Stand Up SWP Fast – The 3–6–9 Starter Kit for Pharma

Standing up SWP doesn't require a data lake or a year-long programme. This lightning talk shows how a lean team built a usable capability for a pharma business: a one-page A/B/C scenario leaders can decide from, a six-signal input set, and a 90-day cadence with Finance. See a mini-case, assumptions register, and trigger list enabling out-of-cycle refresh, and the Finance handshake leaders expect.

• The minimum viable SWP service: small-team setup, scope, and a clear one-page promise.
• A/B/C one-pager that shows net capacity, net cost (range), time-to-impact, and one risk flag, plus a tiny assumptions register.
• The six signals that matter: demand, workforce supply and skills, economics – kept to six for clarity.
• Cadence and triggers: quarterly refresh, out-of-cycle triggers, and a simple Finance handshake with sign-offs.
• Mini-case and takeaways: redeploy vs hire decision, before/after deltas, and reusable one-pager and register templates.

• Build a one-page A/B/C scenario that leaders can decide from within a single meeting.
• Select an explainable six-signal input set and defend it with sources and ranges.
• Run a 90-day SWP cadence with aligned Finance sign-off and pre-read cost methods.
• Maintain a lightweight assumptions register and a trigger list for out-of-cycle refresh.
• Right-size precision to decision speed and avoid over-engineering the first release.

Paul Batten

Head of Global People Analytics · Takeda

Pharma teams must make capacity and skills decisions quickly around launch windows, regulatory shifts and cost pressures. Leaders need clear options, credible ranges and a refresh rhythm that adapts to shocks. Building a lightweight SWP capability enables faster redeploy-versus-hire choices and protects delivery without waiting for a perfect data estate.