Comparing the adaptive control methodology to the financial planning practice of a large international group

The present paper is a contribution to the validation of the newly developed methodological framework called ‘adaptive control methodology’ (ACM) introduced in a previous paper. ACM is a tool for planning and on-line control of complex socio-economic processes. It combines the techniques of adaptive control theory with system dynamics (SD) and group multicriteria decision aid (GMCDA). In the following, the usefulness and practical use of this framework are set in perspective by comparing it with recurrent planning and control of financial processes in the BSN/DANONE group. As a result of this comparison, some lessons drawn on the way of practical implementation of the theoretical framework can be eased. As by-product recommendations are made on how to influence in a constructive way common planning processes in the real world.