Build a Governed S&OP Scenario Register Instead of Managing Scenarios in Email

Objective

Create a single register for S&OP scenarios, assumptions, owners and approvals.

Target user

S&OP leaders, finance partners, demand planners and supply planners.

Inputs

• Scenario ID and name
• Decision question
• Demand and supply assumptions
• Financial, inventory and capacity impact
• Owner and status
• Approval and expiry dates
• Published plan version

Architecture

Use a governed middle layer between source systems and executive decisions. Keep assumptions separate from calculated outputs and preserve the approved baseline.

Steps

• Start with the decision question, not the spreadsheet.
• Record all assumptions separately from calculated outputs.
• Assign one owner to each assumption.
• Record the baseline used for comparison.
• Document constraints and unresolved data issues.
• Capture the decision and approver.
• Link the approved scenario to the published plan.
• Archive expired scenarios.

Validation

• Every assumption has an owner and effective date.
• The baseline and scenario outputs are distinguishable.
• The approved scenario links to one published plan version.
• Expired scenarios cannot be reused without review.

Governance box

• Data source: demand, supply and finance systems.
• Owner: S&OP process owner.
• Validation: cross-functional review.
• Version control: immutable approved versions.
• Access: editing limited to scenario owners.
• Manual override: executive approval.
• Failure mode: revert to the last approved consensus plan.