U.S., Nov. 17 -- Many businesses that have invested in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) have hit a curious issue: they continue to have out of stocks, over stocks or expedites.

Furthermore, they report chasing short-term execution issues even though long-term planning is firing on all cylinders. There is a clear disconnect between their immediate needs and goals, even when focusing on just the next 30 days.

To square this circle, the answer may be an enterprise-centric view of Sales and Operations Execution (S&OE).

S&OE fits within the immediate context of business planning this means the short-term, less than three month horizon, as seen in daily or weekly processes. In contrast, S&OP focuses on balancing demand, supply, risks and...