A Computer-Based Corporate Planning System

The key to effective analytical support of the strategic planning process is not simply a corporate model, but an integrated system of models with appropriate software support. This paper describes a computer-based corporate planning system which combines the analytical power of optimization with simulation capabilities and more specialized planning models as elements of an interactive management system. The system has been designed to aid both periodic and ad hoc planning decisions in a large multi-national firm and can be implemented in a wide variety of corporate contexts.