Production forecasts and development plans sound similar, but they're fundamentally different things.

A forecast is projection built on known data and concrete assumptions—what the numbers actually tell you. Development plans? That's a different animal entirely. They're basically capital pitches, narratives designed to convince management and investors to allocate resources.

One is based on engineering reality. The other is advocacy.

This distinction matters because people often blur the lines. A solid forecast shouldn't be mistaken for a business plan. The forecast answers: what does the data show? The plan answers: what do we want to accomplish, and why should someone fund it?

Understanding which is which keeps decision-making grounded in reality instead of hope.