In the success of an Anaplan project, the functional scoping phase plays a critical yet often underestimated role. It’s this phase that determines the quality, speed, and consistency of the build to come. Before modeling begins, there must be understanding, structure, and alignment. A well-executed scoping phase makes this possible by combining a rigorous methodology, deep business expertise, and the ability to engage operational teams.
At Beyond Plans, we believe that the value of functional scoping lies not only in the deliverables produced, but also in the quality of discussions, the relevance of decisions made, and the gradual ownership of the solution by future users.
Rapid or Detailed Scoping: Two Approaches, One Standard
There’s no one-size-fits-all scoping format. It must be tailored to the project’s specific goals. A rapid scoping, often called a “Play Project”, is well suited for quickly estimating effort, building an initial budget, or outlining a project roadmap. On the other hand, when the needs are more complex or strategic, a detailed scoping phase allows for a deeper dive: clarifying the functional scope, defining business rules, modeling initial use cases, producing actionable user stories, and structuring all project deliverables.
In both cases, the goal remains the same: to provide clarity to the business, secure upcoming decisions, and lay a solid foundation for a well-managed project.
Business Expertise: A Key Differentiator
The success of a scoping phase also depends greatly on the ability to understand the business processes being supported. Beyond Plans consultants operate across diverse scopes, particularly in finance and supply chain, two areas in which we are certified by Anaplan.
In finance, we analyze budgeting processes, performance management challenges, regulatory reporting constraints, and cost allocation mechanisms.
In supply chain, we master industrial planning principles, capacity management, flow synchronization, procurement logic, and scenario simulations. This in-depth understanding allows us to anticipate friction points, provide relevant benchmarks, and most importantly translate needs into modelable Anaplan solutions.
Shaping a Shared Vision
Effective scoping is also about active listening and education. It’s not just about documenting requirements, but co-building a shared vision with users, even if they’re not yet familiar with digital tools. In this phase, our role is to help operational teams project themselves into the future solution. We guide them in articulating their expectations, understanding the technical implications, and visualizing the impact of the application on their daily work.
Through dedicated workshops and visual aids (mockups, examples, prototypes), we actively involve business users in the model’s design. This early ownership is often critical to the project’s success.
A Four Pillar Framework for Structured Thinking
To ensure a solid foundation, we always structure the scoping phase around four key pillars.
The first focuses on governance and process management:
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What is the intended functional scope?
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Which business rules must be modeled?
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What are the interactions with the existing information system?
The second pillar addresses organization:
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Who are the key users?
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How are responsibilities structured?
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What governance model should be established?
Next comes data analysis: identifying information sources, evaluating their reliability, and anticipating transformation needs.
Finally, the scoping ends with a clear definition of expected deliverables: KPIs, reports, scenarios, simulations. This framework ensures overall coherence and prevents critical oversights during the build phase.
A Natural Extension to Business Analysis Support (AMOA)
When the scoping phase is carried out effectively, it’s only natural to extend the mission into a business analysis support role. This continuity ensures smooth transitions between design and execution phases. It helps maintain user engagement, allows for real-time adjustments, and prevents misinterpretations of initial intentions. It’s also a way to support agility by continuously adapting deliverables to new priorities or unexpected developments.
What a Successful Scoping Changes
In short, a well-scoped Anaplan project is one that starts on the right track: faster to build, less prone to costly iterations, and better aligned with business needs. More importantly, it’s a project where users recognize themselves in the final solution because they’ve been co-creators from the very beginning.
At Beyond Plans, we truly believe that this alignment between business vision, technical constraints, and user experience is forged during the scoping phase. That’s why we invest in it with the same level of commitment as we do in the build itself.
