Loading...

Messages

Proposals

Stuck in your homework and missing deadline? Get urgent help in $10/Page with 24 hours deadline

Get Urgent Writing Help In Your Essays, Assignments, Homeworks, Dissertation, Thesis Or Coursework & Achieve A+ Grades.

Privacy Guaranteed - 100% Plagiarism Free Writing - Free Turnitin Report - Professional And Experienced Writers - 24/7 Online Support

Advantages and disadvantages of financial budget

24/11/2021 Client: muhammad11 Deadline: 2 Day

The Advantages of Budgeting

A budget is a document that forecasts the financial results and financial position of a business for

one or more future periods. At a minimum, a budget contains an estimated income statement that

describes anticipated financial results. A more complex budget also contains an estimated

balance sheet, which contains the entity’s anticipated assets, liabilities, and equity positions at

various points in time in the future.

A prime use of the budget is to serve as a performance baseline for the measurement of actual

results. Budgets may also be linked to bonus plans in order to direct the activities of various

company employees. A budget may also be used for both tax planning and treasury planning.

Despite these valid uses, there are also a number of problems with budgeting that have given rise

to a movement dedicated to the elimination of budgets.

Budgeting has been with us a long time, and is used by nearly every large company. They would

not do so if there were not some perceived advantages to budgeting. These advantages include:

▪ Planning orientation. The process of creating a budget takes management away from its

short-term, day-to-day management of a business and forces it to think longer-term. This is

the chief goal of budgeting, even if management does not succeed in meeting its goals as

outlined in the budget – at least it is thinking about the company’s competitive and

financial position and how to improve it.

▪ Model scenarios. If a company is faced with a number of possible paths down which it can

travel, you can create a set of budgets, each based on different scenarios, to estimate the

financial results of each strategic direction.

▪ Profitability review. It is easy to lose sight of where a company is making most of its

money, during the scramble of day-to-day management. A properly structured budget

points out which aspects of a business generate cash and which ones use it, which forces

management to consider whether it should drop some parts of the business or expand in

others. However, this advantage only applies to a budget sufficiently detailed to describe

profits at the product, product line, or business unit level.

▪ Assumptions review. The budgeting process forces management to think about why the

company is in business, as well as its key assumptions about its business environment. A

periodic re-evaluation of these issues may result in altered assumptions, which may in turn

alter the way in which management decides to operate the business.

▪ Performance evaluations. Senior management can tie bonuses or other incentives to how

employees perform in comparison to the budget. The accounting department then creates

budget versus actual reports to give employees feedback regarding how they are

progressing toward their goals. This approach is most common with financial goals,

though operational goals (such as reducing the scrap rate) can also be added. We will

address a countervailing argument in the Command and Control System section later in

this chapter.

▪ Predict cash flows. Companies that are growing rapidly, have seasonal sales, or which

have irregular sales patterns have a difficult time estimating how much cash they are likely

to require in the near term, which results in periodic cash-related crises. A budget is useful

for predicting cash flows in the short term, but yields increasingly unreliable results further

into the future.

▪ Cash allocation. There is only a limited amount of cash available to invest in fixed assets

and working capital, and the budgeting process forces management to decide which assets

are most worth investing in.

▪ Cost reduction analysis. A company that has a strong system in place for continual cost

reduction can use a budget to designate cost reduction targets that it wishes to pursue.

▪ Shareholder communications. Large investors may want a benchmark against which they

can measure the company’s progress. Even if a company chooses not to lend much

credence to its own budget, it may still be valuable to construct a conservative budget to

share with investors. The same argument holds true for lenders, who may want to see a

budget versus actual results comparison from time to time.

These advantages may appear to be persuasive ones, and indeed have been sufficient for most

companies to implement budgeting processes. However, there are also serious problems with

budgets.

The Disadvantages of Budgeting

A budget is based on a set of assumptions that are generally not too far distant from the operating

conditions under which it was formulated. This article gives an overview of the general issues,

while the following sections address the particular problems associated with capital budgeting, as

well as the use of budgets within a command and control management system.

