Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Forecasting: Fitting a Curve

Chao, Raul O., Gol...

Technical Note

Forecasting: Fitting a Curve

Chao, Raul O.; Goldberg, Rebecca

OM-1665 | Published September 4, 2025 | 3 Pages Technical Note

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Product Details

This technical note is part of a set that focuses on the basics of forecasting, including demand forecasting basics, moving averages, and fitting a curve. While designed to be used together, these three notes can also be used as stand-alone documents to support particular learning objectives. The other two notes in this set are “Forecasting: Demand Forecasting” (UVA-OM-1663); and “Forecasting: Moving Averages” (UVA-OM-1664). These materials form one module in our collection of introductory operations management topics, and all are appropriate for an advanced undergraduate- or graduate-level introductory course on operations management. The complete list of the materials in this collection is available in the teaching materials included with this technical note.

1. Present common forecasting techniques, including expert or crowd-based opinions, and analysis of historical data. 2. Discuss the approaches of moving averages and fitting a curve in greater detail. 3. Explore common examples and business contexts for each type of forecasting method.