The integrated management process known as Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) has evolved over three decades. In recent years it has taken a major evolutionary step for many companies that have realized the need for, and the benefits of, operating with one integrated management process. Integrated Business Planning is the name many companies are using to describe a strategic management process integrating all the functional elements of the business, picking up where traditional S&OP leaves off. This paper discusses the integrated management process known as Sales and Operations Planning and its more mature version, Integrated Business Planning. It is written to give management and leadership a quick synopsis of this integrated strategic management process.
