Mary Young at The Conference Board sent me links to recent articles about the increased profit that Entergy has recently announced. It seems they are creating value with scenario planning:

"During the quarter we experienced both the worldwide collapse of the financial market and some of the most devastating storm activity (Gustav and Ike) to ever hit the Gulf Coast area. Through sound integrated scenario planning and preparation, the company was able to meet the operational and financial needs without sacrificing our commitments to our goals and objectives," said J. Wayne Leonard, Entergy's chairman and chief executive officer.

Entergy could respond to major changes in their operating environment because they had used scenario planning techniques. When you have made these preparations, responding to major events and challenges can be targeted, calm and effective. If you are currently working in an organization which is panicky about the current economic situation or one who is having layoffs like American Express, you would no doubt be wishing you had explored some scenarios earlier - if you had, you would know how to respond in the way which sacrifices the least value, maybe even creates it like Entergy have. That's what a strategic workforce plan does for Talent Management decisions - allows you to target, respond - and meet needs without sacrificing objectives!

Now, there are many organizations for whom it's too late to be prepared for current events...and the wiser ones of these will realize that it's a critical priority to take steps to not be caught short again. It reminds me of an old expression:

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now"

If you weren't prepared this time....better be prepared NEXT time!