Analysis in Business Planning and Strategy Formulation

Analysis in Business Planning and Strategy Formulation

by Timothy W. Powell TW Powell Company

Prepared for the Art and Science of Business Intelligence Analysis, JAI Press, Gilad and Herring, eds., copyright JAI Press

"Analysis in Business Planning and Strategy Formulation" Tim Powell TW Powell Company www.knowledgeagency.com

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ANALYSIS IN CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................. 3 W HAT IS A NALYSIS?...................................................................................................................................3 W HAT IS THE ROLE OF A NALYSIS? .........................................................................................................5 W HAT GOOD IS A NALYSIS?.......................................................................................................................9 W HAT M AKES A GOOD A NALYSIS?.......................................................................................................13 CAN W E M EASURE THE RETURN ON A NALYSIS?...............................................................................14 HOW IS THE TYPE OF A NALYSIS SELECTED?......................................................................................15 A NALYSIS AS A STRATEGIC DIFFERENTIATOR....................................................................................17 CAN A NALYSIS BE A UTOMATED ?.........................................................................................................20 TOOLS OF ANALYSIS ...............................................................................................................................21 QUANTITATIVE (“ STATISTICAL”) METHODS.......................................................................................22 QUALITATIVE (“ SOFT ”) METHODS.........................................................................................................28 SYMBOLIC...