Training
Identifying & Forecasting Trends
The next course will be run on Friday 23rd March 2012 in Bath. For other dates, please look at our calendar. Places are still available with prices starting from £350+VAT. You can reserve your place by completing & returning this booking form.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone involved in business planning & performance analysis
About the course
"What will happen next?" is a question that all businesses want to know the answer to. Clearly, if businesses knew what the future entailed, it would make it so much easier to plan their sales, purchases, production, stocks, logistics, staffing, cashflow, research, etc. The reality is that business planning has to take place amidst great uncertainty as to the future. The need for sound forecasts is obvious yet many businesses fail to apply the fundamental concepts of statistical forecasting. As a result, they will face higher costs and uncertainties when the reality diverges from their plans than those businesses that use statistical forecasting to plan their businesses.
This course uses a mixture of stimulating discussions and real-life case studies to introduce the following concepts. Each will be carefully explained, its relevance to forecasting highlighted and how the relevant calculations can be done in Excel.
- What is a trend?
- Summarising trends & seasonality with charts & tables.
- Using smoothing methods to measure the underlying trend.
- How to prove that a trend exists by using statistical tests.
- Using control charts to identify a change in the underlying trend.
- How to extrapolate trends into a forecast.
Client testimonials
“Really good material and the best statistical training I've had....", HR Analyst, UK NGO
"Good content, esxcellent the way this was related to real-life situations from Nigel's experience.", Paul Lewis, Business Consultant, Tryscore Associates.
"The activities relating to each topic were very good and helped keep an interest. The teaching methods were brilliant", James Harrison, Research Officer, Worcestershire County Council
"Excellent Coverage of a complex subject with great practical examples", James Scorey, Strategy & Planning Officer, International Baccalaureate Organisation
"A good and practical introduction to forecasting.", Project Officer, Educational Organisation
“Very beneficial if you are in an analyst role with no statistical background", Emma Whitefield, Performance Analyst
"A whirlwind tour of all things statistical in the workplace", Elisa Bullen, Senior Intelligence Officer, Public Sector
"Recommended to encourage statistical thinking and to establish a strong grasp of basic techniques”, Emma Clark, Community Safety Analyst, Worcestershire County Council
"Very interesting & useful to my job.", Rhiannon Platt, Performance Analyst, Devon&Somerset Fire & Rescue