Inaccuracy. A budget is based on a set of assumptions that are generally not too far distant from

the operating conditions under which it was formulated. If the business environment changes to

any significant degree, then the company’s revenues or cost structure may change so radically

that actual results will rapidly depart from the expectations delineated in the budget. This

condition is a particular problem when there is a sudden economic downturn, since the budget

authorizes a certain level of spending that is no longer supportable under a suddenly reduced

revenue level. Unless management acts quickly to override the budget, managers will continue to

spend under their original budgetary authorizations, thereby rupturing any possibility of earning

a profit. Other conditions that can also cause results to vary suddenly from budgeted expectations

include changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, and commodity prices.

Rigid decision making. The budgeting process only focuses the attention of the management

team on strategy during the budget formulation period near the end of the fiscal year. For the rest

of the year, there is no procedural commitment to revisit strategy. Thus, if there is a fundamental

shift in the market just after a budget has been completed, there is no system in place to formally

review the situation and make changes, thereby placing a company at a considerable

disadvantage to its more nimble competitors.

Time required. It can be very time-consuming to create a budget, especially in a poorly-

organized environment where many iterations of the budget may be required. The time involved

is lower if there is a well-designed budgeting procedure in place, employees are accustomed to

the process, and the company uses budgeting software. The work required can be more extensive

if business conditions are constantly changing, which calls for repeated iterations of the budget

model.

Gaming the system. An experienced manager may attempt to introduce budgetary slack, which

involves deliberately reducing revenue estimates and increasing expense estimates, so that he can

easily achieve favorable variances against the budget. This can be a serious problem, and

requires considerable oversight to spot and eliminate.

Blame for outcomes. If a department does not achieve its budgeted results, the department man

ager may blame any other departments that provide services to it for not having adequately

supported his department.

Expense allocations. The budget may prescribe that certain amounts of overhead costs be

allocated to various departments, and the managers of those departments may take issue with the

allocation methods used. This is a particular problem when departments are not allowed to

substitute services provided from within the company for lower-cost services that are available

else where.

Use it or lose it. If a department is allowed a certain amount of expenditures and it does not

appear that the department will spend all of the funds during the budget period, the department

manager may authorize excessive expenditures at the last minute, on the grounds that his budget

manager may authorize excessive expenditures at the last minute, on the grounds that his budget

tends to make managers believe that they are entitled to a certain amount of funding each year,

irrespective of their actual need for the funds.

Only considers financial outcomes. The nature of the budget is numeric, so it tends to focus

management attention on the quantitative aspects of a business; this usually means an intent

focus on improving or maintaining profitability. In reality, customers do not care about the

profits of a business – they will only buy from the company as long as they are receiving good

service and well-constructed products at a fair price. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to build

these concepts into a budget, since they are qualitative in nature. Thus, the budgeting concept

does not necessarily support the needs of customers.

The discussion of budgeting has cast serious doubts on the need for a detailed and rigorously-

enforced budgeting system, especially one that integrates the budget model with bonus plans.

Nonetheless, the decision to install a budget is up to the reader.

Homework is Completed By:

Writer Writer Name Amount Client Comments & Rating
Instant Homework Helper

ONLINE

Instant Homework Helper

$36

She helped me in last minute in a very reasonable price. She is a lifesaver, I got A+ grade in my homework, I will surely hire her again for my next assignments, Thumbs Up!

Order & Get This Solution Within 3 Hours in $25/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 3 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

Order & Get This Solution Within 6 Hours in $20/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 6 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

Order & Get This Solution Within 12 Hours in $15/Page

Custom Original Solution And Get A+ Grades

  • 100% Plagiarism Free
  • Proper APA/MLA/Harvard Referencing
  • Delivery in 12 Hours After Placing Order
  • Free Turnitin Report
  • Unlimited Revisions
  • Privacy Guaranteed

6 writers have sent their proposals to do this homework:

Assignments Hut
Financial Hub
Engineering Solutions
Assignment Guru
Math Guru
Premium Solutions
Writer Writer Name Offer Chat
Assignments Hut

ONLINE

Assignments Hut

I am an elite class writer with more than 6 years of experience as an academic writer. I will provide you the 100 percent original and plagiarism-free content.

$40 Chat With Writer
Financial Hub

ONLINE

Financial Hub

I am an elite class writer with more than 6 years of experience as an academic writer. I will provide you the 100 percent original and plagiarism-free content.

