IBP Health Check: Is Your Planning System in Balance?
A quick diagnostic to see where your triangle might be leaning off-center..
Rate each statement as True / Sometimes / False — then review your results at the end.
Ambition (What You Want to Happen)
✅ Our commercial goals are clear and connected to strategy.
✅ Targets stretch the team but stay grounded in data.
✅ Leadership aligns on why we’re chasing each goal before we discuss how.
If mostly “False” or “Sometimes” → You may be in Wishcasting Mode — chasing optimism without calibration.
Projection (What YouThink Will Happen)
✅ Forecast assumptions are documented, not just implied.
✅ Sales, Ops, and Finance plan from the same baseline.
✅ We track forecast accuracy and revisit logic each cycle.
If mostly “False” or “Sometimes” → You may be in Passive Mode — too much modeling, not enough momentum.
Results (What Actually Happened)
✅ We review outcomes without blame, focusing on learning.
✅ Variances trigger analysis of assumptions, not people.
✅ Insights from one cycle feed directly into the next.
If mostly “False” or “Sometimes” → You may be in Reactive Mode — spending too much time firefighting the past instead of improving the future.
Interpreting Your Results
- Balanced Triangle: You’re running an IBP system that learns. Keep tuning.
- One-Sided Triangle: Strengthen the weaker corners to restore alignment.
- No Clear Pattern: You’re evolving—choose one area to improve next cycle.
Next Step
📘 Download the eBook: The Planning Triangle — How Balanced Planning Builds Agility and Trust
Use it as your full IBP Troubleshooting Guide and start your next cycle with clarity, alignment, and calm.
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