 | Four time horizons for historical review and planning purposes
available within the Assumptions tab. (Switch between
them with a click on a tab button.) Annual View - Always exists.
Use for strategic planning.
Semiannual View (optional) - Use for semiannual review and budgets.
Quarterly View (optional) - Use for quarterly review and budgets.
Monthly View (optional) - Use for monthly review and budgets.
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| Links between forecasts from different horizons. The assumptions from
one time horizon can be "linked" to another, for consistent views. We
recommend building an Annual strategic plan and then linking it to the Monthly horizon for
detailed review of short term cash flow implications.
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| Automatically utilized Detail Schedules. Major
asset acquisitions and retirement need to be planned in detail. These decisions may also
give rise to, or be driven by, loan implications. In these cases, optionally use the
loan assumptions, intangible acquisitions, and capital assets
schedule modules to plan these components. The results automatically feed the
overall plan on the Assumptions and Data Entry Sheets.
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| Add Project Planning Items wherever needed. Profit
Plan generates a default forecast as you complete the firm's historical data entry.
It is based on the last two periods' input and projects the future as though what
just happened will continue to occur. In other words, the default forecast is
the world on autopilot!
But everyone knows that turbulence is in the air! So Profit Plan assumes you will
plan for what you anticipate, and hedge against what you hope won't happen. Most packages
assume you will simply change the forecast, and Profit Plan allows this, of course.
But it also allows adoption of our Incremental Planning
technique. Manage by planning at the margin. Project and
value the result of changes you plan. Redirect your firm toward
the destination you truly desire.
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| Use the Assumptions Designer to build an assumption. A right-click on the Assumptions and Data Entry sheet
opens the heart of Profit Plan's forecasting system. Here you can review trends and
defaults, try various assumptions by simply selecting them from a list, and view the
results before applying them to the plan.
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| Use the Graphic Analyzer to check your plans. A double-click on any account within the Assumptions and Data Entry sheet automatically charts all historical and forecast values for that account. From the Graphic Analyzer, you can insert trendlines, view standard deviations and averages, and even call the Statistical Analysis Panel to view the trend line formula, regression coefficients, etc. The quickest way to validate your Monthly forecast is simply to view it graphically. A glance will often immediately discover any problems with strange assumptions and outlandish values!
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| Use the Statistical Data and Trendline Panel to find real regression analysis available for Historical or All Selected data . The Historical Stats button on the Assumption Designer takes you right to a panel displaying the trendline and related statistics calculated from the account's HISTORICAL data. Or select any portion of the account's data, then right-click and open the Graphic Analyzer. From there, open the Statistical Data panel from the Graphic Analyzer's menu to see statistics for exactly the data selected. (If multiple accounts are being charted by the Graphic Analyzer, simply select the chart line of interest first; then pop up the statistics panel.)
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