$16 Chat With Writer
Engineering Solutions

ONLINE

Engineering Solutions

I have worked on wide variety of research papers including; Analytical research paper, Argumentative research paper, Interpretative research, experimental research etc.

$41 Chat With Writer
Assignment Guru

ONLINE

Assignment Guru

I have worked on wide variety of research papers including; Analytical research paper, Argumentative research paper, Interpretative research, experimental research etc.

$35 Chat With Writer
Math Guru

ONLINE

Math Guru

As an experienced writer, I have extensive experience in business writing, report writing, business profile writing, writing business reports and business plans for my clients.

$17 Chat With Writer
Premium Solutions

ONLINE

Premium Solutions

As per my knowledge I can assist you in writing a perfect Planning, Marketing Research, Business Pitches, Business Proposals, Business Feasibility Reports and Content within your given deadline and budget.

$38 Chat With Writer

Let our expert academic writers to help you in achieving a+ grades in your homework, assignment, quiz or exam.

Similar Homework Questions

I need an analysis of this chapter that are attached - How to calculate death rate per 100 000 - Nursing diagnosis for adjustment disorder with depressed mood - Griffith university enrolment dates 2016 - Change management specialists focus on - Mutts and moggies slough - Pglo plasmid gel electrophoresis - Physics - Discharge of mortgage cba - Evolution and trends in information system - The pepsi challenge case study - Breast cancer case study nursing - Critical thinking consider the verdict sixth edition - Identify the four challenges associated with e business - Walmart in africa case study pdf - Stealing carol ann duffy poem - Vce persuasive speech example - Relationship between centripetal force and velocity - Gas meter sizes australia - Beck depression inventory bdi ii test - DISCUSSION POST - La gerche forest walk - Compare mendelian and non mendelian inheritance - What are the four strategic alternatives - American express bank 2.0 case study solution - A coffee manufacturer is interested in whether - The ones who walk away from omelas moral dilemma - Cloud Computing - Solomon four group design advantages - Airflow sunshine model 6600a - My chemistry lab answers - Discussion 175 words minimum - Contemporary Issues - How is fate shown in macbeth - Why do you want to be a school captain - Assignment Instructions: Write a 3-5 page (750-1250 words) essay, answering the following question: - Alexandra nechita most expensive painting - SWOT analysis - Motor program theory - Antivirus inc expects its sales - Threat of new entrants pizza industry - Into the wild chapter 5 questions and answers - The good immigrant student bich minh nguyen - Energy band structure of pn junction diode - Multiple choice questions on property plant and equipment - Vornado 733 harvey norman - Assignment 7-1 - Rangsit university international program - W.b yeats the second coming - Week 1 Assignment (405) - Cover letter for vacation work - Nhtv breda university of applied sciences - Essay 1 English - Assessment for learning ppt 2010 - Area of sector and segment - Management samson and daft 6th edition pdf - Sierra company manufactures woven blankets journal entry - The women's swimming pool summary sparknotes - Implied main idea definition - Bond j has a coupon rate of percent - Capitalism operates on the debatable assumption that human beings find increased well-being through - Locomotion jacqueline woodson summary - African history discussion - It can be easier to grasp the importance of the term mise-en-scène if we break it down into its component elements. - What is the par value of apple stock - Formalized fight sequence with imaginary opponent - Assignment help - Theology 202 quiz 1 - Purchasing and Buyer Behavior - Youth allowance not living at home - Course Description:Microbiology - Manual handling and lifting techniques - Speech - Initial post - Rounding to the nearest 10 and 100 worksheet - T2 tennis atlanta promo code - Dulux namadji colour schemes - Compensation Management - Twyford sixth form open evening - 817 333 8163 - Wm wrigley jr company case analysis - Building shared services at rr communications case study - Create a scenario summary report excel 2013 - The long goodbye amanda coyne - Civil rights matrix - Political Science: Unethical Practices in Government Contracting - Who am i speech outline - Market positioning for total rewards - Tenon saw and bench hook - Construction 3,000 word Research Paper - Lonsdale shores land for sale - ACC/561 Substantive Post - Statement of purpose for international business management course - Baking soda and vinegar double replacement reaction - Web analytics at quality alloys inc case solution - Freelance translator resume sample - Amway atmosphere mini ppt - Sentinel city windshield survey answers - A callable bond pays annual interest of $60 - Amc responsible service of alcohol answers