Operating Model First: Why Capability Investment Without Strategic Context So Often Disappoints

Is your planning performance constrained by capability gaps, or by operating model limitations that no amount of capability investment will fix?

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BST

Online (MS Teams)

For senior supply chain leaders only

How this meeting works

Practitioner-led working session
No pitches
Small-group, facilitated discussion
Works best when you can engage actively
Chatham House Rule
Limited places to preserve quality

Suggested Discussion Points

How to assess whether current performance constraints reflect capability gaps or operating model limitations that capability investment alone won't resolve
When network design, organisational structure or governance changes need to precede or accompany a planning capability investment
How sustained volatility and disruption are changing what a resilient operating model actually needs to look like
Framing the right level of ambition: what the operating model needs to enable, and what that implies for sequencing and investment priorities
Real examples of where operating model decisions were made too late — and what it cost

Why this session exists

Many planning capability investments underdeliver not because the tools or processes are wrong, but because the operating model context was never settled first. When network design, organisational structure and governance assumptions are unclear, the investment ends up optimising the wrong thing.

This session examines the strategic layer that should sit upstream of any capability investment decision, and how practitioners are approaching it in practice.

What you'll leave with

A clearer sense of whether your current performance constraints are capability gaps or operating model limitations
Peer perspective on how leaders have approached operating model clarification before committing to capability investment
A practical test for whether your organisation is ready to sequence investment decisions well

Who this meeting is for

This meeting is designed for people working through real operational and innovation decisions, rather than those seeking presentations or general inspiration.

Who for

Supply chain and operations leaders accountable for planning performance
Leaders considering a significant investment in planning capability, process or technology
Transformation leaders questioning whether the right foundations are in place before the next investment cycle

Who not for

Teams primarily looking for technology demonstrations or vendor comparisons
Anyone seeking a passive, webinar-style session rather than a peer discussion

How the online session works

Each session is designed as an online equivalent of a small, in-room roundtable discussion — not a passive, webinar-style presentation.

The format adapts to the topic and the experience in the room:

Where participants already have strong knowledge, we typically start by inviting individuals to expand on specific points they have shared in advance. This helps surface real-world context quickly and anchors the discussion in practical experience.
Where the topic is less familiar or more specialised, we may begin with a short explainer to establish a shared baseline before opening up the discussion.

To support productive dialogue, we often invite a subject-matter expert to join the session. This may be someone from a vendor, consultancy, or independent background — sometimes from within the community, sometimes external.

Their role is not to pitch or present a solution. Instead, they listen carefully to the discussion and reflect back:

how similar challenges have been approached in comparable organisations
what has worked (and what hasn’t) in practice
concrete examples that help translate discussion into action

This balance is deliberate. Without it, sessions can drift into abstract debate or problem-sharing. With it, discussions stay grounded and participants leave with tangible ideas they can apply in their own context.

The emphasis throughout is on shared learning, practical insight, and forward progress, rather than polished presentations or predetermined answers.

What happens next

Participation is confirmed through a short, staged process designed to ensure a good fit and a productive discussion for everyone in the room.

Step 1: Register interest

You start by entering your details. This helps us understand your background and what you are hoping to get from the session.

Step 2: We sense-check fit and composition

We may follow up to clarify a few details. This is about making sure the discussion works for everyone in the room.

Step 3: You receive a personal invitation

Once confirmed, you will receive a personal invitation with the session agenda, who else will be joining, and clear joining instructions.

Online Discussion