Title: Forecasting case studies: leveraging strategic management and project integration

Authors: Alan D. Smith

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3099, USA

Abstract: The present study examines the strategic use of forecasting and its associated techniques within four Northeast Ohio companies involved in a diverse range of activities, namely major utility regulated by the US government, a manufacturer of industrial box-making machines, a general circulation daily newspaper and a regional community bank, mostly located in Northeastern Ohio. Through the lens of FirstEnergy, Kohler Coating, the Akron Beacon Journal (ABJ) and the Ohio Legacy Bank (OLB), the strategic uses of forecasting is not only important, but becomes the basis for routine decision-making processes. While these businesses are quite different, each face challenges in forecasting, with significant negative consequences for inaccuracies inherent in all forecasting activities.

Keywords: case studies; enterprise resource planning; ERP systems; forecasting; new product development; NPD; services; standards; strategy; supply chain management; SCM; strategic management; project integration; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2008.015907

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.63 - 76

Published online: 02 Dec 2007 *

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