ways of measuring scheduling fit and how these can be incorporated into a more holistic framework of success measures.

Introduction to Scheduling

Date TBC

This module provides an introductory understanding of:

- The fundamental inputs and outputs of the scheduling processes.

- The role of scheduling within the planning cycle 

- The characteristics of best in class scheduling teams as evidenced through The Forum's standards-benchmarking programme

How to drive engagement through shift review

Date TBC

Shift reviews deliver many benefits to many areas of the business

- Performance - Improved customer experience

- Attrition, Absence - Reduced stress of busy peaks and boredom of quiet times

- Employee Engagement - Flexibility to meet lifestyles of your teams

Understand the key principles which will drive engagement across your organisation, face the fear of shift patterns and bring a united, collaborative approach to making change possible

Shrinkage: Tracking, Managing and Optimising

Date TBC

This was held on 9th November: Deeper dive into shrinkage, historical tracking, forecasting and incorporating in long and short term planning.

Understand the importance of tracking and manging your shrinkages so they are optimised for your staff. Learning outcomes include:

- What is included in shrinkage?

- The importance of standardised tracking

- How do you categorise to monitor and report?

- Which numbers should you use for planning?

- Why you should spend as much time forecasting Shrinkage as work volumes.

Measures of Success Real Time

Date TBC

Understand how to create the right measures to track and develop your real time effectiveness. Learn how to create the right process, aligned to your strategy 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 real time function and key considerations to develop understanding and learning.

- Define your purpose. Understand how real-time planning 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.

Introduction to Real Time

Date TBC

This module provides an introductory understanding of:

- The fundamental inputs and outputs of Real-Time processes.

- The role of Real-Time Planning within the planning cycle 

- The characteristics of best in class Real-Time teams as evidenced through The Forum's standards-benchmarking programme

Volatility vs Flexibility in Real Time

Date TBC

Develop a deeper understanding of your supply and demand intra-day profiles to understand how much flexibility you have and need.

- Understand how to measure the variability of intraday profiles

- Learn how to create triggers for action to flex your staff

- Improve your operational readiness to become more effective

Using RAG models to take action

Date TBC

Understanding how to create effective thresholds to really drive improvement through easy to understanding Red, Amber and Green status.  This module will explore classic mistakes and top tips to improve how you communicate numbers:

- The purpose of Red, Amber and Green status

- Mistakes to avoid

- Top tips, new techniques and tried and tested examples

Measures of Success: Balanced Scorecards

Date TBC

Understand how to create the right measures to track and develop your real time effectiveness. Learn how to create the right process, aligned to your strategy 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 real time function and key considerations to develop understanding and learning.

- Define your purpose. Understand how real-time planning 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.

1-Day Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

Date TBC

Learn how to create your own stakeholder map and communication plan, teaching you basic influencing skills to help you succeed. After this course, you will;

  • Understand how to identify stakeholders and use a mapping tool
  • Create a communication plan and engagement strategies for stakeholders
  • Be able to deploy simple influencing skills at work

Free Webinar - 2020 Vision: Crystallising your knowledge Launch

Hosted on 27th April 2020 by Phil Anderson and Paul Smedley

2020 is The Forum’s 20th year and this year we want to look back on our first 20-years and think ahead for the next 20-years. Our vision, back in 2000, was and remains to raise standards in customer operations helping to set standards across Planning, Insight and Quality. Now, having established communities of best practice we can continue to raise standards and prepare for the future.

This year’s theme refers to the clarity and sharpness of vision required to purposely move forward towards your targets, goals and dreams. Whilst recognising the benefit of our fluid thinking over the past 20-years to crystallise our knowledge of best practice and standards.

 - “Purpose, Learning and Self-Awareness” Keynote from The Forum’s Phil Anderson
 - 2020 Best Practice Guide launch and chapter review
 - 2020 Best Practice Programme – how to get involved

Best Practice in Planning Assisted Learning Pathway

Virtual Learning

Learn how to apply the whole planning cycle, from capacity to scheduling & real-time, with the chance to explore further your role and where it fits in.

After this course, you will;

 - See how each planning stage impacts others
 - Explore the importance of handoffs and the data journey
 - Understand the importance of shrinkage and forecasting in maintaining an effective plan

Best Practice in Planning Assisted Learning Pathway

w/c 20th May 2024

Learn how to apply the whole planning cycle, from capacity to scheduling & real-time, with the chance to explore further your role and where it fits in.

After this course, you will;

 - See how each planning stage impacts others
 - Explore the importance of handoffs and the data journey
 - Understand the importance of shrinkage and forecasting in maintaining an effective plan

Capacity Planning, Forecasting & Budgets Assisted Learning Pathway

w/c 20th May 2024, Virtual Learning

This course gives you knowledge to support you in your role and overcome the obstacles you face, to help you create a culture of data-driven decision making.

After this course, you will understand;

 - The key numbers in a capacity plan & how to explain them
 - How plans & forecasts flows from strategy & budgets through the entire planning cycle
 - Managing data to ensure a single version of the truth

Scheduling & Wellness: Managing Flexibility Assisted Learning Pathway

w/c 20th May 2024, Virtual Learning

Learn about lifestyle and wellness options that help balance people with business needs and explore the volatility of your operations’ workload.

After this course, you will understand;

 - How to analyse your flexibility requirements and opportunities
 - What options are available to improve your coverage while supporting wellness & lifestyle
 - How to develop a flexibility strategy that is a corporate asset

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