Forecasting Seminar

Business Forecasting: Techniques, Applications and Experiences

This comprehensive three-day course covers all aspects of business forecasting and includes computer workshops that allow you to immediately apply what you've learned to your own data. By the end of the seminar, you will not only have gained considerable insight into business forecasting, but will also have had the opportunity to solve your own forecasting problems using state-of-the-art software under the guidance of expert instructors.

Who should attend?

The seminar is valuable for product managers, marketing managers, business managers, corporate planners, market researchers, utility forecasters or any professionals who prepare or analyze forecasts as part of their job responsibilities. Some prior knowledge of statistics is helpful but not essential.

Agenda

• Introduction to Forecasting
  Properties of Data * Overview of Methods * Evaluating Forecast Accuracy
• Time Series Decomposition
  Components of Data * Business Cycle Indicators * Census X-11
• Exponential Smoothing Models
  Simple One, Holt Two and Winters Three Parameter * Damped Trend Models * Event Models
• Box-Jenkins Models
  Advantages and Disadvantages * Automatic Identification Procedure * Differencing * Diagnostics
• Batch (Multi-Series) Forecasting
  Data Characteristics * A-B-C Classifications * Measures of Accuracy * Top Down vs. Bottom Up * Seasonal Models
• Dynamic Regression
  When to use * Standard OLS * Lagged Variables * Cochrane-Orcutt Models * Hypothesis Tests
• Computer Workshops
  Structured Forecasting Exercises * Analysis of Attendee's Data

Click here for a detailed course description.

Instructor

The seminar is taught by Eric Stellwagen, Vice President and co-founder of Business Forecast Systems, Inc, and co-author of the Forecast Pro software product line. Consulting widely in the area of practical business forecasting, Eric spends 20-30 days a year presenting workshops on the subject and has worked with many leading firms including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Merck, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nabisco, Owens-Corning and Verizon. He presents forecasting seminars and workshops under the aegis of several leading professional organizations and is currently serving on the board of directors of the International Institute of Forecasters. Eric has garnered rave reviews for this seminar which he has been teaching for more than 15 years.

Fees

US Registration Fee: $1,395 USD per person, prepaid. Multi-registrant fee: $1,295 USD per person, prepaid, with two or more registrants. Lunch is provided to all attendees.

Seminar attendees who bring their own laptop will leave the seminar with a fully functional trial version of Forecast Pro XE loaded onto their PCs. All attendees are eligible to receive a $100 USD discount on any Forecast Pro software product.