--- title: The Main Reason Why S&OP Implementations Tend to Fail description: Ever wonder why so many S&OP implementations fail? Have a look at this blog post, originally appearing on Supply Chain Trend, for the 6 main reasons. image: https://download.riverlogic.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/sop-graph.png --- ### Get in Touch [![logo](https://download.riverlogic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=3153&height=398&name=logo.png "logo")](http://riverlogic.com) [![logo-hover](https://download.riverlogic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-hover.png?width=3153&height=398&name=logo-hover.png "logo-hover")](http://riverlogic.com) - [Solutions](http://www.riverlogic.com/solutions) - [Capacity Planning](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/capacity-planning) - [Commodity Trading & Logistics](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/commodity-trading-and-logistics-optimization) - [Product Mix & Customer Profitability](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/product-mix-customer-profitability) - [Production Planning](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/production-planning-and-scheduling) - [Sales & Operations Planning](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/sales-and-operations-planning) - [Sourcing & Procurement](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/sourcing-and-procurement-optimization) - [Supply Chain & Logistics Optimization](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/supply-chain-optimization) - [Supply Chain Network Optimization](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/supply-chain-network-optimization) - [Trade Promotion Optimization](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/trade-promotion-optimization) - [Industries](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries) - [Building Products](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/building-products) - [Chemicals](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/chemicals) - [Consumer Packaged Goods](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods) - [Food and Beverage](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/food-beverage) - [Manufacturing](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/manufacturing) - [Mining & Metals](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/mining-and-metals) - [Oil & Gas](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/oil-and-gas) - [Pharmaceuticals](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/pharmaceuticals) - [Pulp & Paper](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/pulp-and-paper) - [Utilities](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/utilities) - [Technology](https://download.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics-platform) - [Our Platform](https://download.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics-platform) - [Prescriptive Analytics](https://download.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics) - [Resources](https://download.riverlogic.com/resources) - [Blog](https://download.riverlogic.com/blog) - [News](https://download.riverlogic.com/news-2) - [Testimonials](https://download.riverlogic.com/testimonials) - [Partners](https://download.riverlogic.com/partner-program) - [Our Partners](https://download.riverlogic.com/our-partners) - [About Us](https://download.riverlogic.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://download.riverlogic.com/contact-us) - [Our Board](https://download.riverlogic.com/board-of-directors) - [Our Leadership](https://download.riverlogic.com/leadership) - [Careers](https://download.riverlogic.com/careers-current) - Get in Touch Get in Touch [![Get in Touch](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/484375/8a2efec4-88ad-40a3-bc49-91f4a5e57e38.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/484375/8a2efec4-88ad-40a3-bc49-91f4a5e57e38) Share This [mailto:?subject=The%20Main%20Reason%20Why%20S&OP%20Implementations%20Tend%20to%20Fail&body=https%3A%2F%2Fdownload.riverlogic.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-main-reason-why-sop-implementations-fail](mailto:?subject=The%20Main%20Reason%20Why%20S&OP%20Implementations%20Tend%20to%20Fail&body=https%3A%2F%2Fdownload.riverlogic.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-main-reason-why-sop-implementations-fail) # The Main Reason Why S&OP Implementations Tend to Fail *This post originally appeared on [Supply Chain Trend.](http://supplychaintrend.com/) Access the original article [here](http://supplychaintrend.com/2014/11/03/the-1-simple-reason-why-sop-implementations-fail/).* ***If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there‘***, Yogi Berra, a famous baseball player famously said. Berra knew how to achieve and win, appearing in 21 world series and winning 13 of them. He was elected to the baseball hall of fame in 1972. If we want to achieve something, we usually define our goals, measurements and targets. We usually make a clear plan with time lines, milestones and resources so we can execute. If we implement something as complex as S&OP – a process that can take years to work well – we will clearly define where we’re going right? Wrong! Well wrong at least according to the participants in my S&OP pulse check. In 2014 participants suggest that only: - **36%** of S&OP processes have clear defined maturity levels. - **44%** actually checks their S&OP maturity at least yearly. - **28%** of participants answered that they set both clear targets and measure them yearly. These numbers are not any different than in 2012 as we can see from the graph. ![sop-graph.png](https://download.riverlogic.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/sop-graph.png "sop-graph.png") We don’t have to be surprised that companies don’t seem to get past a certain S&OP maturity stage, as my own experience and many other sources tell us: There are many reasons why S&OP implementations fail or not get to a desired maturity level. But not having clear goals, measurement and targets is a highly significant driver as it influences other key reasons why S&OP implementations fail. Let’s look at the top three S&OP roadblocks according to the S&OP pulse check 2014: 1. **People skills/resources:** how can the right resources and skills be, purchased or developed and allocated if we don’t know our goals? Improving people and organizational hard and soft skills can even be defined as an S&OP goal. 2. **Senior leadership support:** this has been the number one or two roadblock in four S&OP pulse checks since 2010. But do leaders know exactly what to support and for how long? Do they support a project, a process or achieving certain KPI’s? Leaders can’t be held accountable for lack of S&OP achievements if measurements and targets are not agreed and integrated in their performance plan. 3. **The organizational silos:** without clear common goals to work on beyond functions, it is unlikely for collaboration to appear and for silos to be crossed pro-actively. These three key S&OP roadblocks are all highly influenced by the lack of S&OP goals, measurement and target setting. That’s why I think a lack of goal setting is simply the number 1 reason that S&OP implementations fail or don’t get to the desired maturity. If you want to have a successful S&OP, make sure you know where you’re going. Set clear goals, measurements and targets and integrate them in performance objectives, so people can be held to account to deliver S&OP results or ***‘you might not get there.’*** ***[![Wow Your C-Suite with 8 S&OP Strategies](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/484375/4dfdcd81-e631-428a-96d8-0233363430d7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/484375/4dfdcd81-e631-428a-96d8-0233363430d7)*** You May Also Enjoy Reading [The Top Supply Chain Blogs in 2021](https://download.riverlogic.com/blog/the-10-best-supply-chain-blogs-for-2021)…[(Read More)](https://download.riverlogic.com/blog/the-10-best-supply-chain-blogs-for-2021) [Selecting the Best S&OP Software: 7 Tips for Success](https://download.riverlogic.com/blog/selecting-the-best-sop-software-7-tips-for-success)…[(Read More)](https://download.riverlogic.com/blog/selecting-the-best-sop-software-7-tips-for-success) #### About River Logic We’re on a mission to ensure companies across the globe drive maximum value with every decision they make, no matter how complex. 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