Blackpool and the Fylde College is a large college with many different departments. One of the departments is the school of business and management. In this department there are different levels of management for different courses within the school. There are main tutors for each tutorial group and each lesson has a tutor. All the tutors have someone above them who are is charge and tell them their objectives. The college's objectives are to increase the amount of students that come to the college each year; this will result in the funds maybe to increase. Another objective is to stay ahead of the local competitors.

At Warehouse the employees are not refereed to as staff but a team, this is because together everyone achieves more. The management team supports the rest of the team in motivating and assisting them in everyday tasks. The management at Warehouse consists of the branch manager, the deputy manager and supervisor. Both managers work full time and cover one another's days off. On Sundays neither manager works this is when the supervisor covers the managers. The objectives at Warehouse are to increase the market share and profit each year. Also to gain customer loyalty in order to increase the profits for the business.

In order for the branch to be a success the branch and deputy manager must carry out certain functions along with the daily tasks these are the following forecasting, this is predicting something that will likely happen. The manager needs to forecast in order to examine the future of the business this is done by analysing the past and present, this gives the manager the opportunity to draw up plans of action for the business.

At Warehouse targets are predicted the predicted targets are sent to the branch manager from the area manager, each year is split into two half's and targets for the weeks are made. This is then displayed in a file and shows the target, the actual for the week and then the difference is shown in pounds and percentage. This is then compared to the previous week the difference is shown in pounds and percentage. This is compared to the figures for last year and the difference again is shown in pounds and percentage.

This is a strength for the business as it allows the branch manager to see how the business is performing and how much profit is being achieved. Depending on the first year half performance a realistic prediction for targets can be forecasted for the second half of the year. The equal process is also used for setting targets for accounts. These are also compared. If the figures are analysed the branch manager can see where the business needs to improve in order to meet its objectives of increasing the profit and improving branch performance from year to year.

Forecasting is crucial when it comes to budgeting for the business, this includes the employees hours and wage and expenses. The company on a whole has a lot more to forecast in marketing, wages, staffing, expenses and product.

The college needs to forecast in order to know an average percentage of the students that will attend each year, the process is to visit schools and colleges and work out for over the next five years, how many children and adults will attend and the type of courses that they would be interested in doing. The manager of the college also needs to forecast the budget for money, which can be used within each department. The manager will need to take in to consideration the resources that are needed for a course to take place and be successful and the amount of staff needed for the subject being taught.

Forecasting is useful to the college as it allows the manager to work out the type of people and amount that will attend the college and the type of courses that there is demand for. As there would be no point in setting up a course when there is no one who would like to do it. Forecasting in these areas will allow the manager of the college to meet the college objectives to improve the performance of the college and increase funds by more potential students entering the college.

Forecasting the money for each department will mean that courses will be well equipped for both in resources and staff, this meaning that the students will have the very best given to them in time and learning.

Planning is after the forecasting in both of the businesses. Whatever is forecasted in the business needs to be planned